Patent GB-349825-A (GB)
Title: Automobile gear shift
IPC: B60W30/18
Filed: 1930-07-12
Abstract: 349,825. Controlling variable speed gearing. CARTWRIGHT, F. S., 823, Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. July 12, 1930, No. 21194. [Class 80 (ii).] A vehicle gear shift with selector rods 11, 12 is automatic in the sense that successive depressions of the main clutch pedal 50 move rod 12 forward for high speed and backward for intermediate speed alternately. To bring in low speed and reversed drive, volitional controls 54,56 are operated to actuate rod 11. In this alternation between the two higher speeds, a control lug 19 keeps moving round in a quadrilateral path. The lug 19 projects upwards from a divided drum 18, Fig. 5, loose on a pivot shaft 17 fixed between the rods 11, 12, Fig. 3. Embraced by drum 18 is a smaller drum 20 also loose and having ears 23, 24, Fig. 6, for engaging alternatively notches 15, 16 in flanges 26 on collars 13, 14 fast on the rods 11, 12. Rack bars 27, 28, Fig. 2, connected by a fixed pinion 35 are reciprocated in opposite directions by the depression of pedal 50. The lug 19 projects through a window in a sliding plate 60, Fig. 1, which is locked in gear positions by a finger 59 upon a member 39 pivoted on the pivot of pinion 35. On depression of the pedal 50, rack 28 coming rearwardly strikes lug 19 with its sloping shoulder 29 so as to move the lug to the left carrying with it ear 24 into engagement with notch 16. As the rod 12 moves back to the intermediate gear position of Fig. 4, a ridge 40 on rack 28 strikes member 39 and turns that member with its nose 67 to the left of lug 19, as shown in Fig. 4. On release of the pedal, a pin 37 on the backward moving rack 27 strikes the heel 38 of member 39 so that lug 19 is shot across to the right in front of incline 31 on rack 27. That is intermediate speed, looked by finger 59 engaging notch 64 in plate 60. On next depression of the pedal, rack 27 carries with it lug 19 and rod 12 forwardly full stroke. On release of pedal, member 39 swings rightwardly, and finger 59 engaging notch 66 locks parts in high-speed position. Lug 19 is left in position to be engaged by slope 29 on next depression of pedal, which returns parts to intermediate speed. To interrupt this sequence and bring in neutral, control 54 is operated to bring a lever 42 to position shown in Fig. 2. After pedal 50 has been depressed until a shoulder 45 on rack 28 strikes abutment 44 on lever 42, on release, the parts are locked in neutral position shown in Fig. 1 with finger 59 engaging notch 65. To bring in low speed, drum 20 is turned over to free rod 12 and bring ear 23 into engagement with notch 15 on rod 11. There is a lever 47, Fig. 2, pivoted on lever 42, and when rack 28 returns on release of pedal, it strikes a lug 48 on this lever. Lever 47 is thus swung so that its heel 49 strikes a third ear 25 on drum 20, effecting the required turning over. On depression of the pedal, shoulder 31 on rack 27 carries lug 19 and rod 11 forwardly into low gear position, which is locked on release of pedal by finger 59 engaging notch 68 in plate 60. To bring in reversed drive, control 56 is operated to turn a lever 55 so that a notch 57 in it forms a guide for lug 19. On depression of the pedal, long shoulder 29 carries lug 19 and rod 11 rearwardly, the guide 57 preventing lug 19 from turning to the left to bring in intermediate speed as would happen if lever 55 were not in position. On release of pedal, finger 59 locks the reversed drive by engaging the same notch 64 in plate 60 that it engages to lock the intermediate speed.