Electronic shift or clutch actuator for a vehicle transmission
US5199325A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 12, 1991 |
| Grant date | Apr 6, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 12, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/19251
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an electronic actuator for use in a vehicle transmission such as a four wheel drive transfer case. In one preferred embodiment, the transfer case includes two separate electronic actuators, a range shift actuator which is utilized to effect shifting of the transfer case between high range, neutral, and low range drive positions, and a clutch actuator which is utilized to control engagement of a clutch between two wheel drive, automatic ("on demand" four wheel drive), and "part time" four wheel drive operating modes. The range shift actuator includes a rotary electric motor coaxially mounted relative to a rear output shaft of the transfer case, and a linear screw for translating the rotational movement of the motor shaft to selective axial movement of a range shift sleeve. The clutch actuator is similar to the range shift actuator except that, since the torque requirements necessary to bias the clutch are substantially greater than that necessary to effect the range shift, the clutch actuator includes additional gear reduction to enable the actuator to generate a sufficient axial force to fully engage the clutch. The actuators do not draw any cur…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.