An electro-mechanical transmission shifter preferably includes a first actuator, a second actuator, a shift linkage device, actuator mounting bracket, a programmable controller and a gear shift remote. The shift linkage device includes a mounting base plate, a first transmission shifting bracket, a second transmission shifting bracket and a linkage rod. The linkage rod couples the first and second transmission shifting brackets. The actuation rods of the first and second actuators are pivotally connected to the first and second transmission shifting brackets, respectively. A mounting end of the first and second actuators are retained on the actuator mounting bracket with first and second clevis blocks. The programmable controller receives a signal from a gear selector remote to change a gear in a transmission. The programmable controller also monitors the electrical current sent to the first and second actuators.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to heavy equipment and more specifically to an electro-mechanical transmission shifter, which utilizes two electro-mechanical actuators to reduce the amount of discomfort experienced by an operator when shifting a heavy equipment transmission.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

The state of the art is a Bowden cable mechanism for shifting a transmission from one range of power shift gears to another range of power shift gears. U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,640 to Leigh-Monstevens et al. discloses a hydraulic remote control for motor vehicle manual shift transmission. U.S. Pat. No. 9,683,643 to Cyren et al. discloses a linear actuator assembly having a magnetic sensor.

Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for an electro-mechanical transmission shifter, which utilizes two electro-mechanical actuators to reduce the amount of discomfort experienced by an operator when shifting a heavy equipment transmission, and monitors electrical current supplied to the two actuators to determine if too much or too little current is required to operate the two actuators to detect premature failure in the transmission or the electric-mechanical linkage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an electro-mechanical transmission shifter, which includes a current sensing device for measuring electrical current to the two actuators to detect a premature failure of a heavy equipment transmission. The electro-mechanical transmission shifter (electro-mechanical shifter) preferably includes a first actuator, a second actuator, a shift linkage device, actuator mounting bracket, a programmable controller and a gear shift remote. The shift linkage device includes a mounting base plate, a first transmission shifting bracket, a second transmission shifting bracket and a linkage rod. The mounting base plate includes a top member and a side member that extends downward from an end of the top member. The side member is attached to a transmission housing, adjacent a gear shift output shaft. The first transmission shifting bracket includes a top shift member and a side shift member. The side shift member extends downward from the top shift member. A shaft boss extends inward from the side shift member. A shaft opening is formed through the shaft boss to receive the gear shift output shaft. A shift plate extends upward from one end of the top member.

A male member of a first spherical rod end is threaded into the shift plate. A female member of the first spherical rod end is secured to an actuation end of the first actuator. A male member of a second spherical rod end is secured to an opposing end of the top member. A female member of the second spherical rod end is threaded on to one end of the linkage rod. The second transmission shifting bracket includes a base, an actuator leg and a linkage leg. The actuator leg extends outward from the base and the linkage leg extends outward from the base, substantially perpendicular to the actuator leg. A male member of a third spherical rod end is threaded into the linkage leg. A female member of the second spherical rod end is threaded onto one end of the linkage rod and a female of the third spherical rod end is threaded on to an opposing end of the linkage rod. A male member of a fourth spherical rod end is threaded into the actuator leg of the second transmission shifting bracket. A female member of the fourth spherical rod end is secured to an actuation end of the second actuator.

The actuator mounting bracket is attached to the transmission housing. A first mount end of the first actuator is mounted to the actuator mounting bracket with a first clevis block. A second mount end of the second actuator is mounted to the actuator mounting bracket with a second clevis block. The programmable controller includes a gear shift program and a current monitoring program. The programmable controller receives input from the gear shift remote and the current monitoring device. An operator chooses a transmission gear and the gear shift program moves the drive shafts of the first and second actuators to move the transmission into the selected gear. The current monitor program monitors the amount of current required to cause the first and second actuators to operate the shift linkage device. If the current exceeds pre-determined limits, the programmable controller will send an alert to a display operating screen of the heavy equipment. If too much or too little current is required to operate the first and second actuators, there could be a problem with gears in the transmission or in the shift linkage device.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electro-mechanical transmission shifter, which utilizes two electro-mechanical actuators to reduce the amount of discomfort experienced by an operator when shifting a heavy equipment transmission.

Finally, it is another object of the present invention to provide an electro-mechanical transmission shifter, which monitors electrical current supplied to the two actuators to detect premature failure in the transmission or the electric-mechanical linkage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to the drawings, and particularly toFIG. 1, there is shown a top perspective view of an electro-mechanical shifter1. With reference toFIGS. 2-5, the electro-mechanical shifter preferably includes a first actuator10, a second actuator12, a shift linkage device14, an actuator mounting bracket16, a programmable controller18and a gear selector remote20. The first and second actuators10,12are preferably electrically operated linear actuators, but other types of actuators may also be used. The shift linkage device14includes a mounting base plate24, a first transmission shifting bracket26, a second transmission shifting bracket28and a linkage rod30. The mounting base plate24includes a top member32and a side member34that extends downward from an end of the top member32. The side member34is attached to a transmission housing100, adjacent a gear shift output shaft. The first transmission shifting bracket26includes a top shift member36and a side shift member38. The side shift member38extends downward from the top shift member36. A shaft boss40extends inward from the side shift member38. A shaft opening is formed through the shaft boss40to receive the gear shift output shaft. The shaft boss40is preferably secured to the gear shift output shaft with an suitable fastener. A shift plate42extends upward from one end of the top member36.

A male member of a first spherical rod end44is threaded into the shift plate42. A female member of the first spherical rod end44is secured to a first actuation rod46of the first actuator10. A male member of a second spherical rod end48is secured to an opposing end of the top shift member36. A female member of the second spherical rod end48is threaded on to one end of the linkage rod30. The second transmission shifting bracket28includes a base50, an actuator leg52and a linkage leg54. The actuator leg52extends outward from the base50and the linkage leg54extends outward from the base50, substantially perpendicular to the actuator leg52. A male member of a third spherical rod end56is threaded into the linkage leg54. A female member of the second spherical rod end48is threaded on to one end of the linkage rod30and a female member of the third spherical rod end56is threaded on to an opposing end of the linkage rod30. A male member of a fourth spherical rod end58is threaded into the actuator leg52of the second transmission shifting bracket28. A female member of the fourth spherical rod end58is secured to an actuation end60of the second actuator12.

The actuator mounting bracket16is preferably attached to the transmission housing100with a pair of side mounting plates62. Opposing ends of the actuator mounting bracket16are secured to inner surfaces of the pair of side mounting plates62. A first mounting end of the first actuator10is pivotally mounted to the actuator mounting bracket16with a first clevis block64. A mounting end of the second actuator12is pivotally mounted to the actuator mounting bracket with a second clevis block66. The first and second clevis blocks64,66pivot in a horizontal plane relative to the actuator mounting bracket16through shoulder screws68.

With reference toFIG. 5, the programmable controller18includes a gear shift program70and a current monitoring program72. The programmable controller18receives input from the gear selector remote20through a wireless receiver75. The gear shift program70sends an electrical signal to a first power supply74and a second power supply76to power the first and second actuators10,12, respectively. The first and second actuators10,12move the first and second transmission shifting brackets26,28to move the transmission into the gear selected on the gear selector remote20. The current monitor program72monitors the amount of electrical current required to cause the first and second actuators10,12to move the first and second transmission shifting brackets26,28. If the current exceeds pre-determined limits, the programmable controller18will send an alert to a display operating screen78of the heavy equipment. If too much or too little current is required to operate the first and second actuators10,12, there could be a problem with gears in the transmission or in the shift linkage device14.