Shifting actuator

A shift actuator for selectively shifting a shift member to a selected one of a first and second axially separated positions, said actuator comprising:

• a housing;
• means for engaging said shift member axially slidable in said housing, said means for engaging said shift member effective to engage said shift member and move said shift member axially therewith;
• reaction means axially slidable in said housing, said reaction means axially movable relative to said means for engaging said shift member;
• a resilient biasing means retained in said housing between said means for engaging said shift member and said reaction means;
• a rotational cam rotatably mounted in said housing, said cam having a first rotational position relative to said housing for engaging said reaction means and positively moving said reaction means to a first axial position to cause said biasing means to urge said means for engaging said shift member in said first axial direction, said cam having a second rotational position relative to said housing for engaging said reaction means and positively moving said reaction means to a second axial position to cause said biasing means to urge said means for engaging said shift member in said second axial direction, said first and second rotational positions of said cam rotationally displaced by about 180.degree., said cam defining a generally smooth continuous radially outwardly convex profile about the entire radially outer periphery thereof;
• said profile bisectable by a plane containing the axis of rotation of said cam to define substantially mirror image sections on each side of said plane, and
• means mountable to said housing for selectively rotating said cam to a selected one of said first and second rotational positions.

A shift actuator for selectively shifting a shift member to a selected one of a first and second axially separated positions, said actuator comprising:

• a housing mountable to the device to be shifted;
• a shaft supported in said housing for axial slidable movement relative to said housing, said shaft defining a first abutment surface adjacent one axial end thereof and a second abutment surface adjacent the other axial end thereof, said first abutment surface limited in axial movement relative to said shaft in the direction towards said one end of said shaft and said second abutment suface limited in axial movement relative to said shaft towards the other end of said shaft;
• an abutment plate slidably received on said shaft interposed said first and second abutment surfaces, said abutment plate defining a first plate surface facing the first abutment surface and a second plate surface facing said second abutment surface, said first plate surface and said first abutment surface adapted to receive the shift member therebetween, axial movement of said first abutment surface in the axial direction towards the other end of said shaft effective to cause said first abutment surface to engage said shift member and axially move said shift member therewith, axial movement of said abutment plate in the axial direction toward said one end of said shaft effective to cause said first plate surface to engage said shift member and axially move said shift member therewith;
• a resilient biasing means including an axially compresible coil spring retained between said second plate surface of said abutment plate and said second abutment surface, said resilient biasing means effective to urge said abutment plate towrad said first abutment surface;
• a rotary cam rotationally mounted in said housing interposed said first abutment suface and said first plate surface, said cam having a first rotational position for positively engaging said first abutment surface in the axial direction toward said one end of said shaft to a first axial position, said cam having a second rotational position rotationally displaced by about 180.degree. from said first rotational position for positively engaging said first plate surface and axially moving said abutment plate in the axial direction toward said other end of said shaft to a second axial position, said cam defining a generally smooth continuous radially outwardly convex profile about the entire radially outer periphery thereof, said profile bisectable by a plane containing the axis of rotation of said cam to define substantially mirror image sections on each side of said plane;
• and
• means mountable to said housing for selectively rotating said cam to a selected one of said first and second rotational positions, said means for rotating said cam comprising a unidirectional motor.

A shift actuator for selectively shifting a shift member to a selected one of a first and second axially separated positions, said actuator comprising:

• a housing mountable to the device to be shifted;
• a slide member supported in said housing for axially slidable movement in said housing to a first axial position relative to said housing and to a second axial position relative to said housing, said slide member adapted to engage said shift member and to axially move said shift member therewith;
• a reaction member supported in said housing for axially slidable movement in said housing to said first and second axial positions, said reaction member independently axially movable in said housing relative to said slide member;
• a resilient biasing means associated with said slide member and said reaction member for resiliently biasing said slide member to the same axial position relative to said housing as said reaction member;
• said resilient biasing means comprising a coil spring axially compressible along the axis of sliding of said reaction and slide members;
• a rotary cam rotationally mounted in said housing about an axis generally manual to said slide axis, said cam having a first selectable rotational position for engaging said reaction member and positiely axially moving and retaining said reaction member to said first axial position and a second selectable rotational position rotationally displaced by about 180.degree. from said first rotational position for engaging said reaction member and positively moving and retaining said reaction member to said second axial position, said cam defining a generally smooth continuous radially outwardly convex profile about the entire radially outer periphery thereof, said profile bisectable by a plane containing the axis of rotation of said cam to define substantially mirror image sections on each side of said plane;
• and
• means mountable to said housing for rotating said cam to a selectable one of said first and second rotational positions.

A shift actuator for selectively shifting a shift member to a selected one of a least two axially separated positions, said actuator comprising:

• a housing mountable to the device to be shifted;
• a slide member supported in said housing for axially slidable movement in said housing to a unique axial position relative to said housing for each of said at least two axially separated positions of said shift member, said slide member adapted to positively engage said shift member and to axially move said shift member therewith;
• a reaction member supported in said housing for axially slidable movement in said housing to each of said unique axial positions, said reaction member independently axially movable in said housing relative to said slide member;
• a resilient biasing means associated with said slide member and said reaction member for resiliently biasing said slide member to the same axial position relative to said housing as said reaction member, said resilient biasing means comprising a coil spring axially compressible along the axis of sliding of said reaction and slide members;
• a rotary member rotationally mounted in said housing about an axis generally normal to said slide axis of said reaction and slide members, said rotary member having at least one selectable rotational position for engaging said reaction member and positively axially moving and retaining said reaction member to each of said unique axial positions;
• means mountable to said housing for rotating said rotary member to a selectable one of said rotational positions, said means to rotate said rotary member comprising a unidirectional rotational motor mounted to said housing;
• and
• a switch control for selective actuation of said motor and means for sensing movement of said reaction member to each of said unique axial positions and for providing signals in response thereto, said switch control including means for receiving said signals and for terminating rotational movement of said motor in response thereto.