# US 6,296,070 B1 · Transfer device in a four-wheel drive vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,296,070 B1 - Document ID: US6296070B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/324,492 - Filed: 1999-06-02 - Granted: 2001-10-02 - Earliest claimed: 1998-07-31 - Assignees: Suzuki Motor Corporation - Inventors: Hiroaki Yamada - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6296070B1 ## CPC - B60K 17/351: {comprising a viscous clutch} - B60K 23/08: for changing number of driven wheels {, for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles (B60K17/3515 takes precedence)} - Y10T 74/20104: Shift element interlock - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A transfer device in a four-wheel drive vehicle is provided in a simple construction wherein even an overstroke does not affect the shift position and thus eliminates the need of a highly accurate control for stop positions. The transfer device includes a high-speed/low-speed shifting shaft and a two-wheel/four-wheel shifting shaft disposed side by side in proximity to each other. A first elliptic groove and a first semicircular groove are formed in an outer peripheral surface of the high-speed/low-speed shifting shaft in an axially spaced relation to each other and a second semicircular groove corresponding to the first elliptic groove and a second elliptic groove corresponding to the first semicircular groove are formed in an outer peripheral surface of the two-wheel/four-wheel shifting shaft in an axially spaced relation to each other. An axially moveable shifting yoke is loosely fitted on the first and second shifting shafts while embracing the shifting shaft portions corresponding to the first and second elliptic grooves and the first and second semicircular grooves. A first ball and a second ball are disposed within the shifting yoke between the shifting shafts. The first ball engages or disengages from the first elliptic groove and the second semicircular groove and the second ball engages or disengages with the first semicircular groove and the second elliptic groove, with axial movement of the shifting yoke. This arrangement requires only one actuator to move the shifting yoke axially and eliminates the need for select operation of a lever. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a transfer device in a four-wheel drive vehicle, having at least first and second shifting shafts which actuate a plurality of switching mechanisms to change a running condition of the vehicle, the improvement wherein: said first and second shifting shafts are disposed side by side in proximity to each other; a first elliptic groove and a first semicircular groove are formed in an outer peripheral surface of said first shifting shaft in an axially spaced relation to each other; a second semicircular groove corresponding to said first elliptic groove and a second elliptic groove corresponding to said first semicircular groove are formed in an outer peripheral surface of said second shifting shaft in an axially spaced relation to each other; a shifting yoke is loosely fitted on said first and second shifting shafts while embracing shifting shaft portions corresponding to said first and second elliptic grooves and said first and second semicircular grooves, said shifting yoke being axially movable; a first ball and a second ball are disposed within said shifting yoke and between said first and second shifting shafts, said first ball coming into engagement with or disengagement from said first elliptic groove and said second semicircular groove with the axial movement of said shifting yoke, and said second ball coming into engagement with or disengagement from said first semicircular groove and said second elliptic groove with the axial movement of said shifting yoke; and said shifting yoke is connected to a three-stop position actuator through a swing arm connected to the shifting yoke, a rotatable shaft with said swing arm fixed thereto, a connection lever fixed to said rotatable shaft and further through a cable connected to said connection lever, wherein the shifting yoke is capable of axially reciprocating movement by the three-stop position actuator through the cable, the connection lever, the rotatable shaft, and the swing arm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A transfer device in a four-wheel drive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first shifting shaft comprises a high-speed/low speed shifting shaft and said second shifting shaft comprises a two wheel/four wheel shifting shaft. ### Claim 3 A transfer device for a four-wheel drive vehicle, comprising: first and second shifting shafts disposed side by side in proximity to each other; a first groove and a second groove formed in an outer peripheral surface of said first shifting shaft in an axially spaced relation to each other; a third groove corresponding to said first groove and a fourth groove corresponding to said second groove formed in an outer peripheral surface of said second shifting shaft in an axially spaced relation to each other; a shifting yoke loosely fitted on said first and second shifting shafts while embracing shifting shaft portions corresponding to said first and fourth grooves and said second and third grooves, said shifting yoke being capable of axially reciprocating movement with respect to said shifting shafts; and a first ball and a second ball disposed within axially spaced holes in said shifting yoke and between said first and second shifting shafts, said first ball coming into engagement with or disengagement from said first groove and said third groove with the axial movement of said shifting yoke, and said second ball coming into engagement with or disengagement from said second groove and said fourth groove with the axial movement of said shifting yoke, wherein a single actuator for axial movement of said shifting yoke comprises a three-stop position actuator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A transfer device in a four-wheel drive vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said shifting yoke is fitted on both a two-wheel/four-wheel shifting shaft as said first shifting shaft and a full-time/rigid shifting shaft as said shifting shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A transfer device in a four-wheel drive vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said first shifting shaft comprises a high-speed/low speed shifting shaft and said second shifting shaft comprises a two wheel/four wheel shifting shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A transfer device in a four-wheel drive vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said first shifting shaft comprises a high-speed/low speed shifting shaft and said second shifting shaft comprises a two wheel/four wheel shifting shaft. ### Claim 7 In a transfer device in a four-wheel drive vehicle, said device having at least first and second shifting shafts that actuate a plurality of switching mechanisms to change a running condition of the vehicle, the improvement wherein: said first and second shifting shafts are disposed side by side in proximity to each other; first and second grooves are formed in an outer peripheral surface of said first shifting shaft in axially spaced relation to one another; third and fourth grooves corresponding respectively to said first and second grooves are formed in an outer peripheral surface of said second shifting shaft in axially spaced relation to one another; a shifting yoke is loosely fitted on said first and second shifting shafts while embracing shifting shaft portions corresponding to said first, second, third and fourth grooves first and second balls are disposed within said shifting yoke and between said first and second shifting shafts, said first ball moving into engagement with or disengagement from said first groove and said third groove by axial movement of said shifting yoke, and said second ball moving into engagement with or disengagement from said second groove and said fourth groove by axial movement of said shifting yoke; a rotatable shaft has a swing arm secured thereto, and said swing arm is connected to said shifting yoke; a connection lever is secured to said rotatable shaft; and a three-stop position actuator is connected to said connection lever by a cable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A transfer device in a four-wheel drive vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said shifting yoke is moved axially by the operation of said three-stop position actuator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A transfer device in a four-wheel drive vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said first groove comprises an elliptic groove and said fourth groove comprises an elliptic groove. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A transfer device in a four-wheel drive vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said second groove comprises a semicircular groove and said third groove comprises a semicircular groove. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) A transfer device in a four-wheel drive vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said second groove comprises an elliptic groove and said fourth groove comprises an elliptic groove.