Shifting mechanism
AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJohn H. Tenzor, Rex A. Corless
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a shifting mechanism housed in a case a first relatively rotating member rotates about an axis. A second relatively rotating member is selectively coupled and decoupled with the first member. The coupling has a first spline tooth with a first axial length, and a second spline tooth with a second axial length longer than the first spline tooth. The second spline tooth has an end having a frusto-conical shape. One of the first and second members has a plurality of third spline teeth for engagement with the spline teeth of the coupling. The third spline teeth have a complimentary frusto-conical shape. A selector is moveable for actuating the coupling to mutually connect and disconnect the members. A resilient connection is provided between the coupling and selector.
Claims20
A secondary transmission assembly housed in a case, comprising:
- an input shaft rotatably supported about an axis;
- a second relatively rotating shaft drivably connectable to the input shaft;
- a coupling for mutually connecting and disconnecting the shafts, said coupling having a first spline tooth with a first axial length, and a second spline tooth and an end having a frusto-conical shape, and one of said shafts having a plurality of third spline teeth for engagement with the spline teeth of the coupling, said third spline teeth having a complimentary frusto-conical shape;
- a selector moveable for actuating the coupling to mutually connect and disconnect the shafts;
- and
- a resilient connection provided between the coupling and selector.
A secondary transmission housed in a case, comprising:
- an input shaft rotatably supported about an axis;
- a second relatively rotating shaft drivably connectable to the first shaft;
- a coupling for mutually connecting and disconnecting the shafts, said coupling having a snap-action engagement to drivably connect the shafts;
- a selector moveable for actuating the coupling to mutually connect and disconnect the shafts;
- and
- a controller for controlling an engagement timing and engagement speed of the coupling when connecting the shafts.
A method of shifting gears in an automatic transmission drivably connecting an engine output shaft to a drive shaft, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a secondary transmission in series with the automatic transmission, the secondary transmission having a shifting coupling for engaging a gearing reduction across the secondary transmission;
- and
- controlling a rotational speed of one of the engine output shaft and the drive shaft while controlling the engagement of the coupling.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.