Patent ID: 7111702

Claim:
An adaptive drive system for a four-wheel drive vehicle comprising, in combination, a first driveline having a first prop shaft, a first differential driven by said first prop shaft and a first pair of axles and wheels driven by said first differential, a second driveline having a second prop shaft, a pair of electromagnetic clutches driven by said second prop shaft and a second pair of axles and wheels driven by a respective one of said pair of electromagnetic clutches, an open center differential having a first output driving said first driveline and a second output driving said second driveline, a steering angle sensor for providing a signal representing an angular position of said first pair of wheels, and control means for receiving said signal from said steering angle sensor and providing an independent output to each of said pair of electromagnetic clutches, said control means including a center dead band and effecting release of one of said pair of clutches on an inside of a turn as sensed by said steering angle sensor outside said dead band, said release outside said dead band in proportion to said angular position of said first pair of wheels.