Patent GB-1109497-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to automatic change-speed gears, particularly for motor vehicles
IPC: F16H63/30
Filed: 1965-07-26
Abstract: 1,109,497. Change-speed control. ZAHNRADFABRIK FRIEDRICHSHAFEN A.G. 26 July, 1965 [1 Aug., 1964], No. 31793/65. Heading F2D. An automatic, vehicle change-speed control has an A.C. generator G delivering a current dependent on road speed to a control circuit ST 1  and a switching circuit Sch 1  for each gear. Generator G is connected to transformer winding S 1  through a transformer W having a winding W s  adjustable according to accelerator depression or by the governor of an injection pump or in dependence on manifold pressure. In Fig. 2, stepped windings S 2 , S 3 , S 4  are connected via rectifiers B 11 , B 12 , B 13  to the control circuits ST 1 , ST 2 , ST 3  which includes resistors R 11 , R 12 , R 13  adjustable to govern the points at which gear change takes place and Zener diodes D 11 , D 12 , D 13  which break down at vehicle speeds V 1 , V 2 , V 3  whereby PNP transistors T 11 , T 12 , T 13  become conductive and relays Rl 11 , Rl 12 , Rl 13  are energized to actuate electromagnetic valves controlling the flow of fluid to clutches and brakes in the transmission, Fig. 6, not shown. Thermistors R 41 , R 42 , R 43  compensate for the effects of temperature variation in the switching apparatus. Downward shifts are at lower corresponding speeds to upward shifts as determined by the choice of Zener diodes, the resistors R 31 , R 32 , R 33 , R 51 , R 52 , R 53  and diodes D 21 , D 22 , D 23 . First gear is engaged by movement of lever H from idle to energize magnetic valve MV I . As vehicle accelerates to a speed V 1 , the Zener diode D 11  breaks down and the base-emitter section of transistor T 11  becomes conductive; the switching circuit Sch 1  is closed through the collector-emitter section and relay Rl 11  is actuated to disengage arms r 11 , r 12  from contacts B, B 1  to de-energize valve MV, controlling brake (K 1 ) Fig. 6, not shown, and engage arms r 11  r 12  with contacts C, C 1  controlling valve MV II  connected to brake (K 11 ) whereby change from 1st to 2nd is achieved. As valve MV I  is deenergized a self-inductance current energizes relay RIK to energize valve MVK from source Q to disconnect the bridging clutch (KU), Fig. 6, not shown, of a driving torque-converter or fluid-coupling, until, after a period determined by capacitor C 4 , the relay is de-energized and the clutch re-engaged. As vehicle speed increases the voltage from winding S 3  causes breakdown of Zener diode D 12  to produce a change to 3rd gear by deenergizing valve MV II  and energizing valve MV III , the bridging clutch being actuated as before. Similarly the change from 3rd to 4th occurs when diode D 13  breaks down. Should the speed drop, the voltages in the control circuits ST 1 , ST 2 , ST 3  fall until when they are lower, by the voltage drop at diodes D 21 , D 22 , D 23 , than the breakdown voltage of the Zener diodes on changing up, the control circuits are blocked and downward shift occurs. In Fig. 3, not shown, a variable resistor in parallel with the variable resistor R 11 , R 12 , R 13  is switched into each control circuit during change-up so that the gap between change-up and change down speeds can be varied. In Fig. 4, not shown, the control circuits are connected to a single secondary winding, and the Zener diodes have different break-down voltages. The bridging clutch has a control and a switching circuit which is broken at each gear change to release this clutch and is reengaged when the vehicle speed has been appropriately increased. On changing down the bridging clutch is first released and then drive is via the torque converter; the gears are then changed down as the Zener diodes are blocked in succession. Suitable diodes protect the switch apparatus from self-inductance currents. A switch operated on " kick-down " introduces a resistance into the circuit between the generator and transformer causing a drop in voltage and a downward gear change. A similar control in Fig. 5, not shown, but with the bridging clutch control circuits, has an adjustable resistance connected between the rectifier and the control circuits during up-shift to displace the down-shift point. Also the transistors are of the NPN type.