Patent ID: 8556057

Claim:
A transfer case comprising: a first output shaft; a second output shaft; a clutch assembly disposed at one of the first and second output shafts, the clutch assembly including inner and outer drum members, one of the inner and outer drum members rotatable in association with rotation of the first output shaft and the other one of the inner and outer drum members rotatable in association with the second output shaft, the clutch assembly further including a plurality of frictional clutch plates, the frictional clutch plates positioned between the inner and outer drum members and formed of at least one frictional clutch plate coupled with the inner drum member and at least one frictional clutch plate coupled with the outer drum member; an actuator shaft rotatably coupled with an actuator, the actuator shaft disposed in parallel relation with the first and second output shafts; and a clutch actuator member coupled with the actuator and extending generally perpendicular from the actuator shaft for applying axial force to the frictional clutch plates to transmit a drive torque of the first output shaft to the second output shaft, wherein the clutch actuator member is a sliding lever moveable in an axial direction of the actuator shaft in association with rotation the actuator shaft coupled with the actuator, wherein the sliding lever includes a sliding member with an axial opening for receiving the actuator shaft, and an annular actuator portion at an opposing end from the sliding member, the annular actuator portion of the sliding lever having a circular through opening, wherein the transfer case further comprises a thrust bearing of annular shape which is slidably placed between the annular actuator portion of the sliding lever and the clutch assembly, the thrust bearing having a circular central opening to which one of the first and second output shafts is received and which is aligned with the circular through opening of the annular actuator portion of the sliding lever, such that the annular actuator portion applies axial force to an annular portion around the circular central opening of the thrust bearing for operating the clutch upon actuation of the actuator.