Machine element or mechanism – Gearing – Interchangeably locked
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-27
2001-12-04
Estremsky, Sherry (Department: 3681)
Machine element or mechanism
Gearing
Interchangeably locked
C477S124000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324928
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to controller-assisted shifting of manually shifted transmissions. In particular, the present invention relates to a control system/method for a manually shifted transmission that, in a preferred embodiment, will (i) sense an operator intent to shift and automatically minimize driveline torque, minimizing torque lock and allowing an easy shift to neutral; and (ii) upon sensing a shift to main section neutral, then sense a target gear ratio, cause the engine to rotate at a substantially synchronous speed for engaging the target ratio, and inhibit/prohibit shifting from neutral until substantially synchronous conditions for engaging the target gear ratio are sensed.
In particular, the present invention relates to a detent plunger assembly for a controller-assisted, manually shifted transmission system of the type described.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Controller-assisted, manually shifted transmission systems are known in the prior art. Typically, such systems include sensors, actuators and a microprocessor-based controller and will automatically assist manual shifting by sensing an operator intent to shift and cause a reduction in driveline torque and/or by sensing an intended target ratio and causing synchronous conditions for engaging the target ratio. Such controller-assisted systems may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,593,580; 4,850,236; 4,676,115; 5,582,558; 5,755,639; 5,735,771; 6,015,366 and published British patent application GB 2,335,010A, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Transmission systems having controls and/or sensors in the shift knobs are known in the prior art, as may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,723,642; 5,228,361 and 5,957,001, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The prior art systems were not totally satisfactory, as they required the added cost of providing individual or power synchronizers, they required considerable additional sensors and/or actuators, they required the driver to provide a separate signal of a target ratio, they did not provide a high resistance to shift lever jumpout while still providing high shift quality, and/or did not, with a high degree of reliability, prevent or inhibit non-synchronous shifting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, the drawbacks of the prior art are minimized or overcome by the provision of a controller-assisted, manually shifted transmission system which will allow easy disengagement of a currently engaged ratio, and will inhibit out-of-synchronous shifts and jumpout with a minimum of added expense, as compared to previously proposed controller-assisted systems.
In the preferred embodiment, the foregoing is accomplished by providing an assist system for a manually shifted transmission, preferably a splitter-type compound transmission driven by an electronically controlled engine communicating with an industry standard electronic data link, such as an SAE J-1939 or J-1922 data link. The system is provided with sensors and logic to sense an intent to shift and the identity of a target ratio and will command automatic engine fueling to reduce driveline torque when disengaging a currently engaged ratio and to identify, and synchronize for engaging, a target ratio when the transmission is in neutral.
A plunger actuator assembly responds to command signals to selectively extend and retract a detent plunger, which cooperates with grooves on a shift shaft to selectively inhibit Y—Y shift lever movement to inhibit out-of-synchronous ratio engagements and to provide an in-gear detent to resist undesired jaw clutch disengagements, such as, for example, shift lever whip-induced jumpout.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved controller-assisted, manually shifted transmission system having an improved detent plunger assembly.
This and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in connection with the attached drawings.
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Eaton Corporation
Estremsky Sherry
Gordon Howard D.
Pang Roger
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