Ratchet control mechanism

Claim 2

A ratchet control mechanism comprising: a. a ratchet plate with an arcuate wall forming a surface equidistant from an axis of rotation; b. ratchet teeth on said arcuate wall spaced angular distances apart; c. means for mounting said ratchet plate for rotation about the axis thereof; d. a handle disposed in the vicinity of said ratchet plate; e. a pawl on said handle for engaging each of said ratchet teeth respectively; and f. mans for mounting said handle for pivotal movement about a pivot point spaced from the axis of rotation of said ratchet plate, said axis of rotation for said ratchet plate and said pivot point for said handle being aligned radially, the radial distance between said pivot point for said handle and the arcuate Path of pivotal movement of said pawl being less than the radial distance between said axis of rotation of said ratchet plate and the arcuate path of rotation of said ratchet teeth, said handle normally occupying a neutral position and comprising yieldable means connected to said handle for urging said handle toward its neutral position.

Claim 3

A ratchet control mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the movement of said handle from its neutral position rotates said ratchet plate to advance said ratchet plate a preselected, incremental angular distance and comprising detent means for retaining said ratchet plate in the advanced position while said handle returns to its neutral position under the urgency of said yieldable means.

Claim 4

A ratchet control mechanism comprising: a. a ratchet plate with an arcuate wall forming a surface equi-distant from an axis of rotation; b. a first plurality of ratchet teeth on said arcuate wall spaced angular distances apart in a first plane; c. a second plurality of ratchet teeth on said arcuate wall spaced angular distances apart in a second plane; d. means for mounting said ratchet plate for rotation about the axis thereof; e. a handle disposed in the vicinity of said ratchet plate; f. a first pawl on said handle disposed in said first plane for engaging each of said first ratchet teeth respectively; g. a second pawl on said handle disposed in said second plane for engaging each of said second ratchet teeth respectively; and h. means for mounting said handle for pivotal movement about a pivot point spaced from the axis of rotation of said ratchet plate, said first and second pawls being oppositely directed.

Claim 5

A ratchet control mechanism comprising: a. a ratchet plate with an arcuate wall forming a surface equi-distant from an axis of rotation; b. a first plurality of ratchet teeth on said arcuate wall spaced angular distances apart in a first plane; c. a second plurality of ratchet teeth on said arcuate wall spaced angular distances apart in a second plane; d. means for mounting said ratchet plate for rotation about the axis thereof; e. a handle disposed in the vicinity of said ratchet plate; f. a first pawl on said handle disposed in said first plane for engaging each of said first ratchet teeth respectively; g. a second pawl on said handle disposed in said second plane for engaging each of said second ratchet teeth respectively; and h. means for mounting said handle for pivotal movement about a pivot point spaced from the axis of rotation of said ratchet plate, said first and second pawls being oppositely directed.

Claim 6

A ratchet control mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein said axis of rotation for said ratchet plate and said pivot point for said handle are aligned radially and wherein the radial distance between the pivot point for said handle and the respective arcuate paths of pivotal movement of said front and second pawls is less than the radial distance between said axis of rotation of said ratchet plate and the respective arcuate paths of rotation of said first and second ratchet teeth.

Claim 7

A ratchet control mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein successive ratchet teeth of said first ratchet teeth and successive ratchet of said second ratchet teeth are spaced apart equal angular distances.

Claim 8

A ratchet control mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein said handle normally occupies a neutral position and comprising yieldable means connected to said handle for urging said handle toward its neutral position.

Claim 9

A ratchet control mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein the movement of said handle from its neutral position in one direction moves said one pawl into engagement with one of said first ratchet teeth for advancing said ratchet plate in one direction a preselected incremental angular distance for a step-by-step movement of said ratchet plate and wherein the movement of said handle from its neutral position in another direction moves said second pawl into engagement with one of said second ratchet teeth for advancing said ratchet plate in another direction a preselected incremental angular distance for a step-by-step movement of said ratchet plate, and comprising detent means for retaining said ratchet plate in the advanced position while said handle returns to its neutral position under the urgency of said yieldable means.

Claim 10

A transmission control for an automatic transmission system having gears for providing a plurality of different gear selections comprising: a. means connected to said transmission for selectively operating said transmission in the selection of gears; b. a ratchet plate connected to said means for actuating said means for selectively operating said transmission in the selection of gears, said ratchet plate being formed with an arcuate wall forming a surface equi-distant from an axis of rotation; c. a first plUrality of ratchet teeth on said arcuate wall spaced angular distances apart in a first plane; d. a second plurality of ratchet teeth on said arcuate wall spaced angular distances apart in a second plane; e. means for mounting said ratchet plate for rotation about the axis thereof; f. a shift handle disposed in the vicinity of said ratchet plate; g. a first pawl on said shift handle disposed in said first plane for engaging each of said first teeth respectively and successively; h. a second pawl on said shift handle disposed in said second plane for engaging each of said second teeth respectively and successively, and i. means for mounting said shift handle for pivotal movement about a pivot point spaced from the axis of rotation of said ratchet plate.

Claim 11

A transmission control for an automatic transmission system having gears for providing a plurality of different gear selections comprising: a. means connected to said transmission for selectively operating said transmission in the selection of gears; b. a ratchet plate connected to said means for actuating said means for selectively operating said transmission in the selection of gears, said ratchet plate being formed with an arcuate wall forming a surface equi-distant from an axis of rotation; c. a first plUrality of ratchet teeth on said arcuate wall spaced angular distances apart in a first plane; d. a second plurality of ratchet teeth on said arcuate wall spaced angular distances apart in a second plane; e. means for mounting said ratchet plate for rotation about the axis thereof; f. a shift handle disposed in the vicinity of said ratchet plate; g. a first pawl on said shift handle disposed in said first plane for engaging each of said first teeth respectively and successively; h. a second pawl on said shift handle disposed in said second plane for engaging each of said second teeth respectively and successively, and i. means for mounting said shift handle for pivotal movement about a pivot point spaced from the axis of rotation of said ratchet plate.

Claim 12

A transmission control as claimed in claim 8 wherein said first and second pawls are oppositely directed.

Claim 13

A transmission control as claimed in claim 9 wherein said axis of rotation for said ratchet plate and said pivot point for said shift handle are aligned radially, and wherein the radial distance between the pivot point for said shift handle and the respective arcuate paths of pivotal movement of said first and second pawls is less than the radial distance between said axis of rotation of said ratchet plate and the respective arcuate paths of rotation of said first and second ratchet teeth.

Claim 14

A transmission control as claimed in claim 10 wherein successive ratchet teeth of said first ratchet teeth and successive ratchet teeth of said second ratchet teeth are spaced apart equal angular distances.

Claim 15

A transmission control as claimed in claim 10 wherein said shift handle normally occupies a central position and comprising yieldable means connected to said shift handle for urging said shift handle toward its central position.

Claim 16

A transmission control as claimed in claim 12 wherein the movement of said shift handle from its central position in one direction moves said one pawl into engagement with one of said first ratchet teeth for advancing said ratchet plate in one direction a preselected, incremental angular distance for a step-by-step movement of said ratchet plate to actuate said means in a step-by-step manner for selectively operating said transmission in the selection of gears and wherein the movement of said shift handle from its central position in another direction moves said second pawl into engagement with one of said second ratchet teeth for advancing said ratchet plate in another direction a preselected, incremental angular distance for a step-by-step movement of said ratchet plate to actuate said means in a step-by-step manner for selectively operating said transmission in the selection of gears, and comprising detent means for retaining said ratchet plate in the advanced position while said shift handle returns to its central position under the urgency of said yieldable means.