Abstract: A front transaxle for an all-wheel drive motor vehicle wherein the housing of an interaxle differential is operatively connected to a shiftable transmission and, via a tubular shaft, drives one bevel gear of an angle drive. The other angle drive bevel gear is operatively connected to a longitudinal propeller shaft for driving the rear axle. One front wheel drive shaft extends from the interaxle differential through the tubular shaft. The housing of the angle drive is connected by a flanged joint to the transmission outer housing. The arrangement permits the differential and angle drive subassemblies to be manufactured and tested at different locations while preventing the mixing of lubricants between the two subassemblies upon their assembly into the transaxle.

Abstract: A chassis frame crossbeam assembly for a four wheel drive motor vehicle comprising a lower crossmember and an upper bridge member fixed thereon. The crossmember intermediate portion being downwardly depressed formed with a thinned valley section. The bridge member having a hollow-section including an intermediate bifurcated portion in the form of fore and aft upwardly arched branch sections with end extensions welded on either side of the crossmember thinned valley section. The vertically opposed bridge member branch sections and crossmember depression combine to define a through passage for a longitudinal drive shaft for driving the rear wheels. The bridge member branch sections define a free open channel therebetween adapted to receive a transverse tube portion of the steering assembly therethrough arranged with its principal axis orthogonal to the principal axis of the subjacent longitudinal drive shaft.

Abstract: A drive line assembly and mounting arrangement for converting a front engine front wheel drive vehicle to an on-demand four wheel drive system. The vehicle rear axle is adapted to be selectively driven by means of a viscous fluid coupling positioned intermediate a forward angled universal-joint drive line assembly and a rear torque tube enclosed longitudinal propeller shaft assembly. An overrunning clutch is rigidly connected intermediate a forwardly extending neck portion of the rear axle drive housing and the torque tube defines a composite torque tube structure. The overrunning clutch is adapted to be locked for a transmission of torque during normal driving. The rear axle drive housing is sprung from the frame by a pair of transversely aligned isolation mounts while the composite torque tube is resiliently secured by a bracket support adjacent its forward end.

Abstract: A dual bevel gear differential transaxle assembly for a front transverse engine vehicle with front and rear pairs of road wheels providing a part time on-demand four-wheel drive system. Interaxle and front wheel bevel gear differentials are aligned on a transverse axis. The differentials are connected by a side gear shaft and inner and outer side gear sleeves concentric about the side gear shaft. The interaxle differential achieves front axle to rear axle differentiation while the front wheel differential provides differentiation for the front pair of road wheels. The dual differential transaxle assembly includes viscous fluid clutch means providing an automatic limited slip condition of the interaxle differential when there is a predetermined difference in speed or rpm between the front and rear pair of road wheels.

Abstract: A dual bevel gear differential transaxle assembly for a front transverse engine vehicle with front and rear pairs of road wheels providing a constant four wheel drive system. A first interaxle bevel gear differential and a second front wheel bevel gear differential are aligned on a transverse axis. The differentials are connected by a side gear shaft and inner and outer side gear sleeves concentric about the side gear shaft. The first differential achieves front axle to rear axle differentiation while the second differential provides differentiation for the front pair of road wheels. The dual differential transaxle assembly includes clutch means providing selective lock-out of the first differential. With the clutch means disengaged the first differential is in its unlocked mode whereby the transaxle assembly provides differentiation between the front and rear axles.

Abstract: Automatic Power Transmission apparatus having output members extending in opposite directions to and generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the engine crankshaft. A transfer shaft has a gear on opposite ends thereof to transfer the output of one portion of the drive train back to another portion of the drive train which is located in general planar alignment with the input to the apparatus.