Patent · US Expired

Power transfer device for four-wheel drive

US4802383A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
10References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 22, 1987
Grant dateFeb 7, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 22, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60K17/3465
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A power transfer device for four-wheel drive includes a center differential of the bevel gear type arranged to split the driving torque from a power transmission into two torque delivery paths respectively for front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive, a front-drive differential of the bevel gear type arranged coaxially with the center differential at one side thereof to transfer the split driving torque from a side gear of the center differential to front-wheel axles, an output gear for rear-wheel drive arranged coaxially with the center differential at the other side thereof to transfer the split driving torque from another side gear of the center differential to rear-wheel axles, and a limited-slip differential in the form of a viscous coupling assembled with a mounting case for the output gear to effect limited-slip torque proportional to the difference in rotational speed between the side gears. In the transfer device, a clutch mechanism is arranged between the center differential and the mounting case for the output gear to selectively render the limited-slip differential inoperative.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.