Patent GB-112480-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Change-speed Gear.
Inventor: RUCK RICHARD MATTHEWS
IPC: F16H61/02
Filed: 1916-12-05
Abstract: 112,480. Ruck, R. M. Dec. 5, 1916. Controlling variable - speed gearing. - Relates to operating- means for variable-speed gearing of the kind described in Specification 14010/13, in which power operated cam-means are provided for changing the gear and temporarily disengaging the main clutch, and comprises cams on a power-shaft for performing all the necessary operations, means being provided for operating the speed-gear and clutch by ordinary manual means if desired. A shaft 21 continuously driven by a pulley 27 carries cams 25, 26, each adapted to operate the speed change and the main clutch, and cams 29, 30 adapted to cooperate with means manually thrown into position to make the cams 25, 26 operative. Rollers 35, 36 on levers 33, 34 turning with spindles 31, 32 are pressed by springs 37, 38 towards the cam 29, but the levers are normally retained in the position shown in Fig. 4 by blocks 41, 42 on locking-levers 43, 44 engaging lugs 39, 40 on the levers 33, 34. The levers 43, 44 are pivoted on spindles 45, 46, carry rollers 47, 48 adapted to engage the locking-cam 30, and are normally retained in the position shown against the action of springs 43a, 44a by pins 51, 52 on a lever 49 connected by a link 88a to a lever 88, Fig. 9, connected by a link 87, slide 85, and link 84 to a handle 82 rocking on a pivot 83 on the ordinary manual speed-gear lever 68. When the handle 82 is rocked in either direction on the lever 68 against the action of a spring 90, one of the levers 44, 45 is rocked, when permitted by the cam 30, and releases one of the levers 33, 34, which moves into engagement with the cam 29 and rocks one of two sleeves 57, 58 splined on the shafts 31, 32 and allows a roller 63 or 64 on arms 61, 62 on the sleeves to move into the path of the cam 25 or 26. At the same time, a portion of the arm 61 or 62 moves into engagement with a slot 65 or 66 in a gearoperating slide 55, so that by the rotation of the shaft 21, the slide 55 is moved in either direction from the neutral position shown, according to which of the locking-levers 43, 44 has been operated by the lever 49. Slots 65a, 66a are provided for returning the slide 55 from its extreme positions to neutral position. The arms 61, 62 have play in the slots 65, 65a, 66, 66a, and the sleeves 57, 58 carry rings 59, 60 engaging the arms 107, 108 of a spindle 109 connected to the main clutch, so that the clutch is disengaged before the gear is changed. At the end of each power operation of the gear and clutch, the cams 29, 30 return nearly all the parts concerned to neutral position, the clutch being re-engaged and the remainder of the parts, with the exception of the slide 55, being returned by the clutch spring. The speed-lever 68 is secured on a spindle 69 carrying an arm 70 adapted to engage the usual changing-rods to give three speeds and a reverse when the lever 68 is moved into the appropriate positions in a gate 71, 72. The slide 55 is connected by a link 80a with an arm 80 turning but not sliding with the spindle 69, so that movement of the Slide 55 gives the necessary movement to the arm 70 but lateral movement of the lever 68 through the passage 76 does not affect the slide. When it is desired operate the speed gear manually, the lever 68 is grasped below the handle 82 and the powergear remains locked The main clutch may then be operated by the usual pedal. In order to prevent operation of the power-gear while the lever 68 is moving through the passage 76, a projection 92 on the slide 85 co-operates with a slot 93 in the gate to prevent passage of the lever unless the handle 82 is in its central position. A further safeguard is provided by a part 95, Fig. 7, sliding with the spindle 69 and carrying slots 97, 98 through which lugs 99, 100 on parts turning with the levers 33, 34 can only pass when the spindle 69 is in its pad positions. A pin 104 carried by a hand-lever 105 prevents the lever 68 from accidentally moving to the reverse position 103, and, by engaging the projection 92, prevents movement of the handle 82.