Patent ID: 6675677
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: B60K,Y10T

Abstract:
A transfer case for use in a motor vehicle to selectively transfer drive torque from a powertrain to first and second pairs of wheels, comprising:a first output shaft driven by the powertrain and operably interconnected with the first pair of wheels for driving the first pair of wheels; a second output shaft selectively driven by said first output shaft and operably interconnected with the second pair of wheels for driving the second pair of wheels; a transfer gear assembly operably disposed between said first output shaft and said second output shaft for transferring drive torque from said first output shaft to said second output shaft, said transfer gear assembly including a first transfer gear in selective drive connection with said first output shaft, said first transfer gear having a first rotational axis, a second transfer gear in meshed engagement with said first transfer gear, said second transfer gear having a second rotational axis, and a third transfer gear in drive connection with said second transfer gear and said second output shaft, said third transfer gear having a third rotational axis; and a clutch pack operably disposed between said first output shaft and said first transfer gear for selectively establishing drive connection therebetween, said clutch pack including an outer casing fixed for rotation with said first transfer gear, an inner casing fixed for rotation with said first output shaft, and a first series of clutch plates fixed to said outer casing and a second series of clutch plates intermeshed with said first series of clutch plates and fixed to said inner casing, said first and second series of clutch plates selectively actuated for establishing a drive connection between said inner casing and said outer casing.