Patent ID: 7059992

Claim:
A transfer case for a four-wheel drive vehicle having a powertrain and first and second drivelines, comprising: an input shaft driven by the powertrain; a first output shaft driving the first driveline; a second output shaft driving the second driveline; a torque transfer mechanism operably interconnecting said input shaft to said first and second output shafts, said torque transfer mechanism including a differential assembly, a planetary gear assembly and first and second mode clutches, said differential assembly having an input component driven by said input shaft, a first output component driving said first output shaft and a second output component driving said second output shaft, said planetary gear assembly having a first sun gear, a first ring gear, a first planet carrier driven by one of said input component and said second output component, a set of first planet gears rotatably supported by said first planet carrier and meshed with said first sun gear and said first ring gear, a second sun gear, a second ring gear driven by said first planet carrier, a second planet carrier driven by said first output shaft, and a set of second planet gears rotatably supported by said second planet carrier and meshed with said second sun gear and said second ring gear, said first mode clutch is operable for selectively inhibiting rotation of said first sun gear for decreasing the rotary speed of said first output shaft and said second mode clutch is operable for selectively inhibiting rotation of said second sun gear for increasing the rotary speed of said first output shaft; and a control system for controlling actuation of said first and second mode clutches.