HYDRAULICALLY SHIFTED TWO-SPEED ON-DEMAND TRANSFER CASE
First Claim
1. A transfer case comprising:
- an input shaft;
first and second output shafts;
a planetary gearset being driven by said input shaft and including a sun gear, a ring gear, and a set of planet gears rotatably supported on a carrier that is coupled to said first output shaft;
a collar driven by said sun gear and selectively driving said carrier, said ring gear being moveable between a first position and a second position, said collar coupled to said ring gear for movement therewith between first and second positions, said collar being operable in its first position to couple said sun gear to said carrier, said ring gear being operable in its first position to be released from coupled engagement with a stationary member, said collar being operable in its second position to be released from engagement with said carrier, said ring gear being operable in its second position to be coupled to said stationary member; and
a mechanism to move said ring gear between its first and second positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A transfer case includes an input shaft, first and second output shafts, and a planetary gearset including a sun gear, a ring gear and planet gears rotatably supported on a carrier coupled to the first output shaft. A collar is driven by the sun gear and selectively drives the carrier. The ring gear is moveable between first and second positions. The collar is coupled to the ring gear for movement therewith between first and second positions. The collar is operable in its first position to couple the sun gear to the carrier and operable in its second position to be released from engagement with the carrier. The ring gear is operable in its first position to be released from coupled engagement with a stationary member and operable in its second position to be coupled to the stationary member. A mechanism moves the ring gear between its first and second positions.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A transfer case comprising:
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an input shaft; first and second output shafts; a planetary gearset being driven by said input shaft and including a sun gear, a ring gear, and a set of planet gears rotatably supported on a carrier that is coupled to said first output shaft; a collar driven by said sun gear and selectively driving said carrier, said ring gear being moveable between a first position and a second position, said collar coupled to said ring gear for movement therewith between first and second positions, said collar being operable in its first position to couple said sun gear to said carrier, said ring gear being operable in its first position to be released from coupled engagement with a stationary member, said collar being operable in its second position to be released from engagement with said carrier, said ring gear being operable in its second position to be coupled to said stationary member; and a mechanism to move said ring gear between its first and second positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A transfer case comprising:
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an input shaft; first and second output shafts; a planetary gearset interconnecting said input shaft to said first output shaft and including a sun gear driven by said input shaft, a ring gear, and a set of planet gears supported by a carrier assembly and meshed with said sun gear and said ring gear, said carrier assembly driving said first output shaft; a collar being fixed for rotation with and axially moveable relative to said sun gear between a first position and a second position, said collar being axially fixed to and rotatable relative to said ring gear; said ring gear being moveable between a first position and a second position, said sun gear being coupled to said carrier assembly when said collar is located in its first position, said sun gear being permitted to rotate relative to said carrier assembly when said collar is located in its second position; a first clutch plate fixed to said carrier assembly; a second clutch plate fixed to a stationary member; and a shift mechanism to move said ring gear between its first and second positions to establish high-range and low-range drive connections between said input shaft and said carrier assembly, said high-range connection being established when said ring gear is in its first position whereat said sun gear is coupled to said first clutch plate and said ring gear is released from said second clutch plate, said low-range drive connection being established when said ring gear is in its second position whereat said ring gear is coupled to said second clutch plate and said sun gear is released from said first clutch plate. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification