Patent GB-709249-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in remote control systems for mechanical transmission gears
IPC: B60L15/34
Filed: 1952-05-06
Abstract: 709,249. Controlling change-speed gearing. REGIE NATIONALE DES USINES RENAULT. May 6, 1952 [Aug. 3, 1951], No. 11457/52. Class 80 (2) In a remote control arrangement for the changespeed gears of two driving units A, B on rail or road vehicles wherein the gears are changed by pneumatic means controlled by electromagnetic valves  controlled by a single hand lever 14 movable in a gate 21, the change is effected immediately in unit A but with a predetermined delay in unit B, means being provided whereby, when desired, the change may be effected immediately in both units. The apparatus includes electric supply mains 11, 12 and lines 15 ... 20, 27 28, and the lever 14, movable in slots in the gate 21 corresponding to the four speeds I, II, III, IV of each gear, co-acts with contacts connected to the lines 15 ... 20. The valves of gear A and B are connected to lines 15 ... 18 and 15<SP>1</SP> ... 18<SP>1</SP> respectively and electromagnetic valves controlling pneumatic means operating the engine clutches A and B are connected to lines 19, 20 and 19', 20<SP>1</SP> respectively. The fuel supply to engines A, B is controlled by spring-loaded pistons in cylinders 3A, 4A to which compressed air is supplied through normally-open electromagnetic spring- loaded valves 31A, 31B from a pipe 10, the pressure in which is controlled by a reducing valve 7 operated by a lever 8. Valve 31A is closed on closure of a contact 44 by a spring-loaded rod 42 which is caused to move to the right with lever 14, when the latter moves to the right along line C towards a higher speed slot, by a pawl 37 carried by a fork 35 engaged by the lever 14. Movement of lever 14 to the left, towards a lower-gear slot, has no effect on rod 42. The movement of rod 42 to the right also serves to close another contact 45 to render line 27 live. A relay 29, when energized by a switch 30, disconnects lines 15<SP>1</SP> ...20<SP>1</SP> from lines 15 ... 20 and connects lines 11<SP>1</SP>, 12<SP>1</SP>, 27<SP>1</SP> to lines 11, 12, 27. Relays 55 ...60, 66, 78 are also. provided and an electromagnetic valve 77 controls a pneumatic servomotor 49 operating, through lever 50, a shaft carrying cams 51... 54. The arrangement operates as follows, assuming switch 30 is closed and thata change from speed I to speed II is to be made. With the lever 14 at position I-a, speed I and the clutch are engaged in both units, relay 55 being energized, valve 77 closed, and relay 78 energized so that its contact 76 is open. On moving lever 14 to I-b, speed I remains engaged, line . 20 goes dead causing clutch A to disengage and relay 78 to be deenergized so that its contact 76 closes at once to energize relay 59 whose contact 62 closes at once while its contact 64 closes only after a predetermined interval. On moving lever 14 to I-c, line 15 goes dead bringing gear A to neutral, but relay 55 remains energized via its contact 72 from line 11'. The lever 14 is now moved to II-c so that contacts 44, 45 close. Contact 44 causes engine A to slow down and contact 45 renders line 27 live, so that relay 60 is energized and its contacts 63, 65 close at once. The lever 14 is now moved to IId, whereby line 19 goes dead and clutch A engages to synchronize gear A. The lever is 'now moved back to IIc, whereby line 19 ds rendered live and clutch A disengages. On moving the lever to IIb, line 16 is rendered live and speed II is engaged in gear A. The lever is now moved to IIa, rendering line 20 live to engage clutch A. During this last movement of the lever, a rod 46 displaced thereby lifts the pawl 37 to allow rod 42 to return to the left, opening the contacts 44, 45. Opening of contact 44 opens valve 31A and restores engine A to control by the lever 8. Opening of contact 45 makes line 27 dead, but relay 60 remains energized-via its contact 63 and contact 62. Relay 78 is also energized, but its contact 76 opens only after a predetermined interval. The change in unit A is now complete, while gear B still remains in speed I. The delayed contact 64 now closes, causing valve 77 to open and so energize the servo 49 and also causing relay 66 to be energized via contact 65, though its contact 67 opens only after a predetermined interval. Cam 51 now opens a contact making 20' dead so that clutch B disengages and cam 54 closes a contact so as to close valve 31B and cause engine B to slow down. Cam 52 next opens a contact which de-energizes relay 55, so that gear B is brought to neutral. Cam 53 now opens a contact to make line 19' dead, so that clutch B engages to synchronize gear B. Delayed contact 76 now opens, de-energizing relays 59, 60, 66 so that valve 77 is closed and servo 49 begins its return movement, during which line 19<SP>1</SP> is rendered live to disengage clutch B, relay 56 is energized to engage speed II in gear B, line 20<SP>1</SP> is made live to' engage clutch B and valve 31B opens, restoring engine B to control by the lever 8. The delayed contact 67 new opens, and the change in unit B is complete. By opening the switch 30, changes in unit B are caused to take place simultaneously with those in unit A.