Abstract:
The subject matter described herein is directed to gear shifting and in particular is related to the field of simulation of gear shifting in a vehicle. The present subject matter proposes a strategic solution to eliminate the challenges experienced in the simulation of conventional gear shifting.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The subject matter described herein in general relates to the field of gear shifting and more particularly relates to the field of simulation of gear shifting in a vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A conventional vehicle simulator has various control devices such as acceleration pedal, brake pedal, clutch pedal, steering wheel, and gear change lever. Some high end vehicle simulators employ a digital computer to provide a road vehicle driving simulation while other vehicle simulators employ non-digital techniques which emulates actual feel of devices being used while driving a simulator vehicle. Some vehicle simulators also employ actual parts like a gear box assembly to achieve an actual feel of forces felt by the operator while manipulating the gearshift of a vehicle. A compelling reason to use an actual gear box assembly in vehicle simulators is often attributed to the complexity and difficulty involved while designing a gear box simulator which would perfectly emulate actual force felt by operator while manipulating gearshift of a simulator vehicle. However, employing an actual gear box in vehicle simulators brings along inherent disadvantages like a bigger size and hence occupies more space; heavier in weight and hence difficult to mount, dismount and transport. Further, an actual gear box needs to be changed according to the type of vehicle used and hence an actual gear box does not serve optimum purpose for training of all kinds of vehicles. Often mounting of sensors on the actual gear box for the purpose of simulation is also difficult. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The subject matter described herein is directed to gear shifting and in particular is related to the field of simulation of gear shifting in a vehicle. The present subject matter proposes a strategic solution to eliminate the challenges experienced in the simulation of conventional gear shifting operation. 
         [0004]    In accordance with at least one aspect of the present subject matter, A gear box simulator includes a gear shift lever and a central block having a first end and a second end, wherein the central block is provided with an angular slot that restricts the rotational freedom of the gear shift lever. The gear shift lever is pivotally connected to the central block, wherein the gear shift lever is adapted to move relative to the central block in a first axis. The simulator further comprises a shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the shaft is provided with a first set and a second set of grooves. The shaft is longitudinally disposed inside the central block wherein the shaft is so connected to the gear shift lever that any forward or backward movement in the first axis of the gear shift lever causes a corresponding movement of the shaft relative to the central block. A first means selectively locks the shaft in any one groove of first set of grooves whereas a second means holds the gear shifting lever, the shaft and the central block at a neutral position. The first means includes a ball, a first spring and a spring backing plate. When the ball gets engaged in any one of the spherically shaped groove of the first set of grooves, the shaft gets locked in a predetermined position. The spring and the spring backing plate does not allow the ball to pop out of the groove, thereby keeps the shaft in a particular position until the gear is changed to the next position. The second means includes a pin, an outer cap and a second spring. The second means holds the gear shifting lever, the shaft, and the central block at a neutral position by virtue of the spring action of the second spring. Further the gear box simulator includes a housing block. Also the central block is adapted to move along with the shaft and the gear shift lever in a second axis. 
         [0005]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present subject matter will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The above and other features, aspects and advantages of the subject matter will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  shows the isometric view of the gear shifting mechanism assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows the isometric exploded view of the gear shifting mechanism assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows the isometric exploded view rotated about the longitudinal axis in the clockwise direction in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]      FIG. 1  shows the isometric view of the gear shifting mechanism assembly whereas  FIG. 2  shows the isometric exploded view of the gear shifting mechanism assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.  FIG. 3  shows the isometric exploded view rotated about the transverse axis in the clockwise direction in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In the present embodiment, the terms “longitudinal axis” and “first axis” are interchangeably used, while the terms “transverse axis” and “second axis” are interchangeably used. 
         [0011]    A gear shifting lever  100  having a gear knob  102  is connected to a central block  104  with a pivot pin  106  and to a shaft  108  through a slot in the gear shifting lever  100  with a push pin  110 . The pivot pin  106  facilitates rotational freedom of the gear shifting lever  100  about the transverse axis thereby providing a forward and backward movement to the gear shifting lever  100 . When the gear shift lever  100  rotates about the axis of the pivot pin  106 , the shaft  108  which is guided inside the central block  104 , moves along the longitudinal axis facilitated by the push pin  110 . 
         [0012]    The shaft  108  has a first set  112  and a second set of grooves  150 . A ball  114 , loaded with a first spring  116  is placed onto any one groove of the first set of grooves  112  through the central block  104 . 
         [0013]    The rotational freedom of the gear shift lever  100  is restricted by means of an angular slot provided on the central block  104 . The angle in the angular slot can be decided based on the required rotational freedom of the gear shift lever  100 . When the shaft  108  is moved along the longitudinal axis by the gear shift lever  100 , the ball  114  gets placed in any one groove of the first set of grooves  112 . This whole arrangement gives a feel of forward or backward gear engagement. 
         [0014]    The assembly of the gear shifting lever  100 , the central block  104  and the shaft  108  is housed in an enclosure containing a first housing plate  118 , a second housing plate  120 , and a third housing plate  122 , a fourth housing plate  124  and a fifth housing plate  126 . The first housing plate  118  and the third housing plate  122  are located at a first end  128  and a second end  130  respectively of the central block  104 . This setup facilitates the rotational freedom of the gear shifting lever  100  about the longitudinal axis of the shaft  108 . 
         [0015]    A second means comprising of a pin  132 , an outer cap  136  and a second spring  134  hold the assembly of gear shifting lever  100 , central block  104  and shaft  108  at neutral position, where the neutral position of the assembly is defined as the position of the gear shift lever  100  when it is perpendicular to the transverse and longitudinal axes. The second means are inserted through the housing plate  120  and the housing plate  124 . 
         [0016]    A locking lever  138  with a locking pin  140  is connected to a first end portion  142  of the shaft  108 . A locking plate  146  is fitted to the first housing plate  118  by means of a first pillar set  148 , such that the locking plate  146  is substantially parallel to the first housing plate  118 . When the gear shifting lever  100  rotates about the axis of the pivot pin  106 , then the shaft  108  along with the locking lever  138  moves along the longitudinal axis till the ball  114  sits in any one groove of the first set of grooves  110  provided on the shaft  108 . The first housing plate  118  and the locking plate  146  are provided with a set of first and second openings respectively. Based on the forward or backward movement of the gear shifting lever  100 , the locking pin  140  selectively gets inserted into any one opening of the first or the second set of openings. The opening on the locking plate  146  or the first housing plate  118  through which the locking pin  140  gets inserted, depends on the orientation of the gear shift lever  100 . The shaft  108  has a second set of grooves  150  that are cylindrically shaped. A spring-loaded pin  152  is placed onto the second set of grooves  150  on the shaft  108  through the central block  104 . The spring-loaded pin  152  is connected to the clutch pedal of the vehicle. When the clutch pedal is pressed the spring-loaded pin  152  is pulled out of second set of grooves  150 . This arrangement does not allow the change of gears unless the clutch pedal is pressed. 
         [0017]    A sensing lever  154  is connected to a second end portion  144  of the shaft  108 . A first sensing plate  156  is fixed to the gear box housing and the second sensing plate  158  is connected to the first sensing plate  156  by means of a second pillar set  160 . The first sensing plate  156  and the second sensing plate  158  are provided with mounting holes, in which sensors or switches are mounted. These sensors detect the gear engaged. 
         [0018]    Other advantages of the inventive gear shifting mechanism will become better understood from the description and claims of an exemplary embodiment of such a unit. 
         [0019]    The inventive gear shifting mechanism of the present subject matter is not restricted to the embodiments that are mentioned above in the description. 
         [0020]    Although the subject matter has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the subject matter, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the subject matter. It is therefore contemplated that such modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present subject matter as defined.