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US 6,645,110 B2Granted
Two-speed full-time transfer case with integrated planetary gearset and synchronized range shift
AssigneeNew Venture Gear, Inc.
InventorsRandolph C. Williams, Aaron Ronk, Stanislav Ponca, Timothy R. Stalloch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A full-time transfer case is equipped with an integrated planetary gearset assembly and a synchronized range shift mechanism to provide high-range and low-range drive connections. The integrated planetary gearset assembly includes a first gearset which acts as a two-speed reduction unit and a second gearset which acts as an interaxle differential. The synchronized range shift mechanism is arranged to concurrently move two components of the first gearset and is synchronized to permit on-the-move range shifts.
Claims17
A transfer case comprising:
- an input shaft;
- first and second output shafts;
- a planetary gear assembly interconnecting said input shaft to said first and second output shafts and including first and second gearsets having a common carrier assembly, said first gearset including a first sun gear driven by said input shaft, a ring gear, and a first planet gear supported by said carrier assembly and meshed with said first sun gear and said ring gear, said second gearset including a second sun gear connected to said first output shaft, a third sun gear operably connected to said second output shaft, a second planet gear supported by said carrier assembly and meshed with said second sun gear, and a third planet gear supported by said carrier assembly and meshed with said third sun gear and said second planet gear;
- a range sleeve fixed to said ring gear for movement between a high-range position and a low-range position, said first sun gear is retained for movement with said range sleeve while permitting relative rotation between said ring gear and said first sun gear, said range sleeve is operable in its high-range position to couple said first sun gear to said carrier assembly and is further operable in its low-range position to couple said ring gear to a stationary member and release said first sun gear for rotation relative to said carrier assembly;
- and
- a shift mechanism for moving said range sleeve between its high-range and low-range positions.
3 more elements
A transfer case comprising:
- an input shaft;
- first and second output shafts;
- a first planetary gearset including a first sun gear, a ring gear, and a first planet gear rotatably supported by a carrier and meshed with said first sun gear and said ring gear;
- a second planetary gearset including a second sun gear driving said first output shaft, a third sun gear driving said second output shaft, a second planet gear rotatably supported by said carrier and meshed with said second sun gear, and a third planet gear rotatably supported by said carrier and meshed with said third sun gear and said second planet gear;
- a first coupling fixed for rotation with said first sun gear;
- a second coupling fixed for rotation with said ring gear, said second coupling moveable between a first position and a second position;
- a third coupling interconnecting said first coupling for common movement with said second coupling while permitting relative rotation therebetween;
- and
- a shift mechanism for moving said second coupling between its first and second positions, said second coupling operable in its first position to couple said first coupling to said input shaft and said third coupling to said carrier, said second coupling is further operable in its second position to couple said first coupling to said input shaft and couple said ring gear to a non-rotary member.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.