Motor vehicles – Having four wheels driven – With manually operated means for disengaging drive to one or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-26
2001-11-13
Hurley, Kevin (Department: 3619)
Motor vehicles
Having four wheels driven
With manually operated means for disengaging drive to one or...
C074S335000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315073
ABSTRACT:
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 with respect to Japanese Application No.
10(1998)
-240749 filed on Aug. 26, 1998, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a vehicle driving system. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a 2WD-4WD changeover control device for changing the driving system of a vehicle between a two wheel drive mode and a four wheel drive mode.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A known 2WD-4WD changeover control device as illustrated in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho. 64 (1998)-85839 or Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. Hei. 7 (1995)-179133 includes a housing having a wall, and a shaft rotatably supported to the wall of the housing and linked continually to a 2WD-4WD changeover member of a transfer and driving mechanism for driving the shaft via a spring.
Generally speaking, such a 2WD-4WD changeover control device is provided with an indicator indicating whether the transfer is in the two wheel drive mode or the four wheel drive mode, and a switch is used for controlling the indicator. The switch is a commercially available one and is operated by a cam on a shift fork shaft. However, the use of such a switch is not particularly desirable from the standpoint of reducing cost and production weight.
A need thus exists for a 2WD-4WD changeover control device that is less costly and lighter in weight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the foregoing, the 2WD-4WD changeover control of the present invention includes a housing having a wall, a shaft rotatably supported with respect to the wall of the housing and linked continually to the 2WD-4WD changeover member of a transfer mechanism, a driving device for driving the shaft via a spring, an indicator indicating whether the transfer mechanism is in the two wheel drive mode or the four wheel drive mode, and a switch for controlling the indicator. The switch includes a plurality of mutually insulated electrodes provided at one of the inner side of the wall of the housing and the shaft, and a conductive member establishing and interrupting an electric connection between any two of the electrodes depending on the angular position of the shaft.
According to another aspect of the invention, a 2WD-4WD changeover control device for changing the driving system of a vehicle between the two wheel drive mode and the four wheel drive mode includes a housing having a wall made of insulating material, a shaft rotatably supported with respect to the wall of the housing and continually operatively associated with a 2WD-4WD changeover member, a driving device for driving the shaft to switch between the two wheel drive mode and the four wheel drive mode, an indicator for indicating one of the two wheel drive mode and the four wheel drive mode, and a switch for controlling operation of the indicator. The switch includes a plurality of electrodes provided at the inner side of the wall of the housing and a conductive member establishing and interrupting an electric connection between electrodes depending on the angular position of the shaft.
According to the present invention, the switch and the housing share a common portion thus providing an improvement in cost reduction and lightweight manufacturing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4664217 (1987-05-01), Welch et al.
patent: 4805472 (1989-02-01), Aoki et al.
patent: 4862989 (1989-09-01), Kano et al.
patent: 63-87317 (1988-04-01), None
patent: 64-85839 (1989-03-01), None
patent: 7-179133 (1995-07-01), None
patent: 9-79291 (1997-03-01), None
patent: 9-303426 (1997-11-01), None
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Hurley Kevin
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