Variable angle front output shaft transfer case

A transfer case comprising:

• a housing (10);
• an input shaft (12) extending from a location external to said housing into said housing, said input shaft being rotatable with respect to such housing;
• an output shaft (14) extending coaxially with said input shaft from a location within said housing to a location rearwardly external to said housing, said output shaft being rotatable with respect to said housing;
• a sleeve (28) surrounding a portion said output shaft;
• bearing means (34) for permitting said output shaft to rotate with respect to said input shaft;
• differential means (36) for receiving rotational torque from said input shaft and for transmitting rotational torque from said input shaft to said output shaft and to said sleeve;
• an intermediate shaft (42) spaced from and extending generally parallel to said sleeve, said intermediate shaft having a first portion positioned within said housing and a second portion, said intermediate shaft being rotatable with respect to said housing;
• drive means (54, 56, 58) for transmitting rotational torque from said sleeve to said first portion of said intermediate shaft;
• a housing extension (48), said housing extension being removably attached to said housing and receiving said second portion of said intermediate shaft;
• a forward output shaft (38), said forward shaft being rotatable with respect to said housing extension and having a first portion within said housing and a second portion extending forwardly external to said housing extension;
• and
• universal joint means (40) contained within said housing extension for connecting said intermediate shaft to said forward output shaft to permit said forward output shaft to rotate about an axis of rotation which is at an angle with respect to an axis of rotation of said intermediate shaft.