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US 6,719,116 B2Granted
Air assisted vehicle clutch linkage
AssigneeInternational Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
InventorsBurnell L. Bender, Brian P. Marshall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Clutching arrangements for motor vehicle standard transmissions. The force required to clutch a vehicle transmission using a foot pedal is reduced by providing a compressed air actuated boost device attached to the clutch linkage. The degree of boost is selectable using a hand controlled air pressure regulator. Activation of the boost device is controlled by switches which are sensitive to clutch pedal position.
Claims15
A vehicle comprising:
- an engine;
- a transmission;
- a clutch mounted between the engine and to the transmission for selective engagement and disengagement, the clutch mechanically connecting the transmission to the engine when in engagement;
- a clutch pedal having a free travel;
- a clutch linkage connected between the clutch pedal and the clutch for controlling engagement and disengagement of the clutch in response to movement of the clutch pedal through the travel;
- a positioning boost mechanism coupled to the clutch linkage for urging the clutch linkage to a position disengaging the clutch when powered;
- a hold switch coupled to the positioning boost mechanism and responsive to movement of the clutch pedal in the free travel for enabling and disabling the positioning boost mechanism;
- and
- a power switch coupled to the positioning boost mechanism and responsive to movement of the clutch pedal relative in the free travel for powering the positioning boost mechanism.
6 more elements
A standard transmission for a vehicle, comprising:
- a clutch having an engaged state and a disengaged state;
- a clutch pedal;
- a linkage assembly coupling the clutch pedal to the clutch for moving the clutch from Its engaged state to its disengaged state in response to depression of the clutch pedal;
- a fluid powered actuator coupled to the linkage assembly for generating a force urging the linkage assembly in a direction for disengaging the clutch;
- a linkage spring connected to the linkage assembly to generate a force oppositely directed to the force generated by the fluid powered actuator;
- a pedal spring connected to the clutch pedal to urge the clutch pedal toward a released position;
- a source of pressurized fluid;
- a relief valve operable to vent fluid from the fluid powered actuator when open and to prevent venting when closed, responsive to movement of the clutch pedal past from the released position;
- and
- an energization valve operable to deliver pressurized fluid from the source of pressurized fluid to the fluid powered actuator when open and responsive to depression of the clutch pedal a predetermined distance from its released position.
7 more elements
A standard transmission for a vehicle, comprising:
- a clutch having an engaged state and a disengaged state;
- a clutch pedal having a released position and a linkage engaged in a free travel position;
- a linkage assembly connecting the clutch pedal to the clutch for moving the clutch between its engaged state and its disengaged state;
- a compressed air powered actuator coupled to the linkage assembly for generating a force urging the linkage assembly in a direction for disengaging the clutch;
- a spring connected to the linkage assembly to generate a force oppositely directed to the force generated by the fluid powered actuator;
- a relief valve operable to vent air from the compressed air powered actuator when open and to prevent venting when closed, the clutch pedal being operative to open the relief valve when in its released position and for closing the relief valve when depressed from the released position;
- a source of compressed air of regulated pressures;
- an energization valve operable to deliver compressed air from the source of compressed air to the compressed air powered actuator when open, the energization valve being responsive to depression of the clutch pedal to the linkage engaged motion for opening.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.