Patent GB-954825-A (GB)
Title: Change speed transmission control apparatus
IPC: F16H61/70
Filed: 1962-06-20
Abstract: 954,825. Change-speed control. EATON MANUFACTURING CO. June 20, 1962 [July 11, 1961], No. 23819/62. Heading F2D. In a control for series main and auxiliary change-speed gears M, A for a highway truck or an earth-moving machine, wherein input and output shafts 1, 3 of the main gear drive a pilot synchronizing detector unit U, as described in Specifications 851,996, 924,057 or, as shown, and as described in Specification 877,114, having stepped ratios corresponding to that of the main gear and providing a shifting signal when the gear ratio next to be engaged in the main gear is in a non-synchronous condition but is approaching synchronization so as to effect change at substantially exact synchronism, an inhibitor means causes the unit U to give a shifting signal to the main gear M only after completion of a shift, if such is required, in the auxiliary gear A. The control may be applied in respect of a two-speed auxiliary gear arranged ahead of or, as shown, behind the main gear, and arranged to provide ratio steps between those of the main gear or, as shown, to shift through a step greater than the total ratios of the main gear. An automatic countershaft brake 24 is used to synchronize main gear upshift, whilst downshift is synchronized by the operator accelerating the engine. The main clutch 19 is disengaged by the usual foot pedal and by a power cylinder 23 the control of which is interconnected with that of the change-speed gear. Gearing.-The five forward speeds and one reverse main gear M comprises aligned input and output shafts 1, 3, a countershaft 8 and four shift rods 15-18 actuated by compression air power cylinders 31-37. Neutralizing of the forward gears is effected collectively by two plates 38, 39 which pick up collars 41 on the shift rods when closed together against a fixed stop 44 by supplying pressure to a neutral cylinder 46. Reverse is neutralized by constant pressure in a relatively small diameter cylinder 37. The auxiliary gear A provides between its input gear 51, connected to the main gear output shaft 3, and a gear 56, connected to a final output shaft 57, direct and reduced drives selected by a dog clutch 58 controlled through a fork 60, by a cylinder 62 and provided with cone or plate-type friction synchronizers 50, 55. Detector unit U.-A shaft 92 connected to the main gear output shaft 3 carries gears 93-97 selectively clutchable thereto by shift rods 99, 101, 103 to provide with gears 113-117 ratios between shafts 112 and 92 corresponding to those between the main gear shafts 1, 3. A shaft 126, connected to the main gear input shaft 1, carries two gears 127, 128 meshing with gears 131, 132 which are free on the shaft 112 and are respectively driven slightly faster and slower than the shaft 126. The gears 131, 132 respectively continuously frictionally engage balk gears 167, 174 restricting rightward movement of a sleeve 119 connected to a rod 122 of a detector valve D. Pressure system components comprise: manually operable valves 232 (start), 233 (upshiftpreselect), 234 (downshift-preselect) and 235 (executive) respectively connecting main line pressure from a source 315 to a neutral relay valve 317, an upshift selector valve actuator cylinder 304, a downshift selector valve actuator cylinder 306 and, through a pulse valve 197, the opposite end of the neutral relay cylinder. In addition, the valves 233, 234 also connect pressure, through a shuttle valve 341, to a supply relay valve 83. The clutch cylinder 23 is pressurized through a spring-loaded clutch relay valve 76 also connected to the neutral relay valve 317. A piston 82 of the supply relay valve 83 is leftwardly moved by neutralizing movement of the plates 38, 39 acting through a crank device shown in Fig. 12. A rotary selector valve S having ratchet teeth 301 respectively engaged by pawls 302, 303 of the cylinders 304, 306 for clockwise (upshift) and anti-clockwise (downshift) rotation thereof, has ports 257, 258 connectible with the main gear shift and neutral cylinders, and ports 261, 262 connectible with cylinders 104 &c. of the detector unit shift rods. The valve S may have electrical position indicator contacts. The valve S acts on a rocker valve member 273 having a port 277a permanently connected to main line pressure and connectible with either of two lines 403, 404 to the inhibitor means, and a port 280 connected to supply relay valve 83 and connectible with either of two lines 373, 375 respectively connected to the bottom and top of an auxiliary relay 84 in turn connecting main line pressure to the auxiliary cylinder 62. As shown, the valve S and the rocker 273 are arranged to provide 1-9 forward speeds and one reverse, whereas in Figs. 1e, 5a (not shown), the valve S and the rocker 273 provide two reverse speeds by bringing in both auxiliary speeds for reverse. As shown, the inhibitor means comprises a valve R consisting of two cylinders 212, connected to the line 404 and, by a line 405, the neutral relay valve 317 and 213 connected to the cylinder 212, the line 403 and, by a line 400, the detector valve D. Plungers 214, 216 in the cylinders 212, 213, are acted on by a cam-rod 211 actuated by the auxiliary cylinder 62. In Fig. 18 (not shown), a wholly pressure actuated inhibitor means suitable where there is insufficient clutch movement in the auxiliary gear, e.g. where pressure con trolled magnetic clutches are used, comprises a time delay valve between the line 400, 405. Operation.-In the neutral position shown, main line pressure acts: (1) to hold the clutch relay valve 76 and, through the selector valve S, the neutral relay 317 in their leftward position, thereby exhausting the clutch cylinder 23; (2) through the auxiliary relay valve 84 and the cylinder 62, to hold the auxiliary gear in its leftward (direct drive) position; (3) through the rocker 273 and the line 404, at the bottom of the cylinder 212 of the inhibitor valve R, the rod 211 preventing upward movement of the plunger 214; (4) through the supply relay valve 83 and lines 351, 352 and the rocker port 280, to hold the auxiliary relay valve 84 in its upward position; and (5) at the ports 261, 262 of the selector valve S. Neutral to 1st (vehicle standing).-The main clutch is disengaged by the operator acting on the usual foot pedal. By repeated depression of the downshift valve 234 the selector valve S is rotated anti-clockwise until the port 257 connects with a line 381 and the rocker ports 277a, 280 respectively connect with lines 403 to upwardly move the plunger 216, and 375 to downwardly move the auxiliary relay valve 84 to downshift the auxiliary gear upon synchronization thereof. Should the selector valve S not have been left in the neutral position shown, pressure in the line 381 acting in the cylinder 32 would be unable to effect a shift due to pressure in the larger neutral cylinder 46 and initial movement of either upshift or downshift valves 233, 234 would act, through the valve 341, to rightwardly move the supply relay valve 83 to exhaust the line 351 and, in this case, when the 1st gear position of the selector valve S is reached, the executive valve 235 would be depressed to rightwardly move the neutral relay valve 317 to neutralize the main gear shift rods and rightwardly move the supply relay valve 83. On depression of the start valve 232 the neutral valve 317 is held or moved leftwardly to block main line pressure and exhaust the clutch and neutral cylinders 23, 46 and, through the inhibitor cylinders 212, 213 and the line 400, the leftward end of the detector valve D cylinder permitting leftward return of the piston thereof. Exhausting of the neutral cylinder permits shift of the rod 17 for 1st speed engagement. The clutch may then be re-engaged. 1-2 shift.-The upshift valve 233 is depressed once to shift the selector valve clockwise one increment to connect the port 257 with the second speed shift cylinder 31. Simultaneously, main line pressure, through the port 261 of the valve S, is connected to the second speed cylinder 109 of the detector unit and, through the valve 341, the supply relay valve 83 is rightwardly moved to exhaust the line 351 to allow rightward spring-urging of the clutch relay valve 76, exhausting of the ports 257, 258 in the selector valve S and the rocker port 280, and exhausting of the rightward end of the detector valve D cylinder. To shift, the executive valve 235 is depressed to rightwardly move the neutral relay valve 317 to disengage the clutch through the valve 76, to neutralize the main gear shift rods, and to act, through the lines 405, 400, on the leftward end of the detector valve piston and rightwardly urge the detector unit sleeve 119 which is initially blocked by the balk gear 167 thereby aligning a detector valve port 407a with a port 364. leftward movement of the supply relay valve 83 due to the main gear neutralizing pressurizes the cylinder 31 through the selector valve S, pressure in the neutral cylinder 46 preventing shift; through a line 365 leftwardly moves the clutch relay valve 76; through the line 351, a line 354 and a passage 407 in the detector valve piston, ports 407a and 364, and a line 363 to the leftward end of the clutch relay 76, balances line 365 pressure to maintain the clutch disengaged; and, through the rocker port 280 and the line 375 holds the auxiliary valve downward. Pressure at the port 364 acts through a line 394 on the brake relay 75 to apply the countershaft brake 24 to effect synchronization. At a point approaching synchronization the sleeve 119 moves into the fully rightward position and the port 407a is aligned with a line 361 thereby leftwardly moving the neutral relay valve 317 to exhaust the neutral cylinder 46 and permit pressure in the cylinder 31 to shift the rod 17 for second speed engagement, and to exhaust the clutch cylinder 23, through a restrictor if desired, for clutch re-engagement. 2-3 and 3-4 shifts are substantially as t