Patent ID: 6845683

Claim:
A shifting-transfer mechanism used in a vehicle with a part-time four-wheel drive system, the vehicle being equipped with a power transmitting means driven by an internal-combustion engine, wherein the 2WD high speed, 4WD high speed, neutral position, and 4WD low speed are arranged in order, the shifting-transfer mechanism comprising: an actuator for moving a drive object into connection with an output shaft of the power transmitting means; a first position detecting switch for detecting the position of the drive object within one of a range of engagement or non-engagement of the 2WD high speed, the 4WD high speed, the neutral position, or the 4WD low speed; a second position detecting switch operating independently of the first position detecting switch, for detecting a position of the drive object within one of the range of engagement or non-engagement of the 2WD high speed, the 4WD high speed, the neutral position, or the 4WD low speed; a third position detecting switch operating independently of the first and the second position detecting switches, for detecting a position of the drive object within one of the range of engagement or non-engagement of the 2WD high speed, the 4WD high speed, the neutral position, or the 4WD low speed; and a fourth position detecting switch operating independently of the first, the second, and the third position detecting switches, for detecting a position of the drive object within one of the range of engagement or non-engagement of the 2WD high speed, the 4WD high speed, the neutral position, or the 4WD low speed, wherein: switching patterns of two of said position detecting switches within one of the range of engagement of the 2WD high speed, non-engagement between the 2WD high speed and the 4WD high speed, engagement of the 4WD high speed, non-engagement between the 4WD high speed and the neutral position, engagement of the neutral position, non-engagement between the neutral position and the 4WD low speed, or engagement of the 4WD low speed are utilized for detecting the position of the drive object; and two position detecting switches are simultaneously changed to different positions in at least one of the ranges of engagement.