With Detent, Recess, Notch, Or Groove Patents (Class 74/473.25)
  • Patent number: 11725729
    Abstract: A transmission in which multiple shift forks are moved by a shared lead groove of a shift drum has an improved degree of freedom of design of an internal combustion engine as well as an improved degree of freedom of layout of shift forks. The transmission includes multiple shift forks having engaging protrusions that engage with a shared lead groove. At least one shift fork among the multiple shift forks has an opening angle ? around a drum rotation center line of a shift drum between a boss center line as a cylindrical center line of a cylindrical boss that is axially supported by a fork shaft of the shift fork, and a fork action part of the engaging protrusion on which the shared lead groove acts in accordance with rotation of the shift drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoya Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11517989
    Abstract: A cam device includes a drive cam, a follower, a holding cam, and a restriction roller. The drive cam reciprocally rotates. The follower intermittently reciprocate linearly by the drive cam. The holding cam is rotationally driven integrally with the drive cam. The restriction roller is provided on the follower and restricts a movement of the follower by coming in contact with the holding cam. The holding cam separates from the restriction roller and the holding cam is in a holding release state, when the drive cam is in an engaged state with the follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: KOYO MACHINE INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideto Kitatsuji, Tsutomu Tokumoto
  • Patent number: 9546732
    Abstract: A gear-shifting device for a vehicle is provided and includes a guide body that has a first end portion connected to a control shaft, installed so that a second end portion is rotated at the first end portion as an axis in a rotational displacement that corresponds to a selecting path to perform a selecting operation, and installed to be moved in a substantially straight displacement that corresponds to a shifting path along an axis direction of the first end portion to perform a shifting operation. A guide unit is disposed to distinguish each shifting path on the selecting path in which the second end portion of the guide body is rotated and is configured to guide the second end portion of the guide body to be movable along the shifting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kyung Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 9490082
    Abstract: Next to a handle element, a bicycle handle system comprises a control element adapted to be fastened on the handlebar and serving to control an electric auxiliary motor. The control element has an actuation element rotatable on a bearing element. By turning the actuation element from a rest position to in particular two different activation positions, the assisting power from the auxiliary motor can be increased or reduced. For a simple, intuitive actuation of the actuation element, a return element is provided by which the actuation element is automatically returned from the first and, if applicable, the second activation position to a rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: RTI SPORTS VERTRIEB VON SPORTARTIKELN GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Mueller, Andreas Krause
  • Patent number: 9347556
    Abstract: A dual shift fork includes a sliding fork and a rotary fork rotatably connected to the sliding fork. A pair of pad members are disposed on an inner side of both ends of the sliding fork. A sleeve disposed at an inner side of the sliding fork and contacting the pad members. The pad members are simultaneously engaged with the sliding fork and the rotary fork at an inner side of both ends of the rotary fork. The rotary fork rotates at a predetermined angle with respect to the sliding fork as the sleeve moves independently from the sliding fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kyung Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 9217491
    Abstract: A reverse arm is pivoted by a driving pin of a reverse fork inserted into a driven hole thereof, and the reverse arm thereby moves an idle gear in an axial direction, whereby the idle gear is engaged with and disengaged from a driving gear and a driven gear of a reverse gear train. The outside diameter of the driving pin is smaller than the width between opposed flat inner side surfaces of the driven hole of the reverse arm; thus, a gap is formed between the driving pin and the inner side surfaces. A jump-over mechanism JO is provided between the reverse arm and a transmission casing for elastically urging the reverse arm outward away from a predetermined intermediate position within the pivoting range of the reverse arm and brings the driving pin in contact with one of the inner side surfaces of the driven hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin Al Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 9032830
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to various shift selector assemblies having a shift gate with a plurality of indentations corresponding to transmission shift selections. At least one of the indentations is configured to have a flexible depth so as to selectively restrict and accept a pawl pin, thereby mitigating shift position overshoot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Morrissett
  • Publication number: 20150134149
    Abstract: A pilot interface panel may comprise at least one input mechanism configured to receive at least one user input, generate at least one input signal corresponding to the at least one user input, and send the at least one input signal to a controller. The controller may be configured to control movement of an electric taxi system of an aircraft in a manner according to the at least one input signal, wherein the electric taxi system may be configured to rotate at least one wheel of the aircraft by force from a purely electromotive source. The pilot interface panel may further comprise at least one safety mechanism, which may be configured to prevent at least one of the at least one input mechanisms from receiving an inadvertent user input resulting from an unintended action by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: ROBERT E. DE MERS, OLUKAYODE OLOFINBOBA, KEITH HUGHES, JOSEPH OTT, ALAN GRIESBACH
  • Publication number: 20150114158
    Abstract: An electronic shifter assembly can include a shift lever assembly and a dual mechanical detent system. The shift lever assembly can include a shift lever and a pivot base that is pivotably coupled to a base of the electronic shifter assembly. The dual mechanical detent system can include first and second mechanical detent systems having respective first and second detent plungers biased into engagement with respective first and second detent cam members having first and second cam surface profiles. The first and second detent plungers can be coupled to the pivot base and can move relative to the respective first and second cam surface profiles with movement of the shift lever assembly. The first and second mechanical detent systems can each releasably retain the shift lever assembly in a selected one of a plurality of transmission gear selection locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Jay T. TenBrink, Robert L. Brown, Donald Niskanen, Kirk Ypma
  • Publication number: 20150114159
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing wrong shift operation of a manual transmission may include a control shaft provided in a housing of a transmission and connected to a shift lever, a stopper lever linked with the control shaft and rotated together with the control shaft, and a stopper unit arranged on a rotational radius of the stopper lever inside the transmission, and provided with a plate arranged rotatably in an axial direction of the control shaft such that the stopper lever that is rotated during a select operation for shifting to a highest speed step is caught by the plate to limit rotation of the stopper lever and the plate is rotated by the stopper lever when a shift operation is performed at a shift step preceding the highest speed step to progress the select operation to the highest speed step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kyung Woo Lee
  • Publication number: 20150101438
    Abstract: An exemplary drive selector includes a housing, a cam positioned in the housing, a follower coupled to a shaft and in contact with the cam, and a biasing member urging the cam toward the follower. One of the cam and the follower includes at least one protrusion, and the other of the cam and the follower includes a plurality of recesses configured to receive the protrusion. When the protrusion is received in the recess, the force provided by the biasing member resists relative rotation of the cam and the follower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Richard Marcus Mansfield
  • Patent number: 8997596
    Abstract: An interlocking device arranged to prevent forbidden order of engagement/disengagement of two tooth clutches in a vehicle transmission is provided and includes a groove arranged in a first of shift rods, and a second and a third groove arranged in a second of shift rods, an interlocking element arranged coplanar with the shift rods, and directed and movable towards the shift rods. The length of the interlocking element is adapted to allow certain combinations and order of engagement/disengagement of the tooth clutches. A piston element partitions the second and third groove. The piston element is movably arranged in a hole in the second shift rod such that the interlocking element can push the piston element down in the hole, allowing the second shift rod to be displaced only one-way when the first shift rod is in an engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Klas Bergström, Anders Hedman
  • Patent number: 8960040
    Abstract: A latching shifter mated with a shift-by-wire transmission in which the gear cam includes a momentary shift lever position which is spring biased toward the drive gear notch. A driver is enabled to shift the transmission into a desired gear by passing the shift lever into and out of the momentary shift lever position in the event of autonomous shifting by the transmission or to otherwise provide a selected gear of the transmission. Preferably a dynamically changeable gear shift display is provided, the indicia of which is responsive to the gear status of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Orson S. Wang
  • Patent number: 8943922
    Abstract: A shift rail interlock system is disclosed for a transmission assembly having a gear unit with a plurality of selectable gear ratios. The interlock system includes three shift rails that are each movable to select between respective gear ranges. Two of the shift rails cooperate to define a plane. The third shift rail is a creeper rail located in a position that is out of the plane defined by the first and second shift rails. The interlock system includes a creeper interlock that is moveable between lock and release positions, which respectively prevent and permit movement of the creeper rail. The interlock system also includes a range rail interlock that is moveable between two different lock and release positions. The range rail interlock is coupled to the creeper interlock such that when one of the range rails or the creeper rail is in the engaged position, the others are in their respective locked out positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Aaron D. Wikner, Thomas G. Ore
  • Patent number: 8919218
    Abstract: The automatic transmission system includes a shift lever for changing stages by a user, a shift-lock device for fixing or releasing the shift lever, and a control unit including a shift control logic changing the stages of the transmission in accordance with the stage changed by the shift lever and a shift-lock control logic controlling the shift-lock device by stages for an initial time and a maintenance time after the initial time from when the stages may be changed such that the shift lever may be fixed, in order to shift-lock the shifted shift lever when the stages may be changed by the shift control logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sungil Lee, Hangil Park, Changhyun Lee
  • Patent number: 8910536
    Abstract: A locking device for inhibiting the engagement of the reverse gear of a motor vehicle transmission has an inhibitor (2) arranged in a housing (1). The inhibitor (2) prevents the movement of a transmission part (15) of the transmission in a first position and permits the movement of the transmission part (15) in a second position. A sensor (8) for indicating the engaged reverse gear is further provided in the housing (1). The inhibitor (2) is axially movable in the housing (1) and follows the movement of a core part (3), which is likewise movable in the axial direction through a solenoid arrangement (18) provided in the housing (1). The coil (5) of the solenoid arrangement (18) surrounds the core part (3). The solenoid arrangement (18) is arranged in a chamber (9) of the housing (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Methode Electronics Malta, Ltd.
    Inventor: Alexander Galea
  • Patent number: 8904897
    Abstract: A device for controlling a device for locking a motor-vehicle gear change in a parking condition includes a transmission which connects the gear change lever to a driven member movable between an operative position and an inoperative position, respectively for engagement and disengagement of the locking device. The transmission is connected to the driven member through a rotatable drum with a cylindrical surface having a cam-track cooperating with a cam-following element. The cam-track is designed so as to cause engagement of the locking device when the transmission is subjected to a pulling action or to a pushing action, depending upon the requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fiat Powertrain Technologies S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Scavarda
  • Patent number: 8897974
    Abstract: A gear selector assembly for selecting a gear position of a transmission includes an internal mode switch having detent lever, a plurality of magnetic field sensors, a control module, a first power supply and a second power supply. The detent lever has a plurality of detents and a magnetized track, where the magnetized track includes a plurality of magnetized elements that are indicative a particular gear selector position. The magnetic field sensors are associated with each of the magnetized elements for sensing changes in a magnetic field of the magnetized track. The control module is in communication with each of the field sensors. Each of the field sensors sends an output current to the control module and the value of the output current is variable. The value of the output current is indicative of at least one of the following: the direction of the magnetic field from the corresponding magnetic track, a short circuit, and an open circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Peter E. Wu, Richard E. Robinette, Mark A. Vernacchia, Jack P. Koski
  • Patent number: 8863603
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gearshifting device (1; 100; 200), which is intended for a transmission and comprises a selector lever (2) that can be moved in such a manner that different shift positions (P, R, N, D, S, M+, M?) can be selected in at least two gearshift gates (3, 4) and that it is possible to shift between one of the gearshift gates (3, 4) and the at least one other gearshift gate (4, 3), and comprises at least one lock (5), which is used to block the traversing path of the selector lever (2) with respect to one of the gearshift gates (3, 4), in order to shift from one of the shift positions (P, R, N, D, S) into another of the shift positions (P, R, N, D, S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: ECS Engineered Control Systems AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Pätzold
  • Patent number: 8833194
    Abstract: A shift device with an over-shift lock for a multi-speed transmission of a motor vehicle, in which individual gears are shifted incrementally, is provided. The shift device has a pivotable shifting element which is composed of an activation element and a driver element displaceably held thereon. Both elements have mutually aligned oblong holes which are penetrated by a shifting shaft leading to the transmission. A shifting process is limited by the striking of the shifting shaft against the end sides of the oblong holes. In this position, the alternating influencing of the shifting shaft and the contours of the oblong holes prevents a further rotation of the shifting shaft and thereby an over-shifting of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Philipp Buecherl, Roland Zettler, Lionel Mathern
  • Patent number: 8783126
    Abstract: A manual transmission with a gearshift locking arrangement includes a rail having a shifter having a slot between forward and rear ears of the shifter, the rail being movable between rail forward and rear positions. The manual transmission with a gearshift locking arrangement also includes forward and rear engagement members disposed at positions corresponding to the rail forward and rear positions. A shift lever is also provided, an engaging portion of the shift lever being adapted to be disposed in the slot, the shift lever being adapted to move the rail between the rail forward and rear position, the engaging portion being engageable with the forward engagement member when the rail is in the rail forward position and the engaging portion being engageable with the rear engagement member when the rail is in the rail rear position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Kronstadt, Earl E. Duffey
  • Publication number: 20140083226
    Abstract: A switching mechanism includes a main body, a rotational body, a swinging member, and a biasing member. The swinging member detaches from the shaft portion against a biasing force of the biasing member by a centrifugal force generated at the swinging member in response to rotation of the rotational body rotating in conjunction with movement of the rotational member, for example, a vehicle door, to switch the state of the switching mechanism to an operation allowed state in a state where the rotational member is operated to rotationally move. The biasing force of the biasing member pushes the swinging member to make contact with the shaft portion and engages with the shaft portion by friction to retain the rotational body in a stopped state to switch the state of the switching mechanism to a movement restrained state in a state where the rotational member is stopped from making rotational movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshiyuki SAKAI
  • Patent number: 8601896
    Abstract: A gearshift assembly for a motor vehicle includes a gearshift lever configured to engage a detent unit to select one of a plurality of gearshift positions in an operative position. The gearshift lever can be folded into a non-operative position by disengaging a locking mechanism from the detent unit, when the gearshift lever is in the neutral position. The non-operative position is selected by pressing a fold button, which causes a fold rod to engage the detent unit, and prevents accidental shifting of gears in the folded non-operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive AB
    Inventor: Kenneth Skogward
  • Patent number: 8544358
    Abstract: An actuating device for selecting gear steps in a gearshift transmission. The actuating device comprises a selector lever that can be moved between at least two drive-setting positions and a locking mechanism for restricting the movement range of the lever and locking certain positions or for locking the selector lever. The locking mechanism comprises a locking recess connected to the selector lever and a blocking cam that can be rotated by an actuator. The cam engages in the locking recess. Complex locking tasks are possible with the simplified actuating device. In addition, the range of movement of the selector lever can be freely positioned largely variably and its width can be changed. Furthermore, the selector lever of the actuating device is movable by the actuator or locked in a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake, Sascha Rosentreter, Daniel Heitmann
  • Publication number: 20130247704
    Abstract: An actuating device for selecting gear steps in a gearshift transmission. The actuating device comprises a selector lever that can be moved between at least two drive-setting positions and a locking mechanism for restricting the movement range of the lever and locking certain positions or for locking the selector lever. The locking mechanism comprises a locking recess connected to the selector lever and a blocking cam that can be rotated by an actuator. The cam engages in the locking recess. Complex locking tasks are possible with the simplified actuating device. In addition, the range of movement of the selector lever can be freely positioned largely variably and its width can be changed. Furthermore, the selector lever of the actuating device is movable by the actuator or locked in a desired position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas GIEFER, Ludger RAKE, Sascha ROSENTRETER, Daniel HEITMANN
  • Patent number: 8539851
    Abstract: A modular shift device for an automatic transmission having a first module adapted for pushbutton operation of the transmission's safety lockout, and a second module that when coupled to the first module, modifies operation of the transmission's safety lockout to that of shift shaft tilting and eliminates the pushbutton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventor: Lawrence Andrew Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20130239731
    Abstract: A self-propelling work vehicle for forward and reverse drive includes a handle unit attached to the vehicle body for a first shift movement along a first direction with a neutral position and a second shift movement from the neutral position along a second direction intersecting the first direction. Forward drive speed or reverse drive speed is determined based on the first shift movement. A guide unit attached to the vehicle body includes a maximum forward speed guide member for defining a shift movement end of the handle unit determining a maximum forward speed of the forward drive speed, and a neutral guide member for guiding the second shift movement of the handle unit from the neutral position defined as a starting position. The maximum forward speed guide member and the neutral guide member are positionally adjustable independently of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Maxwell REICHARD, Masahiro YAMADA, Robert WALDEN
  • Patent number: 8499661
    Abstract: An operating device for shift-by-wire transmission comprises a selector lever which has a detent mechanism. The detent mechanism comprises bevel and notched contours that can be displaced for automatically returning the selector lever back to the first lock position or shift gate. The notched contour is spring-biased toward the selector lever detent element and overlaps the bevel contour in its first position, and an actuating block is provided for locking the notched contour in its first position near the detent element. The spring-loading of the notched contour is weaker than the spring-loading of the detent element, and the shape of the first detent position of the notched contour matches that of the first detent position of the bevel contour when the notched contour is located in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ludger Rake, Andreas Giefer, Sascha Rosentreter
  • Patent number: 8490509
    Abstract: An actuating device for a gear shifting transmission. The actuating device includes a selector lever which has stable selector lever positions, and a detent mechanism with a detent element and notched gate, the detent element is connected to the selector lever. The notched gate is disposed on a gate shaft that rotates when actuated. The gate shaft includes at least one helical return groove for the detent element. Due to rotation of the gate shaft, the detent element can be transferred from a start position, along the return groove, into a target position. The selector lever position always reflects the actual gear stage of the transmission, even with shift-by-wire-controlled gear shifting transmissions. The driver is provided with reliable visual and tactile feedback about the gear state of the transmission. The actuating device is structurally reliable, has low energy consumption, produces minimal noise, and requires minimal construction space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake
  • Patent number: 8464601
    Abstract: An actuating device for selecting gear steps in a gearshift transmission. The actuating device comprises a selector lever that can be moved between at least two drive-setting positions and a locking mechanism for restricting the movement range of the lever and locking certain positions or for locking the selector lever. The locking mechanism comprises a locking recess connected to the selector lever and a blocking cam that can be rotated by an actuator. The cam engages in the locking recess. Complex locking tasks are possible with the simplified actuating device. In addition, the range of movement of the selector lever can be freely positioned largely variably and its width can be changed. Furthermore, the selector lever of the actuating device is movable by the actuator or locked in a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake, Sascha Rosentreter, Daniel Heitmann
  • Patent number: 8448536
    Abstract: An actuating device for selecting fixed gear ratios of a gear shifting transmission. The actuating device comprises a shift lever movable between at least three gear positions, and a lockout mechanism for limiting the range of motion of the shift lever. The lockout mechanism comprises a locking assembly including at least one locking chamber disposed in at least one locking roller, and the shift lever includes at least one locking cam. The locking cam can be inserted into the locking chamber to limit the range of motion of the shift lever. It is thus possible to implement actuating and locking tasks in the field of shift-by-wire transmissions, in a simple way and with minimal construction space requirements. The actuating device produces minimal noise and has short shifting times, and makes it shift-by-wire-controlled H shift patterns possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake, Sascha Rosentreter
  • Patent number: 8413535
    Abstract: A tool adapted to prevent a shifter shaft from moving relative to a shifter housing includes an elongated member having a first side, a second side substantially opposite the first side, and a third side disposed between the first and second sides, wherein the elongated member is disposed at least partially parallel to the shifter shaft and is adapted to be secured to the shifter housing. A first side member is disposed on the first side of the elongated member, a second side member is disposed on the second side of the elongated member, and a collar is disposed on the third side of the elongated member, wherein the collar is adapted to secure to the shifter shaft. The first side member and second side member prevent the shifter shaft from moving in a first direction and the elongated member prevents the shifter shaft from moving in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Michael C. Danielian
  • Patent number: 8365621
    Abstract: An arrangement structure of a shifting actuator of an internal combustion engine mounted on a motorcycle is provided in which while the shifting actuator is provided externally of an engine case of the engine so as not to interfere with auxiliaries, it is protected without external protrusion and external appearance is kept satisfactory. An external wall of an engine case is partially inwardly recessed to form a recessed portion capable of accommodating a shifting actuator. An actuator body of the shifting actuator is disposed in the recessed portion. An attachment bracket attached to an end portion of the actuator body is fitted to a first fitting hole of an engine case outer lateral wall on the side of the recessed portion and is secured to the engine case outer wall. The motorcycle has a multistage transmission that can reduce its axial width to achieve compactness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Matsumoto, Jun Miyazaki, Hideo Senmyo
  • Patent number: 8327729
    Abstract: A shift drive mechanism for a multi-speed transmission in which a shift rod can be stably maintained at a desired fixed position without the need for an intermittent drive mechanism and which is small in size and low in cost. The shift drive mechanism for a multi-speed transmission includes a shift guide groove G formed in a shift drum so as to guide a shift pin moved in the axial direction together with the shift rod. Each of gear speed groove portions Gs is formed at axial-direction positions determined on a gear speed basis and directing the shift pin only to the circumferential direction or not moving the shift pin in the axial direction attendant on turning of the shift drum is set to be longer than the distance the shift drum travels idly from the moment of stop of driving of a shift actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Matsumoto, Osamu Nishioka
  • Patent number: 8322246
    Abstract: A gear shift mechanism of a gear shift transmission having a plurality of gears is described. A first movable gear shift fork and at least one second movable gear shift fork are provided for engaging gears of the gear shift transmission and assuming a neutral position as well as an engaged position where a gear allocated to a respective one of the first and second gear shift forks is engaged. A locking mechanism comprising a locking element is provided that prevents that both gear shift forks can assume at the same time unintentionally an engaged position. The locking mechanism is designed such that in a locking position a force for moving the first gear shift fork out of its neutral position does not generate a resulting component of force that would force the locking element against the second gear shift fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Getrag Ford Transmissions GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Doelling, Andreas Hegerath, Patrick Soehnge
  • Patent number: 8316734
    Abstract: An operating device for selecting gear ratios of a transmission. The operating device comprises a selector lever that is movable between at least three gear selection positions and a locking device for limiting the range of motion of the selector lever. The locking device has a cantilever assembly with a plurality of locking contours that are connected to the selector lever. Each locking contour is assigned to a selector lever position and can be engaged with locking element to form a motion stop for the selector lever. It is thus possible to implement even complex locking tasks in a structurally simple manner such that jams, that occur during actuation, or undefined operating states in the locking device can be prevented. The range of motion of the selector lever is largely freely controlled using an actuator control, and the device is relatively silent and has short shifting times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake, Sascha Rosentreter
  • Publication number: 20120247255
    Abstract: A monorail shifting device (1) for a multi-gear variable-speed transmission with a gearshift rail (2), a shifting element (3) and a selector element (5). The gearshift rail (2) is arranged and can be displaced axially, in a transmission housing (10), and the shifting element (3) is connected to the gearshift rail (2), fixed in the axial direction. The shifting element (3) transmits axial shifting movement selectively to one of a plurality of shifting fork arms (6, 7, 8). Relative to the transmission housing (10), the selector element (5) is fixed in the axial direction on the housing. The shifting element (3) and the selector element (5) can pivot together about a central axis (11). A shift position detent (18) acts between the shifting element (3) and the selector element (5). Furthermore, the monorail shifting device is typically incorporated into a multi-gear variable-speed transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Fritschle, Ulrich Stracke, Gerhard Horing
  • Patent number: 8276473
    Abstract: A shift-drum apparatus for a gear-type transmission including a plurality of shift forks and a shift drum provided at its outer peripheral surface with a plurality of shift grooves, in which a state of the gear-type transmission is shifted between a neutral state and a plurality of transmission gear stages. The number of shift forks is the same as the number of the transmission gear stages, and each of the shift grooves includes one or more gear-shifting recesses that are depressed in an axial direction of the shift drum. The shift forks are biased in the axial direction respectively by springs toward the corresponding gear-shifting recesses. Two of the gear-shifting recesses are formed in at least one of the shift grooves, while two of the shift forks are engaged with the shift groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasutaka Kobayashi, Ayumi Hamada
  • Patent number: 8272287
    Abstract: A device for latching and locking of shift rockers (1, 1?) of a shift device of a transmission. The device has a lock part (3, 3?), for each shift rocker (1, 1?), which resides in a receptacle (2) of the shift rocker (1, 1?), which interacts with a lock contour (5, 5?), positioned in a non-moving area of the transmission, for the latching purpose, whereby the lock part (3, 3?) also serves, in addition to the latching, as an interlock for the shift rocker (1, 1?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Drabek, Matthias Retsch
  • Patent number: 8267373
    Abstract: A single lever control for manually manipulating a hydraulic valve spool of a directional control valve, which comprises an elongate shaft encased within an outer casing and having first and second ends each being fixedly attached to an end cap and a pivot block, respectively. The outer casing comprising a cylindrical cup for housing a biasing element whereupon an applied upward force on the cylindrical cup causes the outer casing to move upwardly to the extent of lifting a latching member pivotally connected to the pivot block and releasing a locking mechanism. The mounting assembly comprising an adapter plate integrally connected to a vertical support member and having a large aperture for receiving a moveable stem associated with the hydraulic valve spool, an arrangement of which allows a valve-actuating stem associated with the pivot block to movably interact with the moveable stem as the single lever control is selectively manipulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Neil Pierson
  • Patent number: 8250939
    Abstract: A transmission for a vehicle for performing a shift manipulation at a desired time while ensuring a favorable operation feeling. A lost motion member is arranged in a shift drive force transmitting mechanism arranged between a shift spindle and a shift drum, and a rotary position of the shift drum is resiliently held by a shift stopper mechanism in a state where one of a plurality of gear trains is established or in a neutral state. A state which allows a changeover operation of an established state of a plurality of gear trains due to an action of a shift drive force which is temporarily accumulated by a lost motion means and a state which interrupts the changeover operation can be changed over by a shift restricting mechanism which is provided as a part separate from a shift stopper mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koshi Hayakawa, Mikio Kashiwai, Akihiko Tomoda, Yoshihisa Ieda, Kanau Iwashita
  • Patent number: 8230757
    Abstract: A lever lockout assembly includes a pair of lever supports and a pair of slide supports mounted on a housing. A lever member is rotatably supported by the lever supports. The lever member has a pair of arms separated by a notch. A lockout slide is slidably supported by the slide supports. The lockout slide has a ridge portion and a recess portion. The lockout slide is slidable to a lockout position wherein the ridge portion is received by the notch and the ridge is engagable with the arms to prevent rotation of the lever member. The lockout slide is also slidable to an unlocked position wherein the recess portion is aligned with the notch and the arms are rotatable through the recess portion. A handle projects from an end of the lockout slide. The lockout slide is a rigid bar with a polygonal cross-sectional shape. An edge of the bar forming the ridge portion. The lockout slide includes a pair of detent recess formed in a surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Magdalena Janina Nocko, Dean Arden Boyce, Christopher David Finck
  • Patent number: 8197387
    Abstract: A shift lever assembly utilizing a single switch to produce a first signal indicating that a transmission of a vehicle is in a park position and a second signal to authorize removal of a key from an ignition of the vehicle is disclosed. The switch includes a casing supporting a plunger having a first park indication contact and a first key removal contact. The casing includes a second park indication contact and a second key removal contact. The first park indication contact engages the second park indication contact when the plunger is in a rest position and is disengaged from the second park indication contact when the plunger is in a depressed position. The first key removal contact is disengaged from the second key removal contact when the plunger is in the rest position and engages the second key removal contact when the plunger is in the depressed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Vermeersch, Larry W. Burr
  • Publication number: 20120118095
    Abstract: An interlocking device arranged to prevent forbidden order of engagement/disengagement of two tooth clutches in a vehicle transmission is provided and includes a groove arranged in a first of shift rods, and a second and a third groove arranged in a second of shift rods, an interlocking element arranged coplanar with the shift rods, and directed and movable towards the shift rods. The length of the interlocking element is adapted to allow certain combinations and order of engagement/disengagement of the tooth clutches. A piston element partitions the second and third groove. The piston element is movably arranged in a hole in the second shift rod such that the interlocking element can push the piston element down in the hole, allowing the second shift rod to be displaced only one-way when the first shift rod is in an engaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Klas Bergström, Anders Hedman
  • Patent number: 8171817
    Abstract: A control shaft assembly for a manual transmission may include a control shaft that is reciprocated in a rectilinear direction and is rotated by a shift lever, a control finger unit that is mounted on one side of the control shaft and moves together with the control shaft and prevents dual engagement of gears while shifting, a guide body that is spaced apart from the control finger unit to be mounted on the control shaft and that guides shift positions of the control shaft, and a shift position detecting unit that is disposed between the other side of the control shaft and a transmission case and that detects shift positions while shifting up and down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Kyung Woo Lee
  • Publication number: 20120103122
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to various shift selector assemblies having a shift gate with a plurality of indentations corresponding to transmission shift selections. At least one of the indentations is configured to have a flexible depth so as to selectively restrict and accept a pawl pin, thereby mitigating shift position overshoot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventor: Donald Morrissett
  • Publication number: 20120079907
    Abstract: A shift rail interlock system for a transmission assembly having a gear unit with a plurality of selectable gear ratios. The interlock system includes three shift rails that are each movable to select between respective gear ranges. Two of the shift rails cooperated to define a plane. The third shift rail is a creeper rail located in a position that is out of the plane defined by the first and second shift rails. The interlock system includes a creeper interlock that is moveable between lock and release positions, which respective prevent and permit movement of the creeper rail. The interlock system also includes range rail interlock that moveable between two different lock and release positions. The range rail interlock is coupled to the creeper interlock such that when one of the range rails or the creeper rail is in the engaged position, the others are in their respective locked out positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Aaron D Wikner, Thomas G. Ore
  • Publication number: 20120060635
    Abstract: A modular shift device for an automatic transmission having a first module adapted for pushbutton operation of the transmission's safety lockout, and a second module that when coupled to the first module, modifies operation of the transmission's safety lockout to that of shift shaft tilting and eliminates the pushbutton.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: Lawrence Andrew Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20120048050
    Abstract: In a shift lever device, the upward movement of a pull rod 45 within a shift lever 4 separates an engaging portion 48 from detent grooves 21, and the downward movement of the pull rod 45 within the shift lever 4 engages the engaging portion 48 with the detent grooves 21 in a shift direction. The shift lever device includes a restricting arm 44 protruding from the shift lever 4 along a shift pivot shaft 30, and a swing limiter 23 disposed along the shift direction in such a manner as to be engageable with and disengageable from the restricting arm 44. When the shift lever 4 is swung in the shift direction, the swinging of the shift lever 4 in a select direction Y is restricted or permitted by the swing limiter 23 engaging with or disengaging from the restricting arm 44.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI KIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keisuke KINO
  • Patent number: 8113080
    Abstract: A neutral hold device for a hydrostatic continuously variable speed change device having a trunnion shaft, comprising a first member which rotates integrally with the trunnion shaft and in which a cam having a concave part is formed; a second member that pivots about a support shaft provided parallel to the trunnion shaft, and that is provided with a cam follower for engaging with the cam; a spring for urging the cam follower against the cam so that the trunnion shaft is retained in a neutral position by the cam follower being positioned in a set position of the cam by the urging of the spring; and auxiliary urging means for generating an auxiliary urging force for urging the trunnion shaft toward the neutral position while the trunnion shaft is positioned in a proximate region of the neutral position set in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventor: Akifumi Nishino