Patent ID: 9182012
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: B60K,F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A power transfer unit for use in a vehicle for transferring a torque, the power transfer unit comprising: a first shaft configured to receive the torque from a vehicle transmission or a device connected directly to the vehicle transmission; a second shaft configured to output the torque to a propshaft; and an activating assembly for selectively transferring the torque from the first shaft to the second shaft, the activating assembly including; a sliding cam that includes an engaging cam surface and a disengaging cam surface; a rotating cam that includes an engaging cam surface and a disengaging cam surface that are configured to engage or be engaged by the engaging cam surface and the disengaging cam surface of the sliding cam to move the sliding cam through relative rotation between the rotating cam and the sliding cam, and wherein at least one of the disengaging and engaging cam surfaces is configured as a surface that is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the sliding cam; an actuator that is electrically actuated, adapted to communicate with an electronic control that actuates the actuator, and is configured to selectively rotate the rotating cam relative to the sliding cam; an engaging gear; wherein the engaging gear is configured to be moved by the sliding cam between a first engaged position where the torque is transferred from the first shaft to the second shaft through the engaging gear and a second disengaged position where no torque is transferred to the second shaft; wherein relative rotation between the rotating cam and the sliding cam moves the sliding cam thereby moving the engaging gear between the first engaged and second disengaged positions.