Semi-automatic transmission for motor vehicles

Details Semi-automatic transmission for motor vehicles Semi-automatic transmission for motor vehicles

2000-05-30

2001-08-07

Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2632)

Communications: electrical

Land vehicle alarms or indicators

Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...

C340S453000, C340S456000, C340S425500, C340S438000, C340S459000, C340S461000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06271749

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a semi-automatic transmission for motor vehicles, in particular, for commercial vehicles with diesel engines.
Motor vehicles wit diesel engines are normally started so that the ignition key is first switched into a warm-up position. It is then necessary to wait for a certain period of time until the pre-warming process is completed. The ignition key is then turned further so that the electric starter of the engine is switched on. This starting procedure starts up the diesel engine and causes it to then run on at idle speed. In some vehicles, the starter is not actuated by the ignition key, but instead by a separate button.
A semi-automatic transmission is understood herein to be a transmission with a clutch to be actuated by a driver present within the vehicle. The gears are selected or pre-selected by means of an electric transducer, which may be in the form of a stepping switch. There is no mechanical connection between the transducer and the transmission. Instead, the switching signals are transmitted via electric cables (“shift by wire”). The driver receives no direct information from the transducer on whether a gear has currently been selected.
During the start up process described above, it is necessary for the transmission to be in the neutral position or for the clutch pedal to be pushed down, i.e., disengaged from the transmission. If the main clutch is engaged accidentally and a gear is selected during the engine start up procedure, dangers exist that the vehicle may suddenly jump, the motor may stall, or that the transmission may be damaged. The danger especially exists in a vehicle with a semi-automatic, shift by wire, transmission that the driver may not check the clutch and transmission positions before starting the engine.
It is an object of the present invention to avoid the dangerous situations heretofore described.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a semi-automatic transmission for a vehicle having a diesel engine is provided which, upon start up of an engine ignition, goes through a warm up stage before the engine begins normal operation. An electronic controller is connected to the engine, the engine ignition, a clutch, a gear box, and a signal transmitter. During start up of the engine, the electronic controller causes the signal transmitter to emit a signal which notifies the driver of the vehicle to disengage the clutch. In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic controller detects the position of the engine ignition to determine when the engine is in the start up stage.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, during start up of the engine, the electronic controller detects whether the gear box is in a neutral position and whether the clutch is disengaged. If the gear box is not in the neutral position, or if the clutch is not disengaged, the electronic controller causes the signal transmitter to emit a signal which notifies the driver of the vehicle to disengage the clutch.
Although transmission controls with a warning display indicating the state of the clutch are disclosed, for example, in EP 0 884 212 A1 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,637, incorporated herein by reference), the present invention further uses the clutch display to warn the driver of the vehicle that the main clutch is not properly disengaged.


REFERENCES:
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patent: 32 26 195 (1988-01-01), None
patent: 197 46 149 (1998-05-01), None
patent: WO 91/10220 (1991-07-01), None

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