Remote control mechanisms

The invention comprehends a remote control mechanism comprising push-pull control links operatively connected at one end to spaced locations of a beam, said beam being pivotally movable about mutually displaced first and second axes, said spaced locations of said beam moving equally in the same direction upon pivoting of said beam about said first axis, said spaced locations of said beam moving in opposite directions relative to said control links upon pivoting of said beam about said second axis, one of said axes being fixed and the other axis rotating about said one axis when said beam is pivoted about said one axis, paired coincident movement of said control links being complementary to both said spaced locations of said beam moving equally in said same direction, and differential relative movement of said control links being complementary to said spaced locations of said beam moving in said opposite directions.

This invention relates to remote control mechanisms. 
The present invention includes a remote control mechanism comprising 
push-pull control links operatively connected at one end to spaced 
locations of a beam, said beam being pivotally movable about mutually 
displaced first and second axes, said spaced locations of said beam moving 
equally in the same direction upon pivoting of said beam about said first 
axis, said spaced locations of said beam moving in opposite directions 
relative to said control links upon pivoting of said beam about said 
second axis, one of said axes being fixed and the other axis rotating 
about said one axis when said beam is pivoted about said one axis, paired 
coincident movement of said control links being complementary to both said 
spaced locations of said beam moving equally in said same direction, and 
differential relative movement of said control links being complementary 
to said spaced locations of said beam moving in said opposite directions. 
In our copending United Kingdom patent application No. 25512/77 we have 
disclosed a remote control mechanism employing a pair of push-pull cables 
which upon pivotal movement of an operator lever about one axis are 
differentially moved and which upon pivotal movement of the operator lever 
about a second axis, perpendicular to the first pivotal axis, are 
coincidentally moved. Movement of the cables, whether differential or 
coincidental, causes operating movement of a controlled member. In the 
specifically described environment of use, the controlled member is a 
selector and shifter lever of a transmission shifter assembly of a manual 
change gearbox, such lever being translated to select one of a plurality 
of gear change rails in response to differential movement of the cables 
and rotated to translate the selected rail and so effect a gear change in 
response to coincidental movement of the cables. 
Remote control mechanisms constructed in accordance with the present 
invention constitutes alternatives to that in our aforementioned 
application. 
As is the case of the specifically disclosed remote control mechanism of 
that aforementioned application No. 25512/77, each of the preferred remote 
control mechanisms now about to be described is employed with a manual 
change gearbox, but it is to be understood that the invention is not 
necessarily restricted to use in such an environment but finds application 
in other fields.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a transmission shifter assembly 1 incorporates a 
plurality of gear change rails of which there are shown two rails 2 and 3. 
As is conventional, selective translational movement of each of the rails 
in either of the opposite directions indicated by the respective arrows 4 
effects a gear change. 
There is provided a remote control mechanism 5 for operating the 
transmission shifter assembly 1, such mechanism comprising a controlled 
unit 6, an operator or controller unit 7 and a pair of push-pull cables 8 
and 9 for imparting control motion from the operator unit to the 
controlled unit. 
The controlled unit 6 includes a finger 10 operably engageable with either 
of the gear change rails 2 and 3. The finger 10 is incorporated in a 
universal joint 11 of the kind known as a Hooke's coupling, by which the 
finger is mounted for rotation both about a vertical axis 12 and a 
horizontal axis 13. The horizontal axis 13 is fixed and the vertical axis 
12 is rotatable about the fixed horizontal axis. The finger 10 is offset 
from the vertical axis 12 so as to move around an arc upon being rotated 
about that axis and so swing from one gear change rail to the other 
thereby effecting selection of a respective rail. Rotation of the finger 
10 about the horizontal axis 13 causes the finger to translate that rail 
with which at the time it is in engagement and so cause a gear change. 
The operator unit 7 includes an operator lever 14 of which the operating 
motion controls rotation of the finger 10, whether about the horizontal 
axis 13 or the vertical axis 12. 
The operator lever 14 is mounted for pivotal movement, by means of a 
universal joint 15 also of the Hooke's coupling kind, both about a 
vertical axis 16 and a horizontal axis 17. As before, the horizontal axis 
17 is fixed and the vertical axis 16 is rotatable around the fixed 
horizontal axis. Pivotal movement of the operator lever 14 about the 
horizontal axis 17 causes the finger 10 to rotate about the horizontal 
axis 13. Pivotal movement of the operator lever 14 about the vertical axis 
16 causes the finger 10 to rotate about the vertical axis 12. 
More particularly, when the operator lever 14 is pivoted about the 
horizontal axis 17 in the direction of the arrow 18, the finger 10 is 
rotated in the direction of the arrow 19 so translating the selected gear 
change rail to the right. Pivotal movement of the operator lever 14 about 
the same axis 17 but in the direction of the arrow 20 causes the finger 10 
to rotate in the direction of the arrow 21 and so translate the selected 
rail to the left. 
When the operator lever 14 is pivoted about the vertical axis 16 and in the 
direction of the arrow 22, the finger 10 is rotated in the direction of 
the arrow 23 and is, therefore, swung out of engagement with the rail 2 
and into operable engagement with the rail 3. Subsequent movement of the 
operator lever 14 in the opposite direction 24 about the same axis 16 
would swing the finger 10 in the direction of the arrow 25 and hence back 
into operable engagement with the rail 2. 
Such control movement of the operator lever 14 is imparted to the finger 10 
through the push-pull cables 8 and 9 which are operably connected at their 
input end to an output beam 26 of the operator unit 7 and which are 
operably connected at their output end to an input beam 27 of the 
controlled unit 6. 
The operator lever 14 acts through the output beam 26 on the cables 8 and 9 
to selectively coincidentally push the cables, coincidentally pull the 
cables, and differentially relatively move the cables. 
The cables 8 and 9 are coincidentally pushed, in the direction of the arrow 
28, upon pivotal movement of the operator lever 14 about the horizontal 
axis 17 in the direction of the arrow 18. The cables are coincidentally 
pulled, in the direction of the arrow 29, when the lever is pivoted about 
the same axis in the opposite direction 20. Finally, the cables are 
differentially moved, one being pushed and the other being pulled, when 
the operator lever 14 is pivoted about the vertical axis 16 in either of 
the directions indicated by the arrows 22 and 24, there being a changeover 
in the pushing/pulling force applied to the respective cables as the lever 
is pivoted from the one to the opposite direction about the axis 16. 
Therefore, coincident (or paired) cable movement performs the shift 
function, and differential cable movement performs the select function . . 
. with respect to the gear change rails. 
Therefore, each control movement of the operator lever 14 is imparted to 
the select and shift finger 10 through both push-pull cables 8 and 9 so 
that whatever the operating mode, the cables share the load. Therefore, at 
no time is any one cable redundant, and since the load is shared between 
the two cables, the life thereof is increased. 
The Hooke's couplings 15 and 11 of the operator unit 7 and the controlled 
unit 6 may be similar to one another. Indeed, the entire operator and 
controlled units may be essentially similar with the one inverted with 
respect to the other so that the operator lever 14 and the output beam 26 
of the operator unit 7 are uppermost and lowermost, respectively, and the 
shift and select finger 10 . . . the equivalent of the operator lever 14 . 
. . and the input beam 27 of the controlled unit 6 are lowermost and 
uppermost, respectively. 
As will be appreciated, the operator lever 14 is of bent configuration so 
that its hand knob 30 is displaced from the vertical axis 16 by which a 
turning torque can readily be applied to the lever with respect to that 
axis. 
A preferred operator unit 7 is shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 to which attention is 
now also directed. The operator lever 14 is clamped in a movable component 
31 of the Hooke's coupling 15 of which the fixed component, in the form of 
a ring flange 32 is affixed as by studs 33 to a support member 34 of a 
vehicle. 
The movable and fixed components 31 and 32, respectively, are operably 
coupled by a universal joint unit 35 which may be a proprietory item 
taking the form of a one-piece body 36 integral with four mutually 
perpendicular solid cylindrical limbs of which the pair of horizontal 
limbs are referenced 37 and the pair of vertical limbs are referenced 38. 
Each limb provides a peripheral bearing surface on which is mounted, via 
needle rollers 39, an end cap 40. The end caps of the horizontal limbs 37 
are journalled in opposite apertures 41 in the ring flange 32, and the end 
caps of the vertical limbs 38 are journalled in opposite apertures 42 in 
the movable component 31. Circlips 43 in the apertures 41 and 42 hold the 
universal joint unit 35 in position, and the joint embodies seals to 
constitute a sealed unit. The vertical axis 16 and horizontal axis 17 are 
the longitudinal axes of the apertures 42 and 41, respectively. 
The movable component 31 incorporates, as an integral part, at its 
lowermost end, the output beam 26 to the opposite ends of which are 
connected via ball joints 44 the push-pull cables 8 and 9. More 
particularly, each cable comprises a flexible core 45 slidably mounted in 
a guide conduit 46 terminated by a fixed guide tube 47. Each core 45 is 
fast at its opposite ends with terminal rods 48, and it is those terminal 
rods at the input end of the cores which are connected to the ball joints 
44. 
Pivotal movement of the operator lever 14 about the fixed horizontal axis 
17 causes the movable component 31 to swing within the ring flange 32, the 
universal joint body 36 turning with that component so that its horizontal 
limbs 37 rotate within the needle rollers 39, to urge the beam 26 in a 
forward or rearward direction thus coincidentally pushing or pulling, 
respectively, the cables 8 and 9. 
Pivotal movement of the operator lever 14 about the vertical axis 16 causes 
the movable component 31 again to swing within the ring flange 32 but 
about the vertical limbs 38 of the joint unit 35 to swing the beam 26 in a 
horizontal plane thus differentially moving the cables 8 and 9. 
One preferred controlled unit 6 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to which 
attention is now further directed. The Hooke's coupling 11 is, in fact, of 
different detailed construction compared with the corresponding coupling 
15 of the operator unit 7 but, in essence, the two couplings are similar. 
It should also be observed that the "vertical" axis 12 is not truly 
vertical when the gear change rails are in a neutral position but, rather, 
is tilted forwardly to lie at an attitude of 30 degrees to the vertical, 
as is clearly shown in FIG. 5. 
The distant ends of the cables 8 and 9 are connected, via the core terminal 
rods 48, through ball joints 49 to the opposite ends of the input beam 27 
which is incorporated in the movable component of the Hooke's coupling 11 
of which the fixed component again comprises a ring flange 50 suitably 
affixed to a gear box 51. 
The beam 27 is integral with a protective domed cover 52 affixed, as by 
being pinned at 53, to a lever 54 the lowermost end of which constitutes 
the shift and selector finger 10. A universal joint unit 35a, which may, 
and preferably is, precisely the same as the unit 35, is fitted in the 
movable component (the lever 54) and the fixed component (the ring flange 
50) in the same manner as previously described. Solely for sealing 
purposes, a bellows seal 55 mounted about a rim 56 is also provided. 
When the cables 8 and 9 are coincidentally pulled or pushed, the lever 54 
is swung about the horizontal axis 13 to turn the universal joint body 36 
so that its horizontal limbs 37 rotate within their needle rollers 39, and 
the finger 10 will likewise swing to translate the selected gear change 
rail. 
In the event of the cables 8 and 9 being differentially moved, the lever 54 
is swung within the ring flange 50 but about the "vertical" limbs 38 of 
the joint unit 35a and hence about the "vertical" axis 12, and the finger 
10 will likewise swing out of engagement with one gear change rail and 
into engagement with another. 
FIG. 6 shows three gear change rails of which the additional rail is 
referenced 3a. In the central selector position of the operator lever 14, 
shown in FIG. 1, the finger 10 engages the gear change rail 2; when the 
operator lever is pivoted about the vertical axis 16 in the direction of 
the arrow 22, the finger is swung into engagement with the rail 3; and 
when the operator lever is pivoted in the opposite direction indicated by 
the arrow 24, the finger is swung from the central selector position into 
engagement with the rail 3a. 
An alternative remote control mechanism 5A is shown in FIG. 7. The 
mechanism is again used to operate a transmission shifter assembly 1, the 
construction of which is to that already described. Further, the mechanism 
5A includes an operator unit 7 and push-pull cables 8 and 9 constructed 
similarly to the corresponding components of the remote control mechanism 
5. The mechanism 5A differs from that of the first embodiment by the 
construction of its controlled unit, and the description to follow will be 
substantially confined to that unit, referenced 6A. 
The controlled unit 6A, which is shown in detail in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, 
includes an input beam 57 to the opposite ends of which are operably 
connected the terminal rods 48 of the distant ends of the cables 8 and 9 
through ball joints 58. The beam 57 is integral with a protective domed 
cover 59 which is affixed, as by being pinned at 60, to a vertical shaft 
61 mounted for rotation about the vertical axis 12. 
More precisely, the shaft 61 is rotatably mounted in the upper yoked end 
62, by means of journal bearings 63, of a gearshift and selector lever 64 
the lower end of which constitutes a gear selector and shift finger 65 
which performs the same operating function in relation to the gear shift 
rails as that of the finger 10 of the mechanism 5. However, the control 
movements of the finger 64 when executing a selector change are different, 
as will be explained. The gear shift movements are, though, no different; 
the finger 64 is rotated about the horizontal axis 13 in either of the 
opposite directions 19 and 21, thereby to translate either right or left, 
respectively, the selected rail, in response to pivotal movement of the 
operating lever 14 about the horizontal axis 17 in either of the 
directions 18 and 20, respectively. 
The intermediate region of the lever 64 is mounted on and clamped to, as by 
a bolting means 66, a horizontal shaft 67 arranged both for rotation about 
the "fixed" horizontal axis 13 and longitudinal sliding motion along that 
axis in bushes 68 mounted in a ring casting 69. The casting 69 is affixed, 
as by bolts 70, to a ring flange 71 constituting the cover plate of a 
gearbox 72. 
A lever arm 74 has its upper end mounted on the vertical shaft 61, within 
the yoked end 62 of the lever 64, and affixed thereto being pinned at 75. 
The lever arm extends radially outwardly and downwardly from that mounting 
to terminate in a ball end 76 which engages in a slot 77 formed in the 
ring casting 69. 
The controlled unit 6A is completed by the provision of a bellows seal 73 
affixed at its lower end to the cover plate 71 and at its upper end to the 
uppermost region of the gear shift and selector lever 64 between which and 
the adjacent region of the domed cover 59 is mounted a seal 78. 
In operation, when the operator lever 14 is pivoted about the horizontal 
axis 17 in the direction of the arrow 18, the output beam 26 
coincidentally pushes the cables 8 and 9 in the direction of the arrow 28 
which, in turn, apply a pushing force to the input beam 57 of the 
controlled unit 6A. The beam 57, through the vertical shaft 61, applies a 
turning moment to the gear shift and selector lever 64 which will rotate 
the horizontal shaft 67 within the bushes 68, thereby the lever 64 with 
its finger 65 will rotate about the horizontal axis 13 in the direction of 
the arrow 19, so that the finger will translate the gear shift rail with 
which it is engaged in the direction of the arrow 4 to the right. 
When the operator lever 14 is pivoted about the horizontal axis 17 but in 
the opposite direction 20, the cables 8 and 9 are coincidentally pulled, 
in the direction of the arrow 29, and, through the input beam 57 and the 
vertical shaft 61, will cause the gear shift and selector lever 64 to 
rotate with the horizontal shaft 67 in the opposite direction 21 about the 
horizontal axis 13 by which the finger 65 will translate the same selected 
rail in the direction of the arrow 4 but to the left. 
Since the lever arm 74 is fast with the vertical shaft 61, then, as that 
shaft turns with the gear shift and selector lever 64 about the horizontal 
axis 13, the lever arm will likewise rotate and swing in a vertical plane 
at which time its ball end 76 will ride up or down within the slot 77 in 
the ring casting 69. 
When the operator lever 14 is pivoted about the vertical axis 16 in the 
direction of the arrow 24, the output beam 26 will swing to pull the cable 
9 in the direction of the arrow 29 and push the cable 8 in the direction 
of the arrow 28. Such differential cable motion is transmitted to the 
input beam 57 which tends to rotate with the vertical shaft 61 within the 
yoked end 62, at the bearings 63, of the gear shift and selector lever 64 
about the vertical axis 12 in the direction of the arrow 25. However, the 
lever arm 74 which, as said, is pinned to the vertical shaft 61, is 
prevented by the cooperation of its ball end 76 with the wall of the 
casting slot 77 from turning with the vertical shaft and, instead, the 
vertical shaft will swing about an offset vertical axis using that point 
at which the ball end engages the wall of the slot at its pivot. This 
causes the gear shift and selector lever 64 to move laterally with its 
horizontal shaft 67 sliding in the bushes 68 so that the finger will 
translate along the horizontal axis 13 in the direction of arrow 80 out of 
engagement with the rail 2 and into engagement with the rail 3. 
Pivotal movement of the operator lever 14 in the opposite direction 22 
about the vertical axis 16 effects differential movement of the cables 8 
and 9 such as to tend to swing the input beam 57 about the vertical axis 
12 in the direction of the arrow 23 but, as before, the ball end 76 will 
cooperate with the (opposite) wall of the slot 77 to cause the gear shift 
and selector lever 64 to move with its horizontal shaft 67 laterally in 
the opposite direction from before so that the finger 65 will translate 
along the horizontal axis 13 in the direction of arrow 81 and thereby move 
from engagement with the rail 2 into engagement with the rail 3a (shown in 
FIG. 9). 
Whilst in the described embodiments, the push-pull cables are flexible 
cables comprising a core slidable within a conduit, they could take the 
form of solid rods. 
Alternatively, a single conduit having two coaxial cores could be utilized 
instead of the described pair of coaxial cables 8 and 9. Yet again a 
single coaxial cable could be utilised in which both the core and the 
conduit are slidable, each performing the function of one of the cables 8 
and 9. 
Use of the described Hooke's coupling universal joint unit 35 makes for an 
operator unit and, selectively, a controlled unit lending itself to 
inexpensive production. 
Either of the controlled units is adapted to operate what is termed a "side 
entry" gear shift and selector shaft as compared with that of our 
aforementioned patent application which is designed for use with "top 
entry" gearboxes. Thereby, the presently described remote control 
mechanisms are particularly suited for use with vehicles designed to take 
advantage of low profile tyres. 
In the foregoing arrangements, differential cable movements can be reversed 
between the control and the controlled members by crossing the cable 
paths. 
A controlled unit 100 of FIG. 11 is an alternative to the controlled units 
disclosed hereinbefore and in our aforementioned patent application and 
may be adopted in any of the remote control mechanisms thereof. In 
particular, the present controlled unit is a preferred alternative to the 
controlled unit 6A illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 10 and will be described as 
replacing the unit 6A in the remote control mechanism 5A. 
It is to be understood that the controlled unit 100 is used to operate the 
hereinbefore featured transmission shifter assembly 1 and that the 
operator unit 7 (not shown) and push-pull cables 8 and 9 are constructed 
as previously described before. Accordingly, the present description will 
be substantially confined to the controlled unit 100. 
The controlled unit 100 includes an input beam 101 which is operably 
connected at spaced apart points to the terminal rods 48 of the distant 
ends of the cables 8 and 9 through ball joints 58. The input beam 101 is 
also connected at an intermediate point via a ball joint 102 to one end of 
a transverse reaction rod 103, the other end of which is connected via a 
ball joint 104 to a fixed anchorage. 
The beam 101 is fast with an upright tube 105 which is journalled for 
rotation about a vertical pin 106 the lower end of which is fast with a 
body member 107 which is affixed to a transverse shaft 108 carrying a gear 
selector and shift finger 109. Whilst not shown in FIG. 11, the shaft 108 
would be journalled for rotation about its longitudinal axis 110 and 
supported for sliding movement in the direction of that axis as in a cover 
plate of the gearbox. 
The finger 109 is operably engageable with any one of a number of 
gearchange rails of which only the central rail 2 is shown. Translational 
movement of any of those rails in either of the opposite directions 
indicated effects a gear change. Sliding movement of the shaft 108 in the 
direction of its axis 110 shifts the finger 109 from operative engagement 
with one rail into engagement with another. Rotation of the shaft 108 
about its axis 110 rotates the finger 109 to cause translational movement 
of that rail with which the finger at the time is in operative engagement. 
When the cables 8 and 9 are coincidentally pulled . . . by appropriate 
operation of the operator lever 14 . . . a turning moment is applied to 
the beam 101 which, through the tube 105, the pin 106 and the body member 
107, causes rotation of the shaft 108 about its axis 110 in the direction 
of the arrow 111. The finger 109 is thus swung clockwise to translate the 
rail 2 to the left in the direction of the arrow 112. 
When the cables 8 and 9 are coincidentally pushed . . . again by 
appropriation operation of the operator lever, about the same pivot axis 
but in the opposite direction . . . a turning moment is applied to the 
beam 101, but in the opposite direction, and this, via the tube 105, the 
pin 106 and the body member 107, rotates the shaft 108 about its axis 110 
in an anticlockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 113. The finger 
109 is, accordingly, swung anticlockwise to shift the rail 2 to the right 
in the direction of the arrow 114. 
When the cables 8 and 9 are differentially moved . . . by appropriate 
operation of the operator lever . . . such that the cable 8 is pulled and 
the cable 9 is pushed, a turning moment is applied to the beam 101 tending 
to rotate it and the tube 105 with which it is fast about the vertical pin 
106 and hence about the vertical longitudinal axis 115 of that pin. 
However, the beam 101 cannot freely rotate about the pin 106 since it is 
restrained by the reaction rod 103 coupled to it via the ball joint 102. 
The result is that the beam 101 tends also to rotate about a vertical axis 
116 passing through the ball joint 102, in a clockwise direction denoted 
by the arrow 117. The beam 101 cannot execute that movement either, 
though, since it is mechanically connected via the tube 105, pin 106 and 
body member 107 with the shaft 107 which, as said, is mounted in the 
gearbox cover plate. 
The shaft 107 is, as stated, mounted for axial sliding movement. The net 
result of the differential movement of the cables 8 and 9 is that the 
reaction rod 103 swivels about its ball joint 104 so that the vertical 
axis 116 moves to an extent such that the arc through which the beam 101 
tends to turn straightens out into a line of movement parallel to the 
longitudinal axis 110. Hence, the shaft 107 is caused to move axially, and 
to the left as indicated by the arrow 118, from registry with the central 
rail and into engagement with the adjacent left-hand rail (not shown). At 
that time, concomittant motion, either pushing or pulling, of the cables 8 
and 9 will translate the newly selected rail in the manner already 
described. 
It will be appreciated that opposite differential movement of the cables 8 
and 9, with the former being pushed and the latter being pulled, will 
effect similar motion of the various movable parts of the mechanism albeit 
in the opposite direction. Hence, the beam 101 will tend to turn on an arc 
about the vertical axis 116 in an anticlockwise direction denoted by the 
arrow 119 but will, in the event, move in the direction of the axis 110 to 
shift the shaft 108 to the right as indicated by the arrow 120. The finger 
109 will move with the shaft 108 and hence from registry with the central 
rail 2 into register with the adjacent right-hand rail (not shown). When 
so registered, concomittant motion of the cables 8 and 9 will translate 
the newly selected rail to effect a gear change, as before. 
Amongst the advantages of the described construction are that the operating 
cables are offset from the centreline of the gear box and so are more 
easily led past the engine cylinder block; also, conventional seals can be 
utilized to seal the gearshift opening to the gear box with the sliding 
and rotating shaft construction carrying the selector and change finger 
109. 
The controlled unit of FIGS. 12 to 15 is the functional equivalent of that 
of FIG. 1 and, where appropriate, like parts in the two constructions will 
be denoted by like references. Furthermore, the practical embodiment will 
only be described insofar as it differs in construction to the schematic 
controlled unit. 
Thus, the beam 101 is fashioned, in plan, as a Tee-piece with its opposite 
arms 121 connected by the ball joints 58 to the cable rod ends 48. The 
stem 122 of the Tee-piece is angled downwardly from the tube 105 which is 
in one-piece with the beam 101, and the ball joint 102 couples the stem 
122 to the reaction rod 103. 
The beam tube 105 is journalled on the pin 106 via bearing bushes 123 and 
located in position by a cap 124 bolted at 125 to the pin. The pin 106 is 
fashioned in one-piece with the body member 107 which is pinned at 126 to 
the shaft 108. The finger 109 is pinned at 127 to an intermediate region 
of the shaft 108. 
The shaft 108 is mounted for rotation about its own axis 110 and for axial 
sliding moment in the gear box cover plate 128 via bearings 129. One end 
of that cover plate is open, and the bearing 129 at that end is 
supplemented by a garter type oil seal 130 and a lubricant impregnated 
felt ring 131, a cap 132 sealing off that open end. The cover plate 128 is 
bolted at 133 to the gear box G, and the "fixed" end of the reaction rod 
103 may have its ball joint 104 coupled to the cover plate 128. 
It is believed that the operation of the practical embodiment of controlled 
unit is self evident from the description already given. 
As described and illustrated, the controlled unit is used with a "top 
entry" gear box. However, the gear box could equally as well be laid on 
its side in which case the "top entry" would become a "side entry" without 
effecting the construction of the controlled unit which is also useable 
with "true" side entry boxes. When used with a "side entry" gear box, the 
various components of the controlled unit would be turned through 
90.degree. such that the beam would lie in a vertical, rather than a 
horizontal, plane. However, the unit would still function in the manner 
described. 
Also, whilst the controlled unit may comprise all the components which have 
been described, where the gear box is already provided with an appropriate 
transverse shaft carrying a gear selector and shift finger, the controlled 
unit may be deficient of those items and thereby be simplified to 
incorporate the beam and integral tube, ball joints for coupling to the 
rod ends, a pin and integral block for picking up on the projecting end of 
the shaft, and the reaction rod with its ball joints. 
As another alternative, the ball joints 58 need not have vertical axes and 
be coupled to the top of the beam, but could be turned through 90.degree. 
so that their axes are horizontal and be connected to side mountings of 
the beam. 
One such construction, in which the gear box G is at right angles to the 
engine (not shown) is depicted in FIGS. 16 and 17. The gear box is already 
provided with a gear selector and shaft finger, transverse shaft and cover 
plate. The "horizontal axis" ball joints 58 are clearly shown connected to 
the sides of the one-piece beam 101 and tube 105. The distant end of the 
reaction rod 103 has its ball joint 104 coupled to a bracket 135 bolted to 
the cover plate 134 of the gear box, as also is a second bracket 136 to 
which the casings of the cables 8 and 9 are anchored.