Patent ID: 7650808

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 first clutch operable in a first range position for establishing a high-range drive connection between said input shaft and said first output shaft and in a second range position for establishing a low-range drive connection between said reduction unit and said first output shaft; a second clutch for selectively transmitting drive torque from said first output shaft to said second output shaft; an electric motor for rotating a driveshaft; and a clutch operator having a first member rotatably driven by said driveshaft, a second member axially moveable between first and second mode positions for controlling the magnitude of a clutch engagement force applied to said second clutch, a cam mechanism for converting rotary movement of said first member into axial movement of said second member, said cam mechanism including a roller mounted to said first member for radial movement and a spiral channel formed in said second member within which said roller is disposed, said channel having a cam surface engaged by said roller and configured to cause movement of said second member between its first and second mode positions in response to rotation of said first member relative to said second member, and a movement coordinating mechanism for controlling relative rotation between said first and second members so as to coordinate movement of said first clutch between its first and second range positions with axial movement of said second member in response to rotation of said driveshaft.