Patent · US Expired

Transfer case with hydraulic range shift and adaptive clutch control

US6458056B1 · kind B1 · utility

8Cited by
15References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 11, 2001
Grant dateOct 1, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 11, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60K23/0808
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A power transfer system includes a transfer case having a clutch assembly arranged across an interaxle differential, a hydraulic clutch actuation system operable to control actuation of the clutch assembly, sensors for detecting various dynamic and operational characteristics of the vehicle, and a controller for controlling the hydraulic clutch actuation system in response to the sensor signals. Upon the occurrence of traction loss, the clutch assembly is automatically actuated for limiting interaxle slip while transferring increased drive torque to the non-slipping driveline. The actuated condition of the clutch assembly is modulated between its non-actuated and fully-actuated limits for automatically varying the magnitude of speed differentiation and torque biasing across the interaxle differential in response to changes in the operational characteristics of the motor vehicle. The transfer case is also equipped with a gearset and a hydraulically-actuated range shift mechanism for permitting on-the-move shifting between high-range and low-range drive modes.

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