Electrically actuated x-y shifting mechanism

An electrically actuated X--Y shifting mechanism for controlling the shifting of change gears of a mechanical change gear transmission of the type having at least one shift rail axially movable in a first axial (Y--Y) direction in a shift bar housing, said shift rail having a shift fork associated therewith and a block mechanism selectively engagable by an inner end of a mountable operated shift lever extending through an opening in the shift bar housing that is movable in a second (X--X) direction substantially transverse to the (Y--Y) direction for registration with the shift rail block mechanism and is movable in the (Y--Y) direction for engaging and causing said block mechanism to move the shift rail associated therewith axially to cause the shift fork associated therewith to effect the change gear shift, said mechanism comprising;

• a shift mechanism housing mountable to said shift bar housing and having a shift finger extending into the shift rail housing opening therefrom,
• a first shaft member mounted for rotation on the mechanism housing and having the central rotational axis thereof in substantial parallel alignment with the (X--X) direction,
• a first carrier member disposed coaxially about the first shaft member and axially movable in opposite directions therealong and rotatable in opposite rotational directions about the rotational axis thereof, said carrier member having the shift finger fixedly secured thereto such that the axial movement of carrier member moves the shift finger in the (X--X) direction and rotational movement of the carrier member moves the shift finger in the (Y--Y) direction,
• a second shaft member journaled for rotation in opposite rotational directions on the mechanism housing in spaced-apart relationship to the first shaft member, said shaft member externally threaded and having a central rotational axis thereof in substantial parallel alignment with the first shaft member central rotational axis,
• a first threaded traversing member threadingly engaged with the second shaft member and operable to traverse in opposite axial directions therealong in response to rotation of the second shaft member in opposite rotational directions, said traversing member operably connected to the first carrier member by means enabling the traversing member to move the first carrier member axially along the first shaft member in and cause the shift finger to move in the (X--X) direction whilst enabling the first carrier member to rotate in opposite rotational directions about the first shaft member and cause the shift finger to move in the (Y--Y) direction,
• at least one electrical motor mounted on the mechanism assembly and powered by an electrical power source, said motor drivingly connected to the second shaft member and operable to rotate the second shaft member in a rotational direction determined by an electrical shift rail selection instruction signal received thereby,
• means enabling the motor to rotate the first shaft member in a rotational direction determined by an electrical gear change shift instruction signal received thereby,
• means for rotating the first carrier member in response to rotation of the first shaft member, and
• electrical circuit control means, operative to provide said shift rail selection instruction signal and said gear change shift instruction signal to in response to one of a selected operator input signal (S.sub.1) or speed signal (S.sub.2) received thereby.