# US 7,610,981 B2 · Driving mode switching apparatus for 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 7,610,981 B2 - Document ID: US7610981B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/937,067 - Filed: 2007-11-08 - Published: 2008-05-22 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-11-10 - Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Koji Banno; Kensaku Honda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610981B2 ## CPC - 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)} - H02K 11/25: Devices for sensing temperature, or actuated thereby - H02K 7/06: Means for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion or vice versa - 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 - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) ## Abstract A driving mode switching apparatus for a four-wheel-drive vehicle, which switches driving modes of the four-wheel drive vehicle, includes a motor, a reduction mechanism being transmitted with a rotational force of the motor, an output rod connected to the reduction mechanism and switching the driving modes by being displaced, a housing housing the motor and the reduction mechanism, a temperature sensor arranged at a position away from the motor within the housing and detecting ambient temperature in the housing, and a controller varying an output property of the motor in response to a detected temperature by the temperature sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A driving mode switching apparatus for a four-wheel-drive vehicle, which switches driving modes of the four-wheel drive vehicle, comprising: a motor; a reduction mechanism being transmitted with a rotational force of the motor; an output rod connected to the reduction mechanism and switching the driving modes by being displaced; a housing housing the motor and the reduction mechanism; a temperature sensor arranged at a position away from the motor within the housing and detecting ambient temperature in the housing; and a controller varying an output property of the motor in response to a detected temperature by the temperature sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The driving mode switching apparatus for the four-wheel-drive vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein the motor includes a first motor and a second motor; the reduction mechanism includes a first reduction mechanism connected to the first motor and a second reduction mechanism connected to the second motor; the output rod includes a first output rod which switches at least two-wheel-drive mode and four-wheel-drive modes, and a second output rod which switches a reduction ratio and/or switches a locked state and a free state of a center differential under the four-wheel-drive mode; the housing includes a first chamber housing which houses the first motor and the first reduction mechanism and a second chamber housing which houses the second motor and the second reduction mechanism; and the temperature sensor is arranged in the first chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The driving mode switching apparatus for the four-wheel-drive vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein the motor includes a first motor and a second motor; the reduction mechanism includes a first reduction mechanism connected to the first motor and a second reduction mechanism connected to the second motor; the output rod includes a first output rod which switches one of two-wheel-drive mode and four-wheel-drive modes, a reduction ratio, and a locked state and a free state of a center differential under the four-wheel-drive mode, and a second output rod which switches at least one of the rest of the two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive modes, the reduction ratio, and the locked state and free state of the center differential under the four-wheel-drive mode; the housing includes a first chamber housing which houses the first motor and the first reduction mechanism and a second chamber housing which houses the second motor and the second reduction mechanism; and the temperature sensor is arranged in the first chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The driving mode switching apparatus for the four-wheel-drive vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is arranged at a position away from the reduction mechanism. ### Claim 5 A driving mode switching apparatus for a four-wheel-drive vehicle, which switches driving modes of the four-wheel drive vehicle, comprising: a driving device; a reduction mechanism being transmitted with a rotational force of the driving device; an output member connected to the reduction mechanism and switching the driving modes by being displaced by the driving device; a housing housing the driving device and the reduction mechanism; a temperature sensor detecting ambient temperature in the housing; and a controller controlling an output property of the driving device in response to a detected temperature by the temperature sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The driving mode switching apparatus for the four-wheel-drive vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the driving device includes a first driving device and a second driving device; the reduction mechanism includes a first reduction mechanism connected to the first driving device and a second reduction mechanism connected to the second driving device; the output member includes a first output member which switches at least two-wheel-drive mode and four-wheel-drive modes, and a second output member which switches a reduction ratio and/or switches a locked state and a free state of a center differential under the four-wheel-drive mode; the housing includes a first chamber housing which houses the first driving device and the first reduction mechanism and a second chamber housing which houses the second driving device and the second reduction mechanism; and the temperature sensor is arranged in the first chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The driving mode switching apparatus for the four-wheel-drive vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the temperature sensor is arranged at a position away from the driving device within the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The driving mode switching apparatus for the four-wheel-drive vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the temperature sensor is arranged at a position away from the reduction mechanism within the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The driving mode switching apparatus for the four-wheel-drive vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the temperature sensor is arranged at a position away from the driving device so that the temperature sensor is not directly in contact with the driving device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The driving mode switching apparatus for the four-wheel-drive vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the temperature sensor is arranged at a position away from the reduction mechanism so that the temperature sensor is not directly in contact with the reduction mechanism. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The driving mode switching apparatus for the four-wheel-drive vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the driving device is a motor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The driving mode switching apparatus for the four-wheel-drive vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the output member is an output rod.