Transfer case—method of controlling lubrication—eco— mode operation

A vehicle transfer case for a normally rear wheel drive vehicle, said transfer case comprising:

• a housing;
• a primary shaft rotatably mounted in said housing;
• a secondary shaft for powering a front differential of a vehicle, said secondary shaft being selectively driven by said primary shaft and being rotatably mounted within said housing;
• a hub torsionally affixed with said primary shaft, said hub having an axially extending lubrication passage intersected by generally radial lubrication holes, said hub being fixably connected to said primary shaft and said hub having holes;
• a clutch housing selectively torsionally connected with said hub via a friction pack;
• a primary sprocket rotatably mounted upon said primary shaft and torsionally fixed with said clutch housing, said sprocket being engaged with a chain torsionally connecting said primary sprocket with said secondary shaft;
• a hydraulically actuated piston for engaging such friction pack connecting said clutch housing with said hub;
• a reservoir system fixed with respect to said housing for capturing lubricant energized resulting of the operation of said primary and secondary shafts, said reservoir system channeling lubricant to a lubricant collection receptacle;
• a stationary passage formed in said housing for delivering lubricant from said lubricant collection receptacle radially inward of said friction pack to said hub lubricant passage;
• and
• a valve positioned within said stationary passage hydraulically actuated and activated upon activation of said piston to allow lubricant to flow from said lubricant collection receptacle to said hub lubrication passage.

A vehicle transfer case for a normally rear wheel drive vehicle, said transfer case comprising:

• a housing;
• a primary shaft rotatably mounted in said housing;
• a secondary shaft for powering a front differential of a vehicle, said secondary shaft being selectively driven by said primary shaft and being rotatably mounted within said housing;
• a hub torsionally affixed with said primary shaft;
• a clutch housing selectively torsionally connected with said hub via a friction pack;
• a primary sprocket rotatably mounted upon said primary shaft and torsionally fixed with said clutch housing, said sprocket being engaged with a chain torsionally connecting said primary sprocket with said secondary shaft;
• a hydraulically actuated piston for engaging such friction pack connecting said clutch housing with said hub;
• a reservoir system fixed with respect to said housing for capturing lubricant energized resulting of the operation of said primary and secondary shafts, said reservoir system channeling lubricant to a lubricant collection receptacle;
• a stationary passage formed in said housing for delivering lubricant from said lubricant collection receptacle to said friction pack to said hub lubricant passage;
• and
• a valve positioned within said stationary passage hydraulically actuated and activated upon activation of said piston to allow lubricant to flow from said lubricant collection receptacle to said friction pack.