Patent ID: 7229378

Claim:
A transfer case for use in a motor vehicle having a powertrain and first and second drivelines, comprising: an input shaft driven by the powertrain; a reduction unit driven by said input shaft; a first output shaft adapted to drive the first driveline; a second output shaft adapted to drive the second driveline; a range cutch operable for establishing a high-range drive connection and a low-range drive connection between said reduction unit and said first output shaft; a range shift member operable in a first range position to establish said high-range drive connection and in a second range position to establish said low-range drive connection; a mode clutch operable for establishing a two-wheel drive connection and a four-wheel drive connection between said first output shaft and said second output shaft; a mode shift member operable in a first mode position to establish said two-wheel drive connection and in a second mode position to establish said four-wheel drive connection; and a clutch actuator assembly including a driveshaft, a range actuator operable for moving said range shift member between its first and second range positions in response to rotation of said driveshaft through a first range of rotary travel, a mode actuator operable for moving said mode shift member between its first and second mode positions in response to rotation of said driveshaft through a second range of rotary travel, and an electric motor for rotating said driveshaft, said mode actuator including a first member driven by said driveshaft, a second member operable for converting rotary movement of said first member into axial movement of said mode shift member, and a lost motion mechanism configured to permit rotary movement of said first member relative to said second member during rotation of said driveshaft through its first range of rotary travel and prevent relative rotation therebetween during rotation of said driveshaft through its second range of rotary travel.