US 5,251,503 AGranted

Electro-mechanical power controller for a gear shift mechanism

AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation

InventorsRobert L. Morris, Andrew L. Bartos

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An electro-mechanical controller for a transmission selector in a synchronized countershaft transmission, includes a selector shaft which is driven linearly and rotatably by a power actuator mechanism to provide gear selection within the countershaft transmission. A selector rod is coupled with the selector shaft through a connection that provides compliance and damping therebetween. The selector rod has a finger mechanism which is selectively connectible with synchronizers in the transmission to provide the desired gear selection. The selector shaft and selector rod are controlled in both linear and rotatable motion by translating mechanisms in the actuator mechanism to thereby control the selector rod in the gear selection positions and in a neutral condition.

Claims2

Dependent claims

An electro-mechanical controller in a transmission gear selector having a plurality of forward gear ratios, a reverse gear ratio and a neutral condition, said gear selector being movable linearly for selection of the gear ratios, and rotatably for movement in the neutral condition between gear ratios;

said controller comprising:
a first rotary drive means for providing a gear selection input including a first drive translating means for converting rotary motion to linear motion;
a selector rod drivingly connected with said first drive translating means for selective movement thereby to provide linear movement thereof for controlled selection of the forward and reverse gear ratios;
a second rotary drive means for providing movement in said neutral condition including a cam member comprising a plurality of ramp portions and a dwell portion between adjacent ramp portions;
cam follower means operatively connected with said selector rod and drivingly connected with said cam member and cooperating with said ramp portions for enforcing rotary movement of said selector rod to provide movement in said neutral condition and cooperating with said dwell portion for permitting linear movement of said first drive translating means for gear ratio selection;
compliant coupling means operatively connected between said first drive translating means and said selector rod for providing compliance and damping therebetween in response to input motion;
and flywheel means rotatable with said first rotary drive means for selectively storing and releasing energy during controlled selection of the forward and release gear ratios.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/902,159Filed 22 Jun 1992 · continuation in part
Priority: 12 Sep 1991
Granted: 12 Oct 1993
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

F16H 61/32
With at least one movement of the final actuating mechanism being caused by a non-mechanical force, e.g. power-assisted: electric motors ,…
F16H 3/089
Characterised by the disposition of the gears: all of the meshing gears being supported by a pair of parallel shafts, one being the input shaft…
F16H 2061/2884
With at least one movement of the final actuating mechanism being caused by a non-mechanical force, e.g. power-assisted: screw-nut devices
F16H 2200/0052
Characterised by the number of forward speeds: the gear ratios comprising six forward speeds