GB2359119A

GB2359119A - Sequential gear selection device

Info

Publication number: GB2359119A
Application number: GB0102032A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sean Bolton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-29
Filing date: 2001-01-26
Publication date: 2001-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 2021-01-26
Also published as: GB2359119B; GB0102032D0; GB0001962D0

Abstract

A sequential gear selection device 10 comprises a rotatable member 54 having two profiled guide channels 56, 58 which guide movement of guided members 60,62. First guide member 60 comprises a pivotal arm 64 which pivots about axis 66 so as to provide linear motion, via end 70, to an output shaft 14 that is connected to a gearbox for gear selection. Second guide member 62 also has a pivotal arm 74 which pivots about axis 76 so as to provide rotary motion, via linkage 80, to the output shaft 14. Shaft (52, fig 3) is connected to the rotatable member 54 and to an indexing wheel 34 which is activated by an arm 22 fixed to shaft 16 that is rotated by movement of lever S. The arm 22 is pivotally fixed to an indexing arm 24 which has a slot (30) operable to engage indexing formations (32) on wheel 34 which, via shaft (52), rotates member 54. Rotation of member 54 causes the guide members 60, 62 to follow the profiled guide channels 56, 58 thereby imparting linear and rotary motion to output shaft 14.

Description

2359119 1 Gear Selection Device The present invention relates to a gear

selection device and in particular but not exclusively to such a device for motor vehicle gear selection.

Gear selection in the vast majority of manually operated gearboxes provided in motor vehicles is generally controlled by a driver using a gearshift enabling each gear to be selected as required by the driver. Such gearshifts are selectively moved by the driver through a series of forward, sideways and backward movements to select the desired gear.

The use of such gearshifts can be quite problematic especially for less able drivers such as handicapped people, in particular due to the careful control and co-ordination required of the gearshift between different gear selection positions. Furthermore, performance drivers such as rally or track racing drivers can waste valuable time guiding the gear shaft into the desired position.

Builders of speciality or kit cars may experience difficulties in installing standard gear patterns into their cars due often to the requirement of the gearbox having been relocated to a position different to that from which it was designed to accommodate.

In this specification the term axial is used to refer to rotational movement around an axis.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for enabling axial and non-axial gear selection in a gearbox with sequential axial motion of a gear selector, the device being connectable to a gear selector and comprising a motion converter locatable between the gear selector and the gearbox such that selective motion of the selector about a fixed axis causes movement of the device which converts the motion to one or both of axial and linear movement of an output member which when connected to a gearbox provides for appropriate selection of a gear within that gearbox.

2 The device is preferably operable to provide gear selection in conventional gearbox designs, particularly gearboxes for vehicles, by sequential axial motion of a gear selector, which selector is preferably the vehicle's selector.

Preferably the motion converter is arranged to provide both simultaneous and independent axial and linear movement of the output member. The motion converter may comprise an input member, preferably in the form of a shaft which is rotatable about its axis by axial movement of a gear selector connected thereto.

Preferably guides are provided on a rotatable member of the device which guide non-rotational movement of a respective guided member associated therewith which guided members are connected to the output member forsaid movement thereof.

The rotatable member is preferably connected to the input member through an indexing arrangement which provides for selection of predefined positions of the rotatable member and hence the guided members in the respective guides, through movement of a connected selector.

The indexing arrangement may comprise an indexing wheel with predetermined positions provided thereon with which a locating arm is releasably interactable to drive rotation of the indexing wheel. The locating arm may be connected to the gear selector, desirably to the input member, to be moved through axial movement of the selector. The arm may be resiliently biased toward interaction with respective locating means at the said predetermined positions on the indexing wheel. Preferably the arm and wheel are arranged such that they are released from interaction as the wheel is selectively moved between successive indexed positions. The locating arm preferably automatically engages locating means at a further indexed position following release from interaction with a previous position. Index position retaining means may be provided to facilitate releasable retention of the 3 indexing wheel in each indexed position. The indexing wheel is preferable fixedly connected to the rotatable member whereby selective indexed movement of the wheel causes corresponding movement of the rotatable member.

Preferably the rotatable member comprises guides, preferably around an outer surface thereof such that rotation of the rotatable member causes rotation of the guides. The guided members may comprise arms pivotally mounted against rotation with the rotatable member but arranged to pivot about their respective pivotal axis, each of which axes is desirably generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotatable member, as the rotatable member is rotated. Each guided member preferably comprises guide engaging means located within the respective guide whereby to provide for predetermined movement of the respective guided member in accordance with the predetermined profile of the respective guide, as the rotatable member is rotated. The engaging means may comprise a roller or similar arrangement for facilitating movement within the guides. The guides are profiled to direct movement of the respective guided member according to predetermined movement patterns required to effect required movement of the output member to which the guided members are connected whereby to enable appropriate gear selection in a connected gearbox.

Each guided member is preferably connected to the output member, such that guided movement thereof provides predetermined axial and/or linear movement of the output member.

Preferably the profiles of the guides are determined to provide for appropriate movement of the output member in relation to selective sequential movement of the gear selector connected to the device for the appropriate selection of desired gears in the gearbox.

Preferably the device is arranged such that sequential movement of a gear selector in one direction causes a sequential increase in the ratio of the 4 gear selected and the output from the gearbox and desirably sequential movement in a direction substantially opposite the said one direction causes corresponding decreases in gear ratio.

Preferably the device is arranged to provide for return of a connected gear selector to a rest position between sequential movement thereof and hence between sequentially gear selection.

The present invention also provides a gearbox comprising a device substantially as hereinbefore defined in any of the preceding paragraphs.

Still further the invention provides a vehicle transmission arrangement comprising a gear selector, a gearbox and a device substantially as hereinbefore described in any of the preceding paragraphs.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of a device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is an end view of the device of Fig. 1, illustrating the indexing arrangement; Fig. 3 is a further end view of the device as shown in Fig. 2, illustrating operation of the indexing arrangement; Fig. 4 is a side view of the device as shown in Fig. 1 - 3; Fig. 5 is a view from beneath the device of Fig. 1 - 4; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of a device according to the present invention in position on a gearbox; Fig. 7 is an isometric view of another embodiment of a device according to the invention; Fig. 8 is an end view of the device of Fig. 7, illustrating the indexing arrangement; Fig. 9 is a further end view of the device as shown in Fig. 8, illustrating operation of the indexing arrangement; Fig. 10 is a side view of the device as shown in Figs. 7 to 9; and Fig. 11 is a view from beneath the device of Figs. 7 to 10.

Referring to the drawings the present invention provides a device 10 for enabling axial and non-axial gear selection in a gearbox G with sequential axial motion of a gear selector (Fig. 6). The device 10 comprises a motion converter 12 locatable between a gear selector S and a gearbox G such that selective axial rotary motion of the connected selector S causes movement of the device 10 which converts such motion to both axial rotary, and linear, movement of an output shaft 14 which when connected to a gearbox G provides for appropriate selection of a gear within that gearbox G.

In more detail and with particular reference to Fig. 6, the device 10 is intended for mounting between the gear selector S of a motor vehicle and the gearbox G of that vehicle. The device 10 is mounted by appropriate mounting means (not shown) to the exterior of the gearbox G, or indeed may be located remote of the gearbox, and connected thereto via the output shaft 14. The device 10 is operable to enable the selection of gears of a conventional gearbox G with conventional gear patterns, by sequential axial only movement of the gear selector S, in preference to the usual axial and linear movement of a conventional gearshift.

The device 10 is connected to the gearshift S by a rotatable input shaft 16 6 which enters through a casing 18 of the device to be rotatably mounted to a fixed base 20 of the device 10. An arm 22 is rigidly connected at one end thereof to the shaft 16 for rotation with the shaft 16 about the axis of the shaft 16. An indexing arm 24 is pivotally attached at one of its ends to the other end 26 of the arm 22 about a pivot 28. The indexing arm 24 comprises a slot 30 operable to engage indexing formations 32 provided on an indexing wheel 34 as will be explained. Sloped guide surfaces 36 are provided on either side of the slot 30 leading up to the mouth thereof to facilitate location of the indexing formations therein. A spring 38 is connected between the arm 22 and the indexing arm 24 to resiliently bias the indexing arm 24 toward the indexing wheel 34. Spring means 40 is also mounted around the input shaft 16 to bear on a projecting stud 41 on the arm 22 at an end and a similar stud 43 on the base 20 to bias the arm 22 to a rest position, as will be explained, and as shown in Fig. 2.

The indexing wheel 34 comprises eight indexing formations in equispaced relation around the wheel 34 and further comprises equispaced recesses 42 between the formation in the circumference of the wheel 34 which are operable to engage an indexing roller 44 pivotally mounted on the base plate 20 about a pivot 46 to ensure accurate indexing and positioning of the wheel 34 in use. The indexing roller 44 is rotatably mounted on a locating arm 48 which is pivotally mounted to the base plate 20 about the pivot 46 at one end thereof, and which is resiliently biased by a spring 50 generally at the other end thereof to bias the indexing roller into location on the wheel 34. The spring 50 attached at one end thereof to the arm 48 and at the other end to an anchorage 5 1 extending from the base 2 0.

The wheel 34 is fixedly mounted on a central shaft 52, which extends through the base plate 20 to carry to a rotatable member 54 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5).

The rotatable member 54 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 52 and comprises in its circumferential surface two guide channels 56,58. The guide channels 56,58 are carefully profiled, as can be seen more clearly in Figs. 4 and 7 5, to each guide movement of a respective guided member 60,62 as will be explained.

The first guided member 60 comprises a pivotal arm 64 mounted on a fixed projection 67 about a pivotal axis 66 at one end 68 thereof generally perpendicular to the axis of the rotatable member 54 and connected at its other end 70 to the output shaft 14.

A guide roller 72 is rotatably mounted on the arm 64 and engaged in the channel 56 for guided movement therein upon rotation of the rotatable member 54 as will be explained.

The second guided member 62 has a similar pivotal arm 74 mounted about a pivotal axis 76 on a fixed projection 78 extending from the base 20. The axis 76 is generally perpendicular to the axis of the rotatable member 54 and axis 66 of the first member 60. The arm 74 is pivotally connected via a linkage 80 to the output shaft 14.

A guide roller 82 is rotatably mounted on the arm 74 and is located within the channel 58 for guided movement therein upon rotation of the rotatable member 54 as will be described.

The output shaft 14 is rotatably mounted between two supports 84,86 in the device 10 in respective bushes 88,90 which allow axial and linear movement of the output shaft 14 as driven by the device 10 as will be explained, but hold the shaft 14 against any lateral movement.

A linkage 80 connects the second guided arm 74 by two ball and socket joints 92,94, the joint 92 attached to the end of the arm 74 and the joint 94 locating on a lobe 96 fixedly attached around the shaft 14.

The first pivotal arm 64 provides at its said other end 70 two mutually opposing locating projections 98,100 which locate in a channel 102 defined 8 between two annular formations 104,106 extending around the output shaft 14. The projections 98,100 are not attached to the shaft 14 but are firmly located within the channel 102 whereby movement of the arm 64 causes linear movement of the shaft 14, as will be described. The shaft 14 is then connected to the input shaft of the gear box to be controlled by the device 10.

In use, the device 10 as mentioned before enables a conventional gearbox with a conventional pattern of gear selection to be manually operated using a gear selector S by simple axial movement of the input shaft 16 through sequential forward and/or backward movement of the gear selector.

The device 10 is connected to the gear selectors via the input shaft 16 (which comprises appropriate levers and joints (not shown) to enable the requisite motions to occur) and to the gearbox G to be controlled thereby via the output shaft 14.

Selective movement of the lever causes sequential increase or decrease in the ratio of the gear selected, and the usual reverse, neutral, 1,2,3,4,5 (and 6 where required) gear selection is possible.

The gear selection patterns of the gearbox determine the profiles of the guide channels 56,58, because these control the conversion of the simple axial movement of the gear selector and input shaft 16 into the axial and/or linear movement of the output shaft 14 required to control gear selection in the gearbox.

In use, assuming the gearbox G to be in neutral, the driver or user of the vehicle to which the device 10 is attached, selects first gear by simple axial movement of the gear selector S in the appropriate direction, which is preferably in a direction toward the driver i.e. toward the rear of the vehicle. As the selector S is moved, this causes axial movement of the input shaft which causes the indexing arm 24 which is sitting in engagement with an indexing formation 32 to move and cause rotation of the indexing wheel 34 (see Figs. 2 9 and 3). The indexing roller 44 helps to ensure sequential selection of indexing positions by releasably locating in sequential recesses 42. The spring 38 helps to ensure releasable location of the arm 24 over an indexing formation 32 and the spring 40 urges the arm 22 and indexing arm 24 and thereby the gear selector S back to the central rest position. The controlled movement of the indexing wheel 34 provides controlled rotation of the rotatable member 54, the rotation of which causes guided movement of one or both (depending on the profile of the respective channels 56, 58) of the pivotal arms 64,74, and thereby selective movement of the output shaft 14.

If the profile of the channel 56 causes movement of the arm 64, this will drive linear movement of the shaft 14. Similarly, movement of the arm 74 will drive rotational movement of the shaft 14.

This linear and rotational movement of the output shaft 14 is carefully determined to correspond to the required movements for gear selection as gears are sequentially selected by sequential axial movement of the selector S.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 7 to 11, which show similar views of a gear selection device 10 to the view shown in Figs. 1 to 5, but with the positions of some of the features altered. The majority of the features shown in Figs. 7 to 11 are the same as those shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and these have been designated with the same reference numerals.

One difference is that the output shaft 14 now extends generally parallel to the axis of the rotatable member 54. Thus, the output shaft 14 is slidable over the guide shaft 89.

The output shaft 14 has an end region 15, closest to the base plate 20. The end region 15 is hollow (see Fig. 10). A guide shaft 89 is fixedly mounted at one end thereof to the base plate 20. The opposite end of the guide shaft 89 extends into the hollow end region 15 of the output shaft 14. A bush 90 is a friction fit within the end region 15 of the shaft 14 and receives therethrough the guide shaft 89 for sliding motion (both axial and linear) relative thereto. The output shaft 14 is rotatably mounted at a region spaced from the base plate 20 by an L-shaped member 108 fixedly attached at one end to the base plate 20 and carrying at its opposite end the bush 188. As can be most clearly seen from Fig. 10, the output shaft 14 terminates at an end 14A in line with the edge closest to the base plate 20 of the left hand annular member 104. However, it will be appreciated that the edge 14A of the output shaft 14 could be closer to the base plate 20.

in this embodiment, the guide channel 58 is arranged between the base plate 20 and the guide channel 56. The guided member 60 is arranged to be guided by the guide channel 56. In this embodiment, however, the guided member 60 comprises a generally linear elongate arm 64 pivotally mounted at one end at pivot axis 66 to the fixed projection 67. At its opposite end 70, the rotating projections 98, 100 are provided which locate in the channel 102. The guide roller 72 is provided opposite the guided member 60 between the two opposite ends. The fixed projection 67 may be generally L-shaped in configuration comprising a first arm 67A fixedly mounted, and extending from the base plate 20 alongside the rotatable member 54. A second arm 67B extends substantially at right angles to the first arm 67B across the rotatable member 54. A screw or screws 69 secures the first arm 67A to the second arm 67B at one end thereof. The output shaft 14 is slidably received in an aperture 71 defined in the opposite end of the arm 67B. The bush 188 within the aperture 71 acts as a journal bearing to support the output shaft 14 whilst allowing said linear and axial motion.

The second guided member 62 comprises an arm 74 which is generally triangular in configuration. The arm 74 is pivotally mounted about pivot 76 on the fixed projection 78 and the pivotal motion of the arm 74 is translated by the linkage 80 and the lobe 96 to axial movement about the longitudinal axis of the output shaft 14.

Thus, by operation of the selector 5, the rotatable member 54 is moved 11 axially about its axis and the guide channels 56, 58 respectively move the arms 64, 74 which movement is translated into longitudinal sliding movement of the shaft 14 and axial movement of the shaft 14 about its axis. In the same way as with the first embodiment, this movement of the shaft 14 causes appropriate gears to be selected in the gearbox G.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. For example, the device may be located remotely from the gearbox, and connected thereto by appropriate linkages or cables. In addition, the arrangement of the indexing wheel 34, the arms 22, 24 and 48 as well as the other features shown in Figs. 2 and 3 could be used in place of the arrangement of the same features used in the second embodiment and shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

12

Claims

1. A device for enabling axial and non-axial gear selection in a gearbox with sequential axial motion of a gear selector, the device being connectable to a gear selector and comprising a motion converter such that selective motion of the selector about a fixed axis causes the motion converter to convert the motion to one or both of axial and linear movement of an output member which when connected to the gearbox provides for appropriate selection of a gear within that gearbox.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the motion converter is arranged to provide both simultaneous and independent axial and linear movement of the output member.

A device according to claim 2, wherein the motion converter comprises an input member which is rotatable about its axis by axial movement of a gear selector connected thereto.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the input member is in the form of a shaft.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the motion converter comprises a rotatable member having guides and the device further including guided members which can be guided by the guides, the guided members being connected to the output member to provide said movement of the output member.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the rotatable member is connected to the input member through an indexing arrangement which provides for selection of predefined positions of the rotatable member and of the guided members in the respective guides.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the indexing arrangement 13 comprises an indexing wheel with predetermined positions provided thereon with which a locating arm is releasably interactable to drive rotation of the indexing wheel.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the locating arm is connected to the gear selector to be moved during axial movement of the selector, the wheel including locating means at the said predetermined positions, and resiliently biased toward interaction with the locating means.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the arm and wheel are arranged such that they are released from interaction as the wheel is selectively moved between successive indexed positions, and the locating arm engaging locating means at a further indexed position following release from interaction with a previous position.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein urging means operably associated with the locating arm urges the locating means into engagement with said locating means.

11. A device according to claim 9 or 10, including index position retaining means to facilitate releasable retention of the indexing wheel in each indexed position.

12. A device according to claim 9 or l o, wherein the indexing wheel is fixedly connected to the rotatable member whereby selective indexed movement of the wheel causes corresponding movement of the rotatable member.

13. A device according to any of claims 5 to 12, wherein the guides are provided around an outer surface of the rotatable member such that rotation of the rotatable member causes rotation of the guides, and the guided members comprising arms pivotally mounted about their respective pivotal axis as the rotatable member is rotated, each of which axes is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotatable member.

14 14. A device according to claim 13, wherein each guided member includes guide engaging means located within the respective guide whereby to provide for predetermined movement of the respective guided member in accordance with the predetermined profile of the respective guide.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the guide engaging means comprises a roller means for facilitating movement by the guides.

16. A device according to any of claims 5 to 15, wherein the guides are profiled to direct movement of the respective guided member according to predetermined movement patterns required to effect required movement of the output member to which the guided members are connected whereby to enable appropriate gear selection in a connected gearbox.

17. A device according to any of claims 5 to 16, wherein the guides comprise recesses defined around the circumference of the rotatable member.

18. A device according to any of claims 5 to 17, wherein each guided member is connected to the output member, such that guided movement thereof provides predetermined axial rotary, and/or linear movement of the output member.

19. A device according to any of claims 5 to 18, operable to provide gear selection in a gearbox by sequential axial motion of the gear selector.

20. A device according to claim 19, wherein the profiles of the guides are determined to provide for appropriate movement of the output member in relation to selective sequential movement of the gear selector connected to the device for the appropriate selection of desired gears in the gearbox.

21. A device according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the device is arranged such that sequential movement of the gear selector in one direction causes a sequential increase in the ratio of the gear selected and the output from the is gearbox and sequential movement in a direction substantially opposite the said one direction causes corresponding decreases in gear ratio.

22. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device is arranged to provide for return of the gear selector to a rest position between said sequential motion thereof.

23. A device according to claim 22, including biasing means to bias the gear selector to said rest position.

24. A gearbox arrangement comprising a gearbox and a device according to any preceding claim operably connected to the gearbox.

25. A vehicle transmission arrangement comprising a gearbox arrangement according to claim 24 and a gear selector operably connected to the device.

26. A device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

27. A gearbox arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

28. A transmission arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

29. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.