US4040309A — Automatic two-speed transfer case

Claim 1

Independent Claim 151 words

A transfer case assembly comprising a transfer case housing, two output shafts rotatably supported in said housing in a coaxial relation, an input shaft rotatably supported in said housing parallel to said output shafts, a two-way roller clutch disposed between said outer shafts with its two output hubs coupled to the adjacent ends of said two output shafts, a drive sprocket rotatably mounted on said input shaft, chain drive means for directly connecting said drive sprocket to the outer drive member of said two-way roller clutch, speed reduction gear means including a first drive gear rotatably mounted on said input shaft for reducing the speed and increasing the torque applied to said drive sprocket, and clutching means having two positions for selectively coupling in a non-rotational relation said first drive gear to said input shaft in one position and said drive sprocket directly to said input shaft in said second position.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 151 words

A transfer case assembly comprising a transfer case housing, two output shafts rotatably supported in said housing in a coaxial relation, an input shaft rotatably supported in said housing parallel to said output shafts, a two-way roller clutch disposed between said outer shafts with its two output hubs coupled to the adjacent ends of said two output shafts, a drive sprocket rotatably mounted on said input shaft, chain drive means for directly connecting said drive sprocket to the outer drive member of said two-way roller clutch, speed reduction gear means including a first drive gear rotatably mounted on said input shaft for reducing the speed and increasing the torque applied to said drive sprocket, and clutching means having two positions for selectively coupling in a non-rotational relation said first drive gear to said input shaft in one position and said drive sprocket directly to said input shaft in said second position.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 53 words

A transfer case assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said input shaft is formed with a cylindrical bore having an internal diameter larger than the outside diameter of a vehicle's main transmission output shaft and with internal splines at its inner end for receiving the splined end of the transmission's output shaft.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 56 words

A transfer case as defined in claim 2, wherein said input shaft includes a plurality of radial lubricating ports at spaced intervals along said cylindrical bore and includes a helical spring extending along the length of said cylindrical bore for moving the lubricating oil axially as said input shaft rotates and outwardly through said lubricating ports.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 119 words

A transfer case assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said chain drive means comprises an endless chain disposed about said drive sprocket and said outer drive member of said two-way roller clutch, and said speed reduction gear means comprises an intermediate shaft rotatably supported within said housing parallel to said input shaft and extending through the open middle loop area of chain, a gear cluster having a second drive gear fixed on one end of said intermediate shaft in constant mesh with said first drive gear, a third drive gear fixed on the other end of said intermediate shaft, and said drive sprocket having an integral gear portion which is in constant mesh with said third drive gear.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 226 words

A transfer case assembly comprising a transfer case housing, two output shafts rotatably supported in said housing in a coaxial relationship, a two-way roller clutch disposed between said output shafts with its two output hubs coupled to the adjacent ends of said two output shafts, an input shaft rotatably supported in said housing parallel to said output shafts, a drive sprocket rotatably mounted on said input shaft, endless chain disposed about said drive sprocket and the outer drive member of said two-way roller clutch, an intermediate shaft rotatably supported within said housing parallel to said input shaft and extending through the open middle loop area of said chain drive belt, a gear cluster including a first drive gear rotatably mounted on said input shaft, a second larger drive gear fixed on one end of said intermediate shaft in constant mesh with said first drive gear, a third drive gear fixed on the other end of said intermediate shaft, said drive sprocket having an integral gear portion in constant mesh with said third drive gear, and clutching means having two positions for selectively coupling in a non-rotational relation said first drive gear to said input shaft when shifted into one of said positions and for selectively coupling in a non-rotational relation said drive sprocket directly to said input shaft when shifted into the other of said positions.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 226 words

A transfer case assembly comprising a transfer case housing, two output shafts rotatably supported in said housing in a coaxial relationship, a two-way roller clutch disposed between said output shafts with its two output hubs coupled to the adjacent ends of said two output shafts, an input shaft rotatably supported in said housing parallel to said output shafts, a drive sprocket rotatably mounted on said input shaft, endless chain disposed about said drive sprocket and the outer drive member of said two-way roller clutch, an intermediate shaft rotatably supported within said housing parallel to said input shaft and extending through the open middle loop area of said chain drive belt, a gear cluster including a first drive gear rotatably mounted on said input shaft, a second larger drive gear fixed on one end of said intermediate shaft in constant mesh with said first drive gear, a third drive gear fixed on the other end of said intermediate shaft, said drive sprocket having an integral gear portion in constant mesh with said third drive gear, and clutching means having two positions for selectively coupling in a non-rotational relation said first drive gear to said input shaft when shifted into one of said positions and for selectively coupling in a non-rotational relation said drive sprocket directly to said input shaft when shifted into the other of said positions.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 53 words

A transfer case assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein said input shaft is formed with a cylindrical bore having an internal diameter larger than the outside diameter of a vehicle's main transmission output shaft and with internal splines at its inner end for receiving the splined end of the transmission's output shaft.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 56 words

A transfer case as defined in claim 6, wherein said input shaft includes a plurality of radial lubricating ports at spaced intervals along said cylindrical bore and includes a helical spring extending along the length of said cylindrical bore for moving the lubricating oil axially as said input shaft rotates and outwardly through said lubricating ports.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 52 words

A transfer case assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said input shaft is formed with internal splines at its outer end for providing a power take-off connection, and wherein said transfer case housing is provided with a removable cover member directly in alignment with said outer end of said input shaft.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1980-08-08	1981-02-07	1981-08-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1984-08-08	1985-02-07	1985-08-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1988-08-08	1989-02-07	1989-08-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Automatic two-speed transfer case

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