Transfer case with synchronized range shift and adaptive clutch control

摘要

A four-wheel drive power transfer system (10) is disclosed to include a transfer case (20) having a clutch assembly (42) arranged to control speed differentiation and torque biasing across an interaxle differential (62), sensors (46) for detecting and generating sensor signals indicative of various dynamic and operational characteristics of the vehicle, and a controller (48) for controlling actuation of the clutch assembly (42) in response to the sensor signals. Upon the occurrence of traction loss, the clutch assembly (42) 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 (42) 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 (62) in response to changes in the dynamic and operational characteristics of the vehicle. <IMAGE>