Abstract: A gear shift device e.g. for a six-speed automotive speed change transmission with a gear shift lever for selection and shifting of all gears and with shift rails for the shifting of gears in one shift path has an H-shaped shift pattern similar to a four-speed transmission and has means for fixing or returning of a central selection and shift shaft or rotating shaft and/or the gear-shift lever into predetermined shift paths, e.g. the gears 3/4, where for the shift path of the gears 5/6 a retention device is provided additionally, which upon completed or nearly completed shift into the next higher, that is sixth gear, retains the central selection and shift shaft or the rotating shaft and/or the gear-shift lever in this shift path and upon completed or nearly completed shift into the next lower, that is fifth gear, permits the return of the central selector and shift shaft or the rotating shaft and/or the gear-shift lever into a lower shift path, e.g.

Abstract: Automatic shift of a gear transmission under speed and load control between high and low drive ratio limits of a shift range, is effected in accordance with different sequential step change shift patterns selected from program storage. Different ones of the available drive ratios between the high and low limits of the shift range are skipped in the various shift patterns respectively corresponding to different travel loading conditions of a vehicle. Automatic shift operation is effected in accordance with the shift patterns selected to reduce the number of drive ratios utilized, such selections being made in accordance with the vehicle travel loading conditions.

Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated locking clutch for differential gears of motor vehicles having two concentrically disposed toroidal coils (8, 21) firm on a housing, one for a non-positive disk clutch (14) and the other for a positive claw clutch (26) concentrically disposed in respect thereto. Both clutches (14, 26) connect a hub (2) and a socket (3). The hub (2) and the socket (3) are each non-rotatably connected with a connecting member of the differential gear. The disk clutch (14) is closed by an automatic device when a limit value for a relative speed is exceeded. The claw clutch (26) is optionally closed and automatically opened when a limit value for an actuation period is exceeded.

Abstract: A gear-shifting mechanism for an automotive transmission or the like comprises a first power train with at least two cascaded ratio-changing couplers inserted between an input shaft and an output shaft, the cascaded couplers being bypassed by a second power train which is normally disengaged but is engageable during shiftovers to interconnect the two shafts with at least one step-down ratio different from any of the speed ratios that can be established by the first power train. The two or possibly more power trains may be constituted by planetary-gear assemblies. One or more of the cascaded couplers could be divided into parallel sections to be alternatively clutched in.

Abstract: A load-splitting transmission has its drive shaft journaled with respect to the housing in an axial bearing and supported only by a radial bearing forming part of the clutch connecting said drive shaft to the output shaft of an engine so that the axis of the drive shaft is swingable relative to the housing. The drive shaft carries a drive gear which meshes with a pair of load-splitting gears so that the swinging movement allows torque compensation between the two drive trains of which the load-splitting gears are a part.

Abstract: A clutch or brake control system and method generates an electrical signal upon maximum torque transmission between the relatively displaceable parts of the friction device. This signal can be used as a reference point, changing with each application of the clutch or brake and with wear of the friction members thereof, which is utilized to trigger a controlled clutch or brake application process and may also be used to signal the end of a rapid-closure operation. Electronic circuitry is provided to store and process this signal.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for a transmission output shaft carrying gears within the transmission comprises a roller bearing engaging the shaft between two such gears and suspended from the transmission housing on a plate which juxtaposed with a surface of the housing. Another bearing at the end of the housing generally also engages this shaft.

Abstract: A sliding gear keyed or splined to a main shaft has external teeth selectively engageable with either of two driving gears on a pair of continuously rotating countershafts and in its neutral position is releasably coupled by one or more ball checks to a surrounding control ring for joint axial motion. The ring is provided with beveled surfaces enabling its frictional rotary entrainment by similar surfaces of the driving gears upon a limited axial shifting of the sliding gear in one or the other direction.