Manual override for an electronically controlled automatic transmission
AssigneeThe United States of Amerca as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsGeorge Melnik, Bruce E. Amrein, Robert C. Brucksch, Curtis L. McCoy, James A. Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus for manually shifting an electronically control automated transmission. The device includes a series of mechanical linkage elements and gear transelements connected between the solenoid-operated valves of the automatic transmission and a control lever in the driver's compartment of the vehicle. One of the mechanical linkage elements is a cam shaft whose rotational position determines which subset of the solenoid operated valves will be actuated.
Claims9
For an automatic transmission normally operated by solenoids, an apparatus for mechanically shifting the automatic transmission, comprising:
- a mounting block on the transmission;
- a cam shaft rotatably secured to the mounting block, the cam shaft having a plurality of lobes;
- blocks defining apertures surrounding the cam shaft having camming surfaces engageable by the lobes of the cam shaft, whereby the sliding blocks translate when the lobes rotate past the respective camming surfaces;
- the lobes being on lines along the cam shaft, the lobes on each line disposed at selected axial locations whereby a selected subset of the sliding blocks translate when the cam shaft rotates to a selected angular position;
- solenoid assemblies on the transmission;
- a linkage means connected between the solenoid assemblies and the individual sliding blocks for translating the armatures of the solenoid assemblies;
- a gear train means for rotating the cam shaft to a selected rotational position, whereby selected solenoid assemblies on the transmission are actuated.
In a vehicle having an automatic transmission normally operated by means of solenoids responding to signals from the transmission shift selector of the vehicle, an apparatus for mechanically shifting the automatic transmission in the absence of electrical power to the automatic transmission, the apparatus comprising:
- a mounting block fixed to the housing of the automatic transmission, the mounting block having a pair of opposed walls;
- a cam shaft rotatably secured at each end to the opposed walls of the mounting block, the cam shaft having a plurality of lobes thereon;
- a plurality of blocks disposed between the opposed walls of the mounting block shaft, the blocks defining apertures through which extends the cam shaft, the apertures having camming surfaces engageable by the lobes of the cam shaft, whereby the sliding blocks are translated laterally away from the axis of the cam shaft when the lobes are rotated past the respective camming surfaces;
- the lobes being disposed along one of a discrete number of lines on the cam shaft parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, the lobes on each line being disposed at selected axial intervals so that only selected ones of the sliding blocks are translated when the cam shaft is rotated to a selected angular position;
- a plurality of solenoid assemblies protruding from the housing of the automatic transmission;
- a linkage means mounted to each solenoid for mechanically translating the plunger of the solenoid assemblies;
- a plurality of cables, one cable connected between each linkage means and a corresponding sliding block so that lateral translation of any sliding block actuates the associated linkage means;
- a means for biasing the armatures of solenoid towards their de-energized positions and biasing the sliding blocks toward the axis of the cam shaft;
- a shift selector means mechanically linked to the cam shaft for rotating the cam shaft to a selected rotational position, whereby selected solenoids on the automatic transmission are mechanically actuated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.