Patent GB-1463415-A (GB)
Title: Shift control mechanism for transmissions
IPC: F16H63/32
Filed: 1974-06-20
Abstract: 1463415 Change-speed control CATERPILLAR TRACTOR CO 20 June 1974 [21 June 1973] 27464/74 Heading F2D A manual control, for pneumatic shift of sixteen forward and two reverse ratios of a transmission in an earth moving or materials handling vehicle, comprises a manual shift lever 31, Fig. 3, carried by a control housing 33 which pivots with the lever 31 about a fixed axis VIII-VIII as the latter is traversed in a slotted quadrant 44, the lever 31 being pivoted at 34 to the control housing 33 for lateral movement, prior to shift, against a spring 43 out of notches 46 of the quadrant 44, defining consecutive ratio settings, an actuating plate 37 being pivotal with the control housing 33 about the axis VIII-VIII, whereby selectively positioned cam surfaces 71 ... 74, Fig. 4, on the actuating plate 37 operate, in a direction generally parallel to the pivot axis of the shift lever, valves 61 . . . 66, Figs. 3 and 6, carried by an adjacent fixed plate assembly 38, 39, 41, for establishing selected speed ratios. Once a shift has been initiated, the actuating plate 37 is locked in the selected position by a lock 88, Fig. 6, comprising a plunger (91, Fig. 11, not shown) carried by the fixed plates 38 . . . 41 and projected, against spring force, by air pressure supplied to the shift control, into one of a series of consecutively placed holes 87 in the actuating plate 37, corresponding to the ratio-locating notches 46 in the shift-lever quadrant 44. The actuator plate 37 is locked in neutral setting by a spring loaded plunger (102, Fig. 12, not shown) carried by the fixed plates 38 . . . 41 and retracted by air pressure from a hole 103 in the actuator plate 37 to permit movement of the shift lever from neutral only when the air pressure is sufficient to operate the ratio selectors. A spring-loaded detent ball 81, Fig. 6, and Fig. 10, not shown, yieldingly locates the actuator plate 37 in ratio settings. Pressure air is supplied to the selector valves 61 . . . 66 and lock plungers through an initiation valve 47, Figs. 3 and 6, which is opened by the lateral pivoting of the shift lever 31 out of the operative quadrant notch 46, and supplies the valves through cored passages 113 . . . 116 in the mating faces of the fixed plates 38 . . . 41. The selector valves 61 . . . 66 and initiating valve 47 are all of the same type, that, 47, Fig. 8, comprising a spool 49 shifted left, to the position shown, by the lateral movement of the shift lever 31, to lift a ball 53 off a seat 54 to supply air pressure from a chamber 52 to a passage 57 between the plates 38, 39 supplying the selector valves. The latter are arranged in two concentric pitch circles, as also are their actuating cam faces 71 . . . 74, Fig. 4, on the actuator plate 37. The control circuit is supplied with pressure air through a valve (27, Fig. 2, not shown) operated by a push button (29) which is released, to close the valve, when air supply pressure is below a minimum of 65 p.s.i. A projection on the actuator disc 37 closes a switch 117 in the engine start circuit in neutral setting only. The gear, Fig. 1, not shown, comprises two countershaft gears in series, with a fluidoperated clutch and brake at both input and output.