Patent ID: 7399251

Claim:
A transfer case comprising: an input shaft; first and second output shafts; a range unit driven at a reduced speed relative to said input shaft; a range clutch operable in a first range position to establish a drive connection between said input shaft and said first output shaft and further operable in a second range position to establish a drive connection between said range unit and said first output shaft; a mode clutch operable in a first mode position to disengage said second output shaft from driven engagement with said first output shaft and further operable in a second mode position to establish a drive connection between said first output shaft and said second output shaft; a worm gearset having a worm driving a worm gear; a motor driving said worm; an actuator shaft driven by said worm gear; a range actuator driven by said actuator shaft for moving said range clutch between its first and second range positions; a mode actuator driven by said actuator shaft for moving said mode clutch between its first and second mode positions; and a control system for actuating said motor to control the magnitude and direction of rotation of said actuator shaft so as to coordinate movement of said range clutch and said mode clutch, said actuator shaft is rotatable through three distinct ranges of travel wherein a first range of travel causes said range actuator to move said range clutch between its first and second range positions while said mode actuator maintains said mode clutch in its first mode position, and wherein a second range of travel causes said range actuator to maintain said range clutch in its first range position while said mode actuator moves said mode clutch between its first and second mode positions.