Transmission controls

Claim 2

A control for a change speed transmission comprising a fixed support, a shift tube movably mounted by said support for limited longitudinal and rotary movement, yieldable means mounted on said support and engaging said shift tube for biasing said shift tube to a predetermined position, pivot means projecting outwardly from said support, longitudinally extending shift lever means mounted on said pivot means for limited turning movement on said support for controlling a transmission, said shift lever means having a head portion, drive means carried by an end portion of said shift tube and extending outwardly therefrom, said drive means being selectively engageable with said head portion to drivingly connect said shift tube to said shift lever means so that limited rotary movement of said shift tube will turn said shift lever means with respect to said pivot means to effect ratio change in the transmission.

Claim 3

A transmission control comprising a longitudinally extending support member, an actuator mounted for limited longitudinal and turning movement with respect to said support member, a drive pin extending outwardly from said actuator, a base member supporting said drive pin on said actuator, a pair of shift levers extending longitudinally with said support member, a mount for said shift levers having a base member removably secured to said support member, said mount having a pivot extending outwardly from said support member for said shift levers, said levers having head portions with drive notches therein for receiving said drive pin, said drive notches being longitudinally spaced from each other so that said drive pin can be moved by said actuator to engage one of said notches to effect the turning of a selected one of said levers in response to predetermined rotation of said actuator.

Claim 4

A transmission control comprising a longitudinally extending support member, an actuator mounted for limited longitudinal and turning movement with respect to said support member, a drive pin extending outwardly from said actuator, a base member supporting said drive pin on said actuator, a pair of shift levers extending longitudinally with said support member, a mount for said shift levers having a base member removably secured to said support member, said mount having a pivot extending outwardly from said support member for said shift levers, said levers having head portions with drive notches therein for receiving said drive pin, said drive notches being longitudinally spaced from each other so that said drive pin can be moved by said actuator to engage one of said notches to effect the turning of a selected one of said levers in response to predetermined rotation of said actuator.

Claim 5

The transmission control of claim 2 wherein said base members have groove means on the opposite sides thereof which receive tongue means extending from said actuator and said support member respectively, and said head portion of one of said shift levers having a laterally extending slot communicating with said drive notch therein to receive said drive pin and accommodate the movement of the other of said shift levers.

Claim 6

In a transmission control having a steering column with a cylindrical mast jacket, a shift tube supported for limited axial and rotary movement in said mast jacket, spring means for biasing said shift tube to a predetermined position, lever means for moving said shift tube axially in said jacket and for turning said shift tube in either direction, a drive pin extending radially from said shift tube through an opening in said mast jacket, retainer means for fixedly securing said drive pin to said shift tube, a pair of remote shift levers extending in the same general direction as said jecket, support means secured to said jacket having a radially extending pivot, means for mounting said remote shift levers on said pivot, each of said shift levers having a head portion with a drive notch therein, said drive notches being longitudinally spaced from each other so that said drive pin can engage only one notch at a time, and control means for moving said shift tube and said pin from one of said notches into engagement with the other of said notches so that a selected one of said shift levers can be turned in response to the turning of said shift tube.

Claim 7

In a transmission control having a steering column with a cylindrical mast jacket, a shift tube supported for limited axial and rotary movement in said mast jacket, spring means for biasing said shift tube to a predetermined position, lever means for moving said shift tube axially in said jacket and for turning said shift tube in either direction, a drive pin extending radially from said shift tube through an opening in said mast jacket, retainer means for fixedly securing said drive pin to said shift tube, a pair of remote shift levers extending in the same general direction as said jecket, support means secured to said jacket having a radially extending pivot, means for mounting said remote shift levers on said pivot, each of said shift levers having a head portion with a drive notch therein, said drive notches being longitudinally spaced from each other so that said drive pin can engage only one notch at a time, and control means for moving said shift tube and said pin from one of said notches into engagement with the other of said notches so that a selected one of said shift levers can be turned in response to the turning of said shift tube.

Claim 8

In a transmission control, a steering column jacket, a transmission control tube disposed within said jacket and mounted for limited longitudinal and rotary movement therein, manual lever means operatively connected to said control tube, spring means disposed within said jacket and extending within said control tube for exerting a force thereon to urge said tube to a predetermined position, a spring seat for said spring means disposed within said jacket and secured therein, a drive pin having a mounting block secured to an external portion of said control tube, said drive pin projecting radially therefrom, an opening in said jacket for the passage of said drive pin therethrough, a pair of shift levers for controlling a transmission which extends alongside of said jacket, a mounting block for said control levers securely fixed to said jacket, said block having a radially disposed pivot pin projecting therefrom, said shift levers being operatively pivoted on said pivot pin and having an arcuate guide slot therein, a guide pin extending radially from said jacket and extending through said arcuate slots formed in said shift levers, each of said shift levers having a head portion with a drive notch therein for the reception of said drive pin, one of said levers having a laterally extending opening in said head portion thereof communicating with the drive notch therein to receive said drive pin, said notches being longitudinally displaced from each other and being aligned when said levers are in a neutral position, said drive pin being normally engaged with one of said notches and being movable in response to axial movement of said control tube by operation of said manual lever against the opposing force of said spring means into said other notch and into said laterally extending opening to permit one of said shift levers to be moved without the movement of the other of said shift levers.

Claim 9

In a transmission control, a steering column jacket, a transmission control tube disposed within said jacket and mounted for limited longitudinal and rotary movement therein, manual lever means operatively connected to said control tube, spring means disposed within said jacket and extending within said control tube for exerting a force thereon to urge said tube to a predetermined position, a spring seat for said spring means disposed within said jacket and secured therein, a drive pin having a mounting block secured to an external portion of said control tube, said drive pin projecting radially therefrom, an opening in said jacket for the passage of said drive pin therethrough, a pair of shift levers for controlling a transmission which extends alongside of said jacket, a mounting block for said control levers securely fixed to said jacket, said block having a radially disposed pivot pin projecting therefrom, said shift levers being operatively pivoted on said pivot pin and having an arcuate guide slot therein, a guide pin extending radially from said jacket and extending through said arcuate slots formed in said shift levers, each of said shift levers having a head portion with a drive notch therein for the reception of said drive pin, one of said levers having a laterally extending opening in said head portion thereof communicating with the drive notch therein to receive said drive pin, said notches being longitudinally displaced from each other and being aligned when said levers are in a neutral position, said drive pin being normally engaged with one of said notches and being movable in response to axial movement of said control tube by operation of said manual lever against the opposing force of said spring means into said other notch and into said laterally extending opening to permit one of said shift levers to be moved without the movement of the other of said shift levers.