Transmission system

A method for shifting gear ratios of a transmission system comprising:

• providing a first floating gear rotationally mounted upon a first shaft and a floating gear activation system for controlling torque transfer between the first floating gear and the first shaft, the gear activation system comprising a first device having a friction interface for frictional engagement with a friction interface disposed on a first side of the first floating gear, and a second device having a locking interface for interpositional engagement with a locking interface disposed on a second side of the first floating gear, the second side opposing the first side;
• providing a second floating gear rotationally mounted upon the first shaft and the gear activation system comprising a third device having a friction interface for frictional engagement with a friction interface disposed on a first side of the second floating gear, and a fourth device having a locking interface for interpositional engagement with a locking interface disposed on a second side of the second floating gear, the second side opposing the first side;
• engaging the friction interface of the third device with the friction interface of the second floating gear by sliding the third device along the first shaft;
• disengaging the locking interface of the second device from the locking interface of the first floating gear by sliding the second device along the first shaft;
• engaging the locking interface of the fourth device with the locking interface of the second floating gear by sliding the fourth device along the first shaft;
• disengaging the friction interface of the third device with the friction interface of the second floating gear by sliding the third device along the first shaft;
• and
• shifting a transmission of torque from the first floating gear to the second floating gear without interrupting a delivery of torque through the transmission system.

A transmission system comprising at least two floating gears rotationally mounted upon a first shaft, and at least two further gears mounted upon at least one further shaft, at least one further gear being coupled to a respective one of the at least two floating gears on the first shaft, the transmission system comprising a floating gear activation system for controlling torque transfer between each of the at least two floating gears and the first shaft, the gear activation system comprising a first device having a friction interface for frictional engagement with a friction interface disposed on a first side of each of the at least two floating gears, and a second device having a locking interface for an interpositional engagement with a locking interface disposed on a second side, opposing the first side, of each of the at least two floating gears, whereby the floating gear is rotationally coupleable to the first shaft by the friction interface and/or the locking interface, the transmission system comprising a control unit coupled to a sensor for measuring a parameter indicative of the torque on the first shaft the sensor positioned between a first floating gear of the at least two floating gears and a second floating gear of the at least two floating gears, wherein the control unit receives data from the sensor indicating which of the first or second floating gears is transferring torque from the first shaft to the at least one further shaft.

A method for engaging a locking interface of a transmission system comprising:

• providing a transmission system comprising first shaft having a first floating gear mounted thereon, and a first activator for synchronising rotation of the first floating gear with the first shaft, the first floating gear having a first locking interface for interpositional engagement with a second locking interface provided upon the first activator, the first and second locking interfaces forming a locking device, the first activator being slidingly mounted upon the first shaft for movement in an axial direction, a second activator for synchronising rotation of the first floating gear with the first shaft, the first floating gear having a first friction interface for frictional engagement with a second friction interface provided upon the second activator, the first and second friction interfaces forming a friction device, and the transmission system comprising at least one sensor for providing data indicative of the axial position of the first activator;
• engaging the friction device to synchronise rotation of the first floating gear with the first shaft;
• sliding the first activator along the first shaft until the first locking interface contacts the second locking interface;
• receiving data from the sensor;
• determining whether the first activator has moved to a position in which the first locking interface is in interpositional engagement with the second locking interface;
• if the first locking interface is in interpositional engagement with the second locking interface;
• disengaging the frictional device;
• or
• if the first locking interface is not in interpositional engagement with the second locking interface;
• reducing the frictional engagement between the first and second friction interfaces;
• whereby
• rotating the first floating gear with respect to the first shaft such that the first locking interface rotates with respect to the second locking interface;
• resliding the first activator along the first shaft until the first locking interface is in interpositional engagement with the second locking interface.

A device for a transmission system comprising:

• a first side;
• a second side, opposing the first side;
• a friction interface for frictional engagement with a friction interface of a first gear;
• a locking interface for an interpositional engagement with a locking interface of a second gear;
• wherein the friction interface is disposed on the first side and the locking interface is disposed on the second side, and
• wherein a transfer of torque is shifted from the first gear to the second gear without interrupting a delivery of torque through the transmission system.

A method for activating a floating gear of a transmission system comprising:

• providing a first floating gear rotationally mounted upon a first shaft and a floating gear activation system for controlling torque transfer between the first floating gear and the first shaft, the gear activation system comprising a first device having a friction interface for frictional engagement with a friction interface disposed on a first side of the first floating gear, and a second device having a locking interface for an interpositional engagement with a locking interface disposed on a second side of the first floating gear, the second side opposing the first side;
• sliding the first device along the first shaft, in a first direction, into frictional engagement with the friction interface on the first side of the first gear, transferring torque to the first floating gear from the first shaft so as to substantially synchronise the first floating gear with the first shaft, and then sliding the second device along the first shaft, in a second direction opposing said first direction, into locking engagement with the locking interface on the second, opposing, side of the first gear, whereby locking the first floating gear with the first shaft, while simultaneously
• sliding a third device of the gear activation system along the first shaft to disengage the third device from a second floating gear rotationally mounted upon the first shaft;
• and
• shifting a transmission of torque from the second floating gear to the first floating gear without interrupting a delivery of torque through the transmission system.

A method for shifting gear ratios of a transmission system comprising:

• providing a first floating gear rotationally mounted upon a first shaft and a floating gear activation system for controlling torque transfer between the first floating gear and the first shaft, the gear activation system comprising a first device having a friction interface for frictional engagement with a friction interface disposed on a first side of the first floating gear, and a second device having a locking interface for interpositional engagement with a locking interface disposed on a second side of the first floating gear, the second side opposing the first side;
• providing a second floating gear rotationally mounted upon the first shaft and the gear activation system comprising a third device having a friction interface for frictional engagement with a friction interface disposed on a first side of the second floating gear, and a fourth device having a locking interface for interpositional engagement with a locking interface disposed on a second side of the second floating gear, the second side opposing the first side;
• engaging the friction interface of the first device with the friction interface of the first floating gear by sliding the first device along the first shaft;
• disengaging the locking interface of the second device from the locking interface of the first floating gear by sliding the second device along the first shaft;
• engaging the friction interface of the third device with the friction interface of the second floating gear by sliding the third device along the first shaft;
• disengaging the friction interface of the first device with the friction interface of the first floating gear by sliding the first device along the first shaft;
• engaging the locking interface of the fourth device with the locking interface of the second floating gear by sliding the fourth device along the first shaft;
• and
• shifting a transmission of torque from the first floating gear to the second floating gear without interrupting a delivery of torque through the transmission system.

A method for holding a vehicle on a hill comprising:

• providing a first floating gear rotationally mounted upon a first shaft and a floating gear activation system for controlling torque transfer between the first floating gear and the first shaft, the gear activation system comprising a first device having a friction interface for frictional engagement with a friction interface disposed on a first side of the first floating gear, and a second device having a locking interface for interpositional engagement with a locking interface disposed on a second side of the first floating gear, the second side opposing the first side;
• providing at least one further floating gear mounted upon the first shaft, each at least one further floating gear having a friction interface for frictional engagement with a respective friction interface of at least one further device;
• wherein the method comprises;
• frictionally engaging the friction interface of the first floating gear with the first device and/or engaging the locking interface of the first floating with the second device;
• and
• simultaneously,
• engaging one or more of the friction interfaces of the at least one further floating gear with the respective friction interface of the at least one further device;
• and
• shifting a transmission of torque from the first floating gear to the second floating gear without interrupting a delivery of torque through the transmission system.

A method for shifting gear ratios of a transmission system comprising:

• providing a first floating gear rotationally mounted upon a first shaft and a floating gear activation system for controlling torque transfer between the first floating gear and the first shaft, the gear activation system comprising a first device having a friction interface for frictional engagement with a friction interface disposed on a first side of the first floating gear, and a second device having a locking interface for interpositional engagement with a locking interface disposed on a second side of the first floating gear, the second side opposing the first side;
• providing a second floating gear rotationally mounted upon a second shaft, the second floating gear being coupled to the first shaft by a further gear mounted on the first shaft and the gear activation system comprising a third device having a friction interface for frictional engagement with a friction interface disposed on a first side of the second floating gear, and a fourth device having a locking interface for interpositional engagement with a locking interface disposed on a second side of the second floating gear, the second side opposing the first side;
• engaging the friction interface of the first device with the friction interface of the first floating gear by sliding the first device along the first shaft;
• disengaging the locking interface of the second device from the locking interface of the first floating gear by sliding the second device along the first shaft;
• engaging the friction interface of the third device with the friction interface of the second floating gear by sliding the third device along the second shaft;
• disengaging the friction interface of the first device with the friction interface of the first floating gear by sliding the first device along the first shaft;
• engaging the locking interface of the fourth device with the locking interface of the second floating gear by sliding the fourth device along the second shaft.

A method for adapting the torque transfer function of a transmission system comprising:

• engaging a friction interface of a first activator with a friction interface of a gear under test, disengaging a locking interface of a second activator from a locking interface of the gear under test;
• reducing the force applied by the friction interface of the first activator to the friction interface of the gear under test, whereby introducing a predefined degree of slip;
• recording a control parameter of the transmission system which produces the predefined degree of slip;
• receiving a parameter indicative of torque value delivered to the transmission system;
• interrogating a database to obtain a stored value of the control parameter corresponding to the value of the parameter indicative of torque value delivered to the transmission system;
• comparing the stored value of the control parameter with the recorded value of the control parameter;
• updating the data base with the recorded value of the control parameter if different to the stored values;
• increasing the pressure between the friction interface of the first activator and the friction interface of the gear under test so as to synchronise the gear under test with the shaft upon which it is mounted;
• engaging the locking interface of the gear under test by activating the second activator to interpose the locking interface of the second activator with the locking interface of the gear under test;
• disengaging the friction interface of the first activator from the friction interface of the gear under test.

A transmission system comprising a floating gear mounted upon a first shaft, the floating gear having a first side comprising a friction interface and a second side comprising a locking interface, wherein a first activator is disposed adjacent the first side of the floating gear and comprises a friction interface for frictional engagement with the floating gear, a second activator being disposed on the second side of the floating gear and having a locking interface for interposition with the locking interface of the floating gear and another friction interface for frictional engagement with another floating gear mounted upon the first shaft;

• and wherein:
• the floating gear can be rotationally coupled to the first shaft by the first activator and/or the second activator,
• the another floating gear can be rotationally coupled to the first shaft by the second activator, and
• a transfer of torque is shifted from the floating gear to the another floating gear without interrupting a delivery of torque through the transmission system.