Transfer case
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A transfer case is a part of a four wheel drive system found in four wheel drive and all wheel drive vehicles. The transfer case is connected to the transmission and also to the front and rear axles by means of driveshafts. It is also referred to as a "transfer gearcase", "transfer gearbox" or just "transfer box".
[edit] Functions
1. The transfer case receives power from the transmission and sends it to both the front and rear axles. This can be done with a set of gears, but the majority of transfer cases manufactured today are chain driven. On some vehicles, such as four wheel drive trucks or vehicles intended for off-road use, this feature is controlled by the driver. The driver can put the transfer case into either "two wheel drive" or "four wheel drive" mode. This is sometimes accomplished by means of a shifter, similar to that in a manual transmission. On some vehicles this may be electronically operated by a switch instead. Some vehicles, such as all wheel drive sports cars, have transfer cases that are not selectable. Such a transfer case is "locked" into all wheel drive mode 100% of the time.
2. The transfer case may contain one or more sets of "low range gears". Low range gears are engaged with a shifter or electronic switch. On many transfer cases this shifter is the same as the one that selects 2WD or 4WD operation as described above. Low range gears slow down the vehicle and increase the torque available at the axles. Low-range gears are used during slow-speed or extreme off road maneuvers, such as rockcrawling, or when pulling a heavy load. Again, on all wheel drive sports cars this feature is often absent. Some very large vehicles, such as heavy equipment or military trucks, have more than one low-range gear.
[edit] Types of transfer cases
Those used on off-road vehicles such as trucks, truggies, rock crawling vehicles, and some military vehicles generally allow the driver to select 2WD versus 4WD as well as high versus low gear ranges. Those used in sports cars are usually "transparent" to the driver; there is no shifter or select lever.
There are two different types of "internal workings" found in most transfer cases. Gear-driven transfer cases can use sets of gears to drive either the front or both the front and rear driveshafts. These are generally strong, heavy units that are used in large trucks, but there are currently several gear drive cases in production for passenger cars.
Chain-driven transfer cases use a chain to drive most often only the front axle, but can drive both axles. Chain-driven transfer cases are quieter and lighter than gear-driven ones. They are used in vehicles such as compact trucks, full size trucks, Jeeps and SUVs. Some off-road driving enthusiasts modify their vehicles to use gear-driven transfer cases, accepting the additional weight and noise to gain the extra strength they generally provide.
Transfer cases are also classified as either "divorced" or "married". "Married" transfer cases are bolted directly to the transmission. Sometimes a "married" transfer case is an integral part of the transmission and the two components share the same housing. A "divorced" transfer case is completely separate from the transmission; a short driveshaft travels from the transmission to the divorced transfer case. Married transfer cases are by far the most common. In fact, this is so common that the term "married" is rarely used. Divorced transfer cases are used on very long wheelbase vehicles, such as commercial trucks or military trucks. Transfer cases found in cars, pickups and SUVs are always of the married type.
