Gear selector mechanism for transmission

Abstract: A transmission selector mechanism is provided with a cross shaft (18) operating in a substantially perpendicular axis to a selector shaft (22). The cross shaft has three striking fingers (20,38,40) mounted on it, a first striking finger (20) is secured to the cross shaft and co-operatively engages a selector block (34) mounted on the selector shaft; axial motion of the cross shaft thereby generates a radial motion of the selector block about the selector shaft axis, a second striking finger (40) is selectively engagable by means of the axial motion of the cross shaft, and when engaged upon the cross shaft by engagement means (44) rotation of the cross shaft and engaged striking finger moves the selector block in an axial direction along the selector shaft; a third striking finger (38) is selectively engaged when the second (40) is disengaged and upon rotation of the cross shaft acts on the selector block through a reverse acting toggle mechanism (52,54,56) to move the selector block axially along the selector shaft, the axial movement of the selector block thereby selecting the chosen gear ratio.

Description: This invention relates to a gear selector mechanism for transmissions. In a multiple ratio transmission system it is desirable to be able to select any one of a plurality of ratios provided in the transmission. In order to achieve this a number of different methods are used, all following a basically similar principle in which a set of selector forks is provided with limited movement to engage and disengage the gear ratios. In some transmissions a single selector fork is secured to a selector shaft, there being provided a plurality of selector shafts each being selectively axially moveable to permit selection of one of a number of gear ratios. In other examples there is only one selector shaft which is axially and rotatably moveable and provided with a plurality of selector forks attached thereto and a series of cooperating keys and recesses on the shaft and selector forks to ensure that only one gear is selected at any one time. The selector lever operates through a defined series of gates to give a preferred gate pattern. EP-A-0 131 720 describes a gear selector mechanism for a transmission having only a single selector shaft operating a number of selector forks arranged around the selector shaft. The selector forks engage and disengage with the selector shaft by means of a plurality of keys on the shaft and slots in the forks. The shaft is moved axially and radially by means of a selector finger which is in the form of a yoke and is connected to a second yoke assembly. The selector finger is connected to a cross-shaft. Axial and rotational movement of the cross shaft is used to select the gate and gear respectively. In some applications the gear lever, sometimes known as a gear stick will operate directly on to the transmission, in others it operates via a remote system of levers and linkages. This invention is applicable to both the direct acting and remote control type operation for the transmission. In a compound transmission there may be either one or both of a range change unit or a splitter unit, each in the form of auxiliary gearboxes, which provide a means of multiplying the ratios available in the main gearbox. In a compound transmission using a double H gate pattern and with an odd number of gear ratios in the main gearbox, the gate pattern to be followed after a range change or splitter change requires the operator to move the selector lever through a U-shaped pattern following the movement of the selector lever from the highest gear of a low range to the lowest gear of a high range (or vice-versa). A U-shaped gear change pattern is found to be both uncomfortable and unnatural, and increases the possibility of incorrect gear/ratio selection. This invention seeks to solve that problem by providing a continuous desired progressive gate pattern. Thus as the operator moves through either a range change or a splitter selection change the need to operate U-shaped gear change pattern is obviated. According to the present invention there is provided a transmission selector mechanism for selecting any one of a plurality of gear ratios available in a transmission, the selector mechanism comprising a control cross shaft moveable in an axial direction for providing an across gate motion, and moveable in a radial direction about its longitudinal axis to provide a gear selection movement by means of an internal control selector shaft which is substantially perpendicular to the cross control shaft, the control cross shaft having on it three striking fingers, a first striking finger being secured to the cross shaft and engaging a selector block, the selector block being secured to the selector shaft and having a first U shaped recess therein of such a shape, dimension and orientation to enable the first striking finger to co-operatively engage a receiving pin fixed between sides of the U shaped recess in the selector block, such that axial motion of the cross shaft will cause rotation of the selector shaft about its longitudinal axis in order to position one selector shaft in the desired gate position, the distance between the sides of the U shaped recess being such that radial rotation of the cross shaft and the first striking finger attached thereto will not cause the selector block to move in an axial direction with the selector shaft, the selector block being further provided with 2nd and 3rd cup shaped recesses disposed at substantially diametrically opposed positions about the internal control selector shaft; a second striking finger, a first end of which is mounted on the cross shaft and a second end of said second striking finger engaging one of said 2nd or 3rd recesses in the selector block; a third striking finger, having a first end mounted on the cross shaft and located on the other side of the selector block to the first striking finger, said third striking finger having its second end engaging a cooperating recess in a first end of a toggle, a second end of said toggle cooperatively engaging the selector block, said toggle being pivoted between its two ends said second and third striking fingers mounted on the cross shaft with a set of cooperating pins and recesses on the cross shaft, the part of the striking fingers mounted on the cross shaft such that upon axial movement of the cross shaft in a first direction: i) disengages one of the 2nd and 3rd striking fingers and ii) engages the other of said 2nd and 3rd striking fingers in order to enable the said other striking finger to be moved in a radial direction in order to operate the selector block and engage one of the gear ratios in said transmission, upon the axial motion of the cross shaft in said first direction passed a predetermined point the engaged other striking finger becomes disengaged from the cooperating pins and recesses and so is not rotatable in a radial direction as a result of rotation of the cross shaft, the one of the 2nd or 3rd striking fingers, hitherto disengaged, engages with the set of the cooperating pins and recesses in order to be moveable radially to operate the selector block and thereby engage the gear ratios in said transmission. A particular advantage of the present invention is that it permits a movement of a gear selector to give a progressive gate pattern. The present invention solves the problem of an awkward U-shaped shift pattern which results from a compound transmission, such as a 2 x 3 x 2 configuration or a 2 x 5 x 2 configuration, in which the main gear box has an odd number of ratios such as either 3 or 5 speeds. In moving the selector mechanism in a conventional known manner through the gates shown in Figure 5c or 5d it is apparent that in moving from say a position from third to fourth a driver or operator would have to move the selection lever through a U-shaped motion, which is both unnatural and uncomfortable. The present invention uses a cross shaft, running substantially perpendicularly to the selector shaft in the main gearbox, with three striking fingers mounted on the cross shaft. One of the striking fingers is used for across the gate movement, one for low range gear selection and one for the high range gear selection. One of the striking fingers acts through a toggle, so as to reverse the movement of the selector block and give the desired progressive gate pattern. The across the gate finger is pinned to the cross shaft and plays no part in gear selection. The second and third striking fingers are not pinned to the cross shaft in the remote control housing. Mountings of the striking fingers on the cross shaft are so arranged that only one is engaged at a time. They are activated by pin like protrusions on the shaft which contact against inner mounting surfaces of the striking fingers. The use of a toggle assembly interposed between one of the striking fingers and the selector block provides means of reversing the effective direction motion of the selector block in response to a particular motion of the cross shaft. By selectively engaging and disengaging the second and third striking fingers the selector block is operated by either one of the striking fingers to give either a normal or reversed action on the selector block. Moving the cross shaft steadily in one axial direction, the pins on the cross shaft which cooperate with recesses in the mounting portion of the selection striking fingers ensure that only one striking finger is activated at a time. An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an arrangement of a gear box operable by use of a gear stick and remote control; Figure 2 shows a detail of the operation of a cross shaft of a remote control gearbox; Figure 3 shows a section through Y-Y, of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a section through Z-Z of Figure 2; and Figures 5a,b,c and d show a variety of gate patterns. Figure 1 shows a general outline arrangement of a transmission 10, which in this example is provided with a remote control gear shift mechanism, exemplified by lever 14 connected by linkages 16 to a remote cross shaft 18. Secured to the cross shaft 18 is a first striking finger 20 which is used to rotate a selector shaft 22 located inside the main gear box. The selector shaft 22 has mounted on it one or more selector forks, these engage the gears in known manner. Figure 2 shows a sectional arrangement through the cross shaft 18 and selector shaft 22. The first striking finger 20 is pinned to the cross shaft by means of a securing pin 30 to ensure the first striking finger is securely connected to the cross shaft 18. The first striking finger 20 cooperatively engages a pin 32 secured to a selector block 34. The arrangement of the selector block 34 and pin 32 is shown in greater detail in Figure 3. Selector block 34 is mounted on selector shaft 22 and secured to the selector shaft by a securing means, such as a bolt 36. Also mounted on the cross shaft 18 are second and third striking fingers 38,40. These striking fingers are slidably mounted on the shaft 18 and engage operating pins 42,44 to selectively engage striking fingers 38 and 40 in a manner which is explained in greater detail in Figure 4. Striking fingers 38 and 40 are prevented from moving axially by abutment faces 68,70 forming part of the remote control housing otherwise not shown. Third striking finger 40 has at one end a ball shaped knob end 46. The knob end 46 engages in a cooperating recess on the selector block 34. The second striking finger 38 is also slidably mounted on cross shaft 18 and is also provided with a ball shaped knob end 50. The ball shaped end 50 engages a cooperating recess on a toggle 52, which is pivoted about a toggle axis pivot 54. A ball end 56 of the toggle engages a third cooperating recess 58 on the selector block 34. Figure 3 shows a view through Y-Y of Figure 2 where appropriate the same reference numerals apply. The cross shaft 18 has mounted on it a first striking finger 20, secured thereto by pin 30. The striking finger 20 cooperatively engages with pin 32 which is secured to the selector block 34 between two sides 64,66 of a U-shaped recess in the selector block. Figure 4 is a section through Z-Z of Figure 2 shows the arrangement of cooperating pins and recesses on a second striking finger 38. It can be seen the striking finger 38 is mounted on cross shaft 18. A cooperating recess 60 bounded by the walls of striking finger 38 provides a means for the cross shaft 18 to rotate without rotation of the striking finger 38. Figures 5 a to d shows a plurality of different gate arrangements. An example of the operation of one embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail. It is desirable that the operating gate for the transmission follows one of the known patterns. The appropriate pattern will depend upon the number of gears in the transmission, and whether the compound transmission has a range change, a splitter auxiliary gearbox or includes both. The operation of the gate pattern is designed via the various elements of the remote selector linkage 14,16 and 18 to provide, in the driving environment, an appropriate pattern as shown in Figures 5a and b. The cross shaft 18 is mounted on top of the transmission 10 and is moveable both axially and radially. In a system in which there is no need for a remote control of the transmission a cross shaft would still be needed, but it need not be as long as that shown in Figure 1. The movement of the cross shaft 18 along its axis is used to provide across the gate motion, the radial rotation of the shaft is used to provide gear selection. Turning now to Figure 2, as cross shaft 18 is moved in an axial direction, from left to right as shown in the drawing of Figure 2 a first striking finger 20 which is cooperatively engaged with pin 32 is moved to and fro. This causes the selector block 34 to rotate about the selector shaft 22 to give the across the gate motion. As the cross shaft 18 is rotated about its axis, generally in a relatively small arc to and fro about a central position which provides the in gate gear selection motion. As the diagram in Figure 2 shows, the third striking finger 40 is engaged with the cross shaft 18 and rotated axially by motion of the cross shaft 18. This motion in turn causes movement of the ball end 46 of the third striking finger 40, which is coupled to the selector block 34 by the cooperating recess 48 to cause the selector block 34 to move axially with the selector shaft 22, thereby engaging one of the ratios of the transmission. As the cross shaft 18 is rotated in the opposite direction the reaction on the ball end 46 is in the reverse direction to that described above and the selector block 34 is moved out of engagement through a neutral position into another of the gears in the transmission. In a case where an across the gate motion is required the cross shaft 18 will slide axially at the point of which the cross gate motion is required and depending upon the particular configuration of the transmission the third striking finger could continue to be engaged. As the cross shaft 18 is moved further to the right in the drawing it can be seen that the pin 44 will move into an area of recess on the third striking finger 40, and pin 42 will move into an area of engagement on second striking finger 38. At this point the third striking finger 40 will float freely on the cross shaft 18 and the second striking finger 38 will be brought into rotational engagement with the movement of the cross shaft 18. The abutment faces 68,70 are disposed on part of the transmission housing, not shown elsewhere in greater detail, but serve to restrain the striking fingers 38,40 from any significant axial movement along the cross shaft 18. As the cross shaft 18 is rotated axially to and fro the second striking finger of the cross shaft 18 will, when the second striking finger is lockingly engaged thereto, effect rotation of the ball end 50. Ball end 50 is engaged in a cooperating recess in toggle 52. Toggle 52 is pivoted about a pivot 54, a second end 56 of toggle 52 cooperatively engages a receiving recess 58 in the selector block 34. Thus when the second striking finger is engaged it causes motion of the toggle 52 about its axis which in turn causes axial motion of the selector block 34. Because the action of the second striking finger 38 is via a toggle 52 the direction of motion of the selector block 34 is reversed compared to the direction for the same rotational movement of third striking finger 40. When an operator uses a transmission the gate pattern observed in the vehicle cab is normally a conventional H or double H type of pattern. Examples of these patterns are shown at Fig.5a for a transmission with a 3-speed main gearbox and Fig.5b for a transmission with a 5-speed main gearbox. The position of the cooperating pins 42,44 and cooperating recesses on striking fingers 38 and 40 will ensure that the selection of the desired ratio can be conveniently divided into two phases for the purposes of this description. Dealing first with the portion of the selector gate to the left of the "X" on the neutral line in Figures 5a and 5b, which is the lower range of the available gear ratios, only one of the second or third striking fingers is employed, whilst the other floats on the cross shaft. Operation of the second half of the range of ratios, that is to the right of the "X" on the neutral line of Figures 5a and 5b, requires the other of the second or third striking fingers to be engaged, whilst the first of said second or third striking fingers floats upon the cross shaft. A typical gate arrangement for a transmission using this invention is applicable is shown in Figures 5a and 5b. One way of effecting a range change is by use of a separate control switch which may be placed on the gear selection lever or at any other convenient location. Another known way of effecting a range change is to incorporate the range change command switch as part of the conventional gear change selector mechanism, so that across the gate motion passed a certain point triggers the action of a switch to change the range gear box ratio. The switch may be either electrical driving a relay, or a pneumatic valve system. As the selector lever is moved from third to the fourth on a 3-speed main gearbox transmission and from fifth to sixth on a 5-speed main gearbox transmission, it is necessary to make an across the gate motion and as the cross shaft is moved axially to effect the across the gate motion a trigger switch can be operated which causes the operation of the range change auxiliary transmission. The point at which the trigger switch is operated is conveniently shown by use of the "X" symbol on the neutral line in Fig.5. At the same time as the range change is occuring the cooperating pins 42,44 and striking finger cooperating recesses 60, 62 respectively become disengaged and engaged, and so the motion of the selector block 34 which was effected by the toggle operation is then effected by direct action of the striking finger 40. In this way the operator experiences a perfectly normal gear shift gate arrangement and progressive pattern rather than a U-shaped pattern which would be the result as shown in Figure 5c or 5d if the present invention were not utilized. The above select mechanism is also appropriate for a transmission having a 2 x n x 2 type arrangement where n is an odd number of ratios to be incorporated in a main gearbox. It is indeed suitable for any type of arrangement where at some point there is going to be an awkward U-shaped change between consecutive gear ratio changes, as shown in Figures 5c or d. As indicated above the cross shaft could be acted on directly by a gear stick and need not be a long shaft extending across the whole of the top of the main gearbox housing. The choice of using a direct acting striking finger, or the finger acting through the toggle to give a selector block reversing motion to operate either the lower range or higher range gear ratios is a matter of choice and convenience which will be apparent to the designer of any of this type of transmission. In some applications the striking fingers may be of the general shape and configuration shown or could be cranked or offset in some way if the detail of the design and clearances in the transmission housing make such an arrangement necessary or convenient.

Claims: A transmission selector mechanism for selecting any one of a plurality of gear ratios available in a transmission (10), the selector mechanism comprising a control cross shaft (18) moveable in an axial direction for providing an across gate motion, and moveable in a radial direction about its longitudinal axis to provide a gear selection movement by means of an internal control selector shaft (22), which is substantially perpendicular to the cross control shaft (18), the control cross shaft (18) having on it three striking fingers (20,38,40), a first striking finger (20) being secured to the cross shaft (18) and engaging a selector block (34), the selector block (34) being secured to the selector shaft (22) and having a first U shaped recess therein of such a shape, dimension and orientation to enable the first striking finger to co-operatively engage a receiving pin (32) fixed between sides (64,66) of the U shaped recess in the selector block, such that axial motion of the cross shaft will cause rotation of the selector shaft (22) about its longitudinal axis in order to position one selector shaft in the desired gate position, the distance between the sides of the U shaped recess being such that radial rotation of the cross shaft and the first striking finger attached thereto will not cause the selector block to move in an axial direction with the selector shaft, the selector block being further provided with 2nd and 3rd cup shaped recesses (48,58) disposed at substantially diametrically opposed positions about the internal control selector shaft; a second striking finger (40), a first end of which is mounted on the cross shaft and a second end of said second striking finger (46) engaging one of said 2nd or 3rd recesses in the selector block; a third striking finger (38), having a first end mounted on the cross shaft and located on the other side of the selector block to the first striking finger (20), said third striking finger having its second end (50) engaging a cooperating recess in a first end of a toggle (52), a second end of said toggle (56) cooperatively engaging the selector block (34), said toggle being pivoted between its two ends; said second and third striking fingers (38,40) mounted on the cross shaft (18) with a set of cooperating pins (42,44) and recesses (60,62) on the cross shaft, the part of the striking fingers mounted on the cross shaft such that upon axial movement of the cross shaft in a first direction: i) disengages one of the 2nd and 3rd striking fingers (38,40) and ii) engages the other of said 2nd and 3rd striking fingers (38,40) in order to enable the said other striking finger to be moved in a radial direction in order to operate the selector block (34) and engage one of the gears ratios in said transmission, upon the axial motion of the cross shaft in said first direction passed a predetermined point the engaged other striking finger becomes disengaged from the cooperating pins and recesses, and so is not rotatable in a radial direction as a result of rotation of the cross shaft, the one of the 2nd or 3rd striking fingers, hitherto disengaged, engages with the set of the cooperating pins and recesses in order to be moveable radially to operate the selector block and thereby engage the gear ratios in said transmission. A gear selector mechanism according to Claim 1 in which the pivot axis of the toggle is substantially mutually perpendicular to the cross shaft axis and the selector shaft axis. A gear selector mechanism according to Claims 1 or 2 in which the cooperating pins are located on the shaft and the recesses are in the selector fingers. A gear selector mechanism according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the co-operating pins and recesses are in the form of teeth like protrusions depending from the selector fingers and the recesses are in the shaft. A gear selector mechanism according to any of the preceding claims in which the movement of the cross shaft passed the predetermined point also operates a switch means to operate a ratio change in an auxiliary gearbox connected to the transmission. A gear selection mechanism according to claim 5 in which the auxiliary gearbox is of a range change type gearbox. A gearbox selection mechanism according to claim 5 in which the auxiliary gearbox is of a splitter type gearbox.

Inventors: BILLS KEITH ANTHONY, BILLS, KEITH ANTHONY
Applicants: EATON CORP, EATON CORPORATION
Application year: 1995
Main classification: F16H63
IPC codes: F16H63, F16H61