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A hybrid drive system for a four-wheel drive system arranged to supply motive power to a transfer case from an internal combustion engine and/or an electric motor/generator. The transfer case is comprised of a planetary gearset having a first input driven by the motor/generator, a second input drive

A hybrid drive system for a four-wheel drive system arranged to supply motive power to a transfer case from an internal combustion engine and/or an electric motor/generator. The transfer case is comprised of a planetary gearset having a first input driven by the motor/generator, a second input driven by the engine, and an output directing drive torque to the front and rear drivelines. The output of the planetary gearset drives a rear output shaft connected to the rear driveline and further drives a front output shaft connected to the front driveline. The transfer case further includes a second planetary gearset having an input driven by the motor/generator and an output driving the first input of the first planetary gearset. This hybrid drive arrangement permits use of a modified transfer case in place of a conventional transfer case in a traditional four-wheel drive driveline.

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A hybrid drive system for a four-wheel drive system arranged to supply motive power to a transfer case from an internal combustion engine and/or an electric motor/generator. The transfer case is comprised of a planetary gearset having a first input driven by the motor/generator, a second input drive

A hybrid drive system for a four-wheel drive system arranged to supply motive power to a transfer case from an internal combustion engine and/or an electric motor/generator. The transfer case is comprised of a planetary gearset having a first input driven by the motor/generator, a second input driven by the engine, and an output directing drive torque to the front and rear drivelines. The output of the planetary gearset drives a rear output shaft connected to the rear driveline and further drives a front output shaft connected to the front driveline. The transfer case further includes a second planetary gearset having an input driven by the motor/generator and an output driving the first input of the first planetary gearset. This hybrid drive arrangement permits use of a modified transfer case in place of a conventional transfer case in a traditional four-wheel drive driveline. carrier to said first output shaft to define a two-wheel drive mode, said transfer clutch is further operable in an applied state such that drive torque is transferred from said carrier to both of said first and second output shafts to define a four-wheel drive mode. 5. The transfer case of claim 4 wherein an electric two-wheel high-range drive mode is established when said input clutch is released, said direct clutch is applied, low brake is released, said transfer clutch is released and said electric motor is actuated to drive said mainshaft. 6. The transfer case of claim 4 wherein a hybrid two-wheel high-range drive mode is established when said input clutch is applied, said direct clutch is applied, said low brake is released and said transfer clutch is released such that drive torque generated by said electric motor is combined with drive torque from the engine to drive said mainshaft. 7. The transfer case of claim 4 wherein an engine two-wheel high-range drive mode is established when said input clutch is applied, said direct clutch is applied, said low brake is released, said transfer clutch is released and said electric motor is off such that drive torque generated by the engine drives said mainshaft. 8. The transfer case of claim 4 wherein an electric two-wheel low-range drive mode is established when said input clutch is released, said direct clutch is released, said low brake is applied, said transfer clutch is released and said electric motor is activated to drive said mainshaft. 9. The transfer case of claim 4 wherein a hybrid two-wheel low-range drive mode is established when said input clutch is applied, said direct clutch is released, said low brake is applied and said transfer clutch is released such that drive torque generated by said electric motor is combined with drive torque from the engine to drive said mainshaft. 10. The transfer case of claim 4 wherein an engine two-wheel low-range drive mode is established when said input clutch is applied, said direct clutch is released, said low brake is applied, said transfer clutch is released and said electric motor is off such that drive torque generated by the engine drives said mainshaft. 11. The transfer case of claim 4 wherein an electric four-wheel high-range drive mode is established when said input clutch is released, said direct clutch is applied, said low brake is released, said transfer clutch is applied and said electric motor is activated to drive said mainshaft. 12. The transfer case of claim 11 wherein said transfer clutch can be fully engaged to define a locked four-wheel high-range drive mode or actuation of said transfer clutch can be varied to define an on-demand four-wheel high-range drive mode. 13. The transfer case of claim 4 wherein a hybrid four-wheel high-range drive mode is established when said input clutch is applied, said direct clutch is applied, said low brake is released, said transfer clutch is applied and drive torque generated by said electric motor is combined with drive torque from the engine to drive said mainshaft. 14. The transfer case of claim 13 wherein said transfer clutch can be fully engaged to define a locked four-wheel high-range drive mode or actuation of said transfer clutch can be varied to define an on-demand four-wheel high-range drive mode. 15. The transfer case of claim 4 wherein an engine four-wheel high-range drive mode is established when said input clutch is applied, said direct clutch is applied, said low brake is released, said transfer clutch is applied and said electric motor is off such that drive torque generated by the engine drives said mainshaft. 16. The transfer case of claim 15 wherein said transfer clutch can be fully engaged to define a locked four-wheel high-range drive mode or actuation of said transfer clutch can be varied to define an on-demand four-wheel high-range drive mode. 17. The transfer case of claim 4 wherein said input clutch is a spring-apply multi-plate clutch assembly operable disposed between said input shaft and said mainshaft, said input clutch is normally operable in its applied state and can be selectively shifted into its released state via actuation of a first power-operated actuator controlled by a control system. 18. The transfer case of claim 17 wherein said direct clutch is a spring-apply multi-plate clutch assembly operably disposed between said mainshaft and said carrier, said direct clutch is normally operable in its applied state and can be selectively shifted into its released state via actuation of a second power-operated actuator controlled by said control system. 19. The transfer case of claim 18 wherein said low brake is a spring-release multi-plate brake assembly operably disposed between said ring gear and a stationary member, said low brake is normally operable in its released state and can be selectively shifted into its applied state via actuation of said second power-operated actuator. 20. The transfer case of claim 19 wherein said transfer clutch is a spring-released multi-plate clutch assembly operably disposed between said transfer assembly and said second output shaft, said transfer clutch is normally operable in its released state and can be selectively shifted into its applied state via actuation of a third power-operated actuator. 21. The transfer case of claim 20 wherein said control system includes a controller and sensors for detecting operating characteristics of the vehicle and sending sensor signals to said controller, said controller operable to send control signals to said electric motor and said first, second and third actuators. 22. A transfer case for use in a motor vehicle having an engine and first and second drivelines, comprising: an input shaft adapted to be driven by the engine; a mainshaft; an input clutch for selectively coupling said shaft to said mainshaft; a first output shaft adapted for connection to the first driveline; a second output shaft adapted for connection to the second driveline; a planetary gearset having a sun gear driven by said mainshaft, a ring gear, and planet gears rotatably supported from a carrier and meshed with said sun gear and said ring gear, said carrier operably connected to said first output shaft and a transfer assembly; a direct clutch for selectively coupling said mainshaft to said carrier; a low brake for selectively braking rotation of said ring gear; a transfer clutch for transferring drive torque from said transfer assembly to said second output shaft; an electric motor for selectively driving said mainshaft; and a control system for controlling actuation of said input clutch, said direct clutch, said low brake and said electric motor. 23. The transfer case of claim 22 wherein said control system is further operable to control actuation of said transfer clutch. 24. The transfer case of claim 22 wherein said electric motor includes a stator secured to a housing and a rotor secured to said mainshaft. 25. The transfer case of claim 22 wherein said carrier includes a first member fixed to said first output shaft and a second member defining a clutch drum, said direct clutch including a hub fixed to said mainshaft, and a clutch pack disposed between said clutch drum and hub. 26. The transfer case of claim 22 further comprising: a valvebody supporting a first electrohydraulic control valve controlling actuation of said input clutch, a second electrohydraulic control valve controlling actuation of said direct clutch, and a third electrohydraulic control valve controlling actuation of said low brake; and a hydraulic circuit providing high pressure fluid to said first, second and third control valves. 27. A hybrid motor vehicle, comprising: a powertrain including an internal combustion engine and a transmission; a first driveline including a first axle driving a pair of first wheels; a second driveline including a second axle driving a pair of second wheels; a transfer case including an input shaft driven by said powertrain, a mainshaft, an input clutch for selectively coupling said input shaft to said mainshaft, a first output shaft operably connected to said first driveline, a second output shaft operably connected to said second driveline, a planetary reduction unit having a sun gear driven by said mainshaft, a ring gear and planet gears meshed with said sun and ring gears, said planet gears rotatably supported from a carrier which is fixed to said first output shaft, a transfer unit driven by said carrier, a direct clutch for selectively coupling said mainshaft to said carrier, a low brake for selectively braking rotation of said ring gear, a transfer clutch for selectively transferring drive torque from said transfer unit to said second output shaft, and an electric motor for driving said mainshaft; and a control system for controlling actuation of said input clutch, said direct clutch, said low brake and said electric motor for defining an electric drive mode, a hybrid drive mode and a powertrain drive mode. 28. The hybrid motor vehicle of claim 27 wherein said input clutch is operable in a released state to release said mainshaft from driven engagement with said input shaft and is further operable in an applied state to couple said mainshaft for rotation with said input shaft, wherein said direct clutch is operable in a released state to permit relative rotation between said carrier and said mainshaft and is further operable in an applied state to couple said carrier for rotation with said mainshaft, and wherein said low brake is operable in a released state to permit rotation of said ring gear and is further operable in an applied state to brake said ring gear against rotation. 29. The hybrid motor vehicle of claim 28 wherein a high-range drive connection is established between said mainshaft and said carrier when said direct clutch is operating in its applied state and said low brake is in its released state, and wherein a low-range drive connection is established between said mainshaft and said carrier when said direct clutch is in its released state and said low brake is in its applied state. 30. The hybrid motor vehicle of claim 29 wherein said transfer clutch is operable in a released state such that all drive torque is transferred from said carrier to said first output shaft to define a two-wheel drive mode, said transfer clutch is further operable in an applied state such that drive torque is transferred from said carrier to both of said first and second output shafts to define a four-wheel drive mode. 31. The hybrid motor vehicle of claim 30 wherein an electric two-wheel high-range drive mode is established when said input clutch is released, said direct clutch is applied, said low brake is released, said transfer clutch is released and said electric motor is actuated to drive said mainshaft. 32. The hybrid motor vehicle of claim 30 wherein a hybrid two-wheel high-range drive mode is established when said input clutch is applied, said direct clutch is applied, said low brake is released, said transfer clutch is released and drive torque generated by said electric motor is combined with drive torque from the engine to drive said mainshaft. 33. The hybrid motor vehicle of claim 30 wherein an engine two-wheel high-range drive mode is established when said input clutch is applied, said direct clutch is applied, said low brake is released, said transfer clutch is released and said electric motor is off such that drive torque generated by the engine drives said mainshaft. 34. The hybrid motor vehicle of claim 30 wherein an electric two-wheel low-range drive mode is established when said input clutch is released, said direct clutch is released, said low brake is applied, said transfer clutch is released and said electric motor is activated to drive said mainshaft. 35. The hybrid motor vehicle of claim 30 wherein a hybrid two-wheel low-range drive mode is established when said input clutch is applied, s