Transmission shift control mechanism
AssigneeBorg-Warner Corporation
InventorDonald W. Kelbel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shift control mechanism particularly adapted for use with a manual transmission having a main control shaft on an axis normal to a single shift fork rail. Both rotational and longitudinal motion is transferred from the main control shaft to the shift fork rail through a single pivoted idler lever. A pair of shift forks and a reverse gear transfer bar are connected to an interlock system which insures that the shift fork rail establishes only one gear ratio at any time as it is rotated for crossover selection and moved longitudinally for gear engagement.
Claims32
A transmission shift control mechanism comprising a control shaft rotatable on and slidable along a first axis, an idler lever slidable along a second axis in response to rotation of said control shaft, said idler lever being pivotal about said second axis in response to sliding of said control shaft, a shift rail rotatable on a third axis in response to sliding of said idler lever, said shift rail being slidable along said third axis in response to pivoting of said idler lever, each axis being substantially normal to the other two axes, and means responsive to rotation and sliding of said shift rail respectively for selecting and engaging at least one transmission ratio.
A transmission shift control mechanism comprising control means movable in a plurality of directions, idler means connected with said control means for articulated movement in one direction relative thereto upon movement thereof in one direction and for articulated movement in another direction relative thereto upon movement thereof in another direction, shift means connected with said idler means for articulated movement in a first direction relative thereto upon movement thereof in its one direction and for articulated movement in a second direction relative thereto upon movement thereof in its other direction, said movements of said control, idler and shift means being respectively on and along first, second and third axes, each axis being oriented transversely relative to the other two axes.
In a transmission including a plurality of gears for establishing a plurality of gear ratios, and means for selecting and engaging gears to establish said ratios;
- the improvement wherein said selecting and engaging means comprises a control shaft supported for rotation on and axial movement along a first axis, a control head secure to said control shaft for rotation and axial movement therewith, said control head defining a first socket, an idler lever supported for rotation on and axial movement along a second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis, said idler lever including a first lever arm having a first ball seated in said first socket and forming therewith a first articulated connection, a shift rail supported for rotation on and axial movement along a third axis substantially perpendicular to said first and second axes, a shift head secured to said shift rail for rotation and axial movement therewith, said shift head defining a second socket, said idler lever including a second lever arm having a second ball seated in said second socket and forming therewith a second articulated connection, a selector head secured to said shift rail for rotation and axial movement therewith, a plurality of movable bars, each bar defining a notch in alignment with said selector head, and means responsive to movement of said bars for engaging gears to establish said ratios, said selector head being selectively rotatable into said notches for selecting one of said bars, and said selector head being selectively axially movable in at least one direction for moving the selected bar, thereby effecting engagement of gears to establish at least one of said ratios.
In a transmission including housing means, and first and second gears supported for rotation in said housing means;
- the improvement comprising an inwardly opening bore defined by said housing means, a support block rigidly secured to the interior of said housing means and defining another bore, a shaft rigidly supported in said bores, an idler gear defining a groove, said idler gear being slidable on said shaft between a disengaged position and an engaged position in meshing relationship with said first and second gears, and actuating linkage including a transfer bar defining a slot and a notch, a fulcrum pin rigidly secured to the interior of said housing means and extending into said slot, said transfer bar being slidable relative to said fulcrum pin between first and second positions, and an idler lever pivotal about said fulcrum pin, said idler lever including a pad extending into said notch whereby said idler lever is pivoted about said fulcrum pin upon sliding of said transfer bar relative to said fulcrum pin, said idler lever also including a pad extending into said groove whereby said gear is slid between its disengaged and engaged positions upon pivoting of said idler lever about said fulcrum pin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.