Drive condition changeover apparatus for a transfer unit

Claim 1

A drive condition changeover apparatus for a transfer unit, comprising: (a) a transfer case; (b) a cross rod rotatably supported in the transfer case and having one end which projects out of the transfer case; (c) a hand operation lever secured to said one end of the cross rod; (d) a pair of shift rods mounted entirely within the transfer case, said shift rods extending parallel to each other and extending perpendicular to the cross rod, each said shift rod being axially slidably supported at both of its ends in the transfer case; (e) an interlock member preventing both of the pair of shift rods from axially sliding simultaneously, said interlock member permitting a selected one of the shift rods to axially slide; (f) a shift lever mounted within the transfer case and secured to the cross rod; (g) a rocking plate mounted within the transfer case, said rocking plate having a central portion which is pivotably supported by the shift lever, said rocking plate having a pair of end portions respectively engaging the pair of shift rods; (h) a first shift fork supported by one of the shift rods, said first shift fork effecting changeover between four wheel low speed drive condition, neutral condition and four wheel high speed drive condition; and (i) a second shift fork supported by the other of the shift rods, said second fork effecting changeover between four wheel high speed drive condition and two wheel high speed drive condition, said second shift fork being resiliently retained at a predetermined position on the other of the shift rods, and being movable with respect to the other of the shift rods in both axial directions thereof.