Patent · US Expired

On-demand transfer case with synchronized range shift and adaptive clutch control

US6554731B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
26References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 3, 2002
Grant dateApr 29, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 3, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60K17/3467
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A full-time power transfer system is disclosed to include a transfer case having a clutch assembly arranged to control speed differentiation and torque biasing across an interaxle differential, sensors for detecting and generating sensor signals indicative of various dynamic and operational characteristics of the vehicle, and a controller for controlling actuation of the clutch assembly 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. Under a preferred adaptive control scheme, the actuated condition of the clutch assembly is controllably 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 dynamic and operational characteristics of the vehicle.

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