Vehicle speed responsive controls for transmission, clutch and engine

Claim 2

In a motor vehicle having a change speed gear provided with a gear-shift member, a friction clutch, a gas throttle member, and a source of electric current, an automatic gear-changing system comprising: a vehicle speed responsive governor connected to said source and having at least two output terminals corresponding each to one of different speed ratios, respectively; first electromagnetically controlled means operative, when the electromagnet of said first means is energized, to move said clutch from the engaged position into disengaged position; second electromagnetically controlled means operative, when the electromagnet of said second means is energized, to move said throttle member into idling position; third electromagnetically controlled means operative, when the electromagnet of said third means is energized, to move said gear-shift member from its neutral position into one sPeed-engaging position corresponding to one of said different speed ratios; fourth electromagnetically controlled means operative, when the electromagnet of said fourth means is energized, to move said gear shift member from its neutral position into another speed-engaging position corresponding to another one of said different speed ratios; first circuit means comprising a first control switch for connecting the electromagnet of said first controlled means to said source; second circuit means comprising a second control switch for connecting the electromagnet of said second controlled means to a point of said first circuit means located between said first control switch and the electromagnet of said first controlled means; third circuit means comprising a control switch and a first holding switch for connecting the electromagnet of said third controlled means to one of said governor output terminals; fourth circuit means comprising a fourth control switch and a second holding switch for connecting the electromagnet of said fourth controlled means to another one of said governor output terminals; first switch-actuating means movable in unison with the axial movements of said clutch, said first switch-actuating means being connected to said second, said third, and said fourth control switches so as to close the same when said clutch reaches said disengaged position thereof; and second switch-actuating means movable in unison with said gearshift member and connected to said first control switch, and to said first and second holding switches so as to open said first control switch and to close said first and said second holding switches when said gear-shift member reaches any of said speedengaging positions thereof.

Claim 3

A motor vehicle as recited in claim 1, in which said vehicle speed-responsive governor has four output terminals two of which correspond to said one and said other speed ratios and two other of which correspond to two additional different speed ratios, and in which said automatic gear-changing system further comprises fifth electromagnetically controlled means operative, when said electromagnet of said fifth means is energized, to move said gear-shift member from said neutral position thereof to a second neutral position from which said gear-shift member is movable into a speed-engaging position corresponding to one of said two additional speed ratios or into another speed-engaging position corresponding to the other of said two additional speed ratios; fifth circuit means comprising a fifth control switch for connecting said third circuit means comprising said third control switch and said first holding switch to said fifth circuit means; a first relay connected to a first one of said two additional governor output terminals and adapted, when energized through said first output terminal, to connect said fifth circuit means and the electromagnet of said fifth controlled means to said first output terminal, sixth circuit means including a sixth control switch for connecting said fourth circuit means comprising said fourth control switch and said second holding switch to said sixth circuit means; a second relay connected to a second one of said two additional governor output terminals and adapted, when energized through said second output terminal, to connect said fifth circuit means and the electromagnet of said fifth controlled means to said second output terminal, and third switch-actuating means movable in unison with said gear-shift member between said neutral positions thereof and connected to said fifth and said sixth control switches so as to close the same when said gear-shift member reaches said second neutral position thereof.

Claim 4

An automatic control device for the mechanical gearbox of a motor vehicle, the gearbox comprises a ratio-changing member, the motor vehicle comprises a battery, clutch having a control member, and an engine idler member, said automatic control device comprises; a source of fluid at a pressure different from atmospheRic pressure; a double acting ratio-changing jack activated by said fluid; said ratio-changing jack piston rod is connected to said ratio-changing member; first and second electrovalves interposed between said source and, respectively, both ends of said ratio-changing jack cylinder; an electrical regulating contactor, propelled at a speed proportionate to that of the vehicle and comprising at least first and second output terminals selectively supplied with current by said regulating contactor from said battery, for a first and second range of velocity; a first and second electrical connection respectively interposed between said first output terminal and first electrovalve, and between said second output terminal and said electrovalve; each of said connectors comprises two contactors in parallel, one of said contactors is a self-maintaining contactor activated by said ratio-changing member, said second contactor is maneuver contactor activated by the clutch, said maneuver contactor closes in the de-clutch position; a de-clutching single-action jack, activated by said fluid; said de-clutching jack piston rod is connected to said control member of said clutch; an electrovalve interposed between said source and said de-clutching jack; a relay; an electrical connection between said battery and said electrovalve, said connection comprising two de-clutching contactors in series activated by said ratio-changing member; said ratio-changing member opens one or the other of said contactors when one or the other of said gear ratios is interlocked, each of said contactors being mounted parallel respectively with the contactor of said relay, said relay including a coil energized by said output terminals of said electrical regulating contactor; a single-action fuel-controlling jack activated by said fluid; said fuel-controlling jack piston rod is connected to said engine idler members; an electrovalve interposed between said source and said fuel-controlling jack; an electrical connection between said battery and said electrovalve, said connection comprises an idler contactor means for activation at the start of the de-clutching procedure by said member integral with said clutch control member.

Claim 5

An automatic control device for the mechanical gearbox of a motor vehicle, the gearbox comprises a ratio-changing member, the motor vehicle comprises a battery, clutch having a control member, and an engine idler member, said automatic control device comprises; a source of fluid at a pressure different from atmospheRic pressure; a double acting ratio-changing jack activated by said fluid; said ratio-changing jack piston rod is connected to said ratio-changing member; first and second electrovalves interposed between said source and, respectively, both ends of said ratio-changing jack cylinder; an electrical regulating contactor, propelled at a speed proportionate to that of the vehicle and comprising at least first and second output terminals selectively supplied with current by said regulating contactor from said battery, for a first and second range of velocity; a first and second electrical connection respectively interposed between said first output terminal and first electrovalve, and between said second output terminal and said electrovalve; each of said connectors comprises two contactors in parallel, one of said contactors is a self-maintaining contactor activated by said ratio-changing member, said second contactor is maneuver contactor activated by the clutch, said maneuver contactor closes in the de-clutch position; a de-clutching single-action jack, activated by said fluid; said de-clutching jack piston rod is connected to said control member of said clutch; an electrovalve interposed between said source and said de-clutching jack; a relay; an electrical connection between said battery and said electrovalve, said connection comprising two de-clutching contactors in series activated by said ratio-changing member; said ratio-changing member opens one or the other of said contactors when one or the other of said gear ratios is interlocked, each of said contactors being mounted parallel respectively with the contactor of said relay, said relay including a coil energized by said output terminals of said electrical regulating contactor; a single-action fuel-controlling jack activated by said fluid; said fuel-controlling jack piston rod is connected to said engine idler members; an electrovalve interposed between said source and said fuel-controlling jack; an electrical connection between said battery and said electrovalve, said connection comprises an idler contactor means for activation at the start of the de-clutching procedure by said member integral with said clutch control member.

Claim 6

A device as recited in claim 3, wherein said de-clutching contactors are combined into a single three-terminal de-clutching switch.

Claim 7

An automatic control device for a four-ratio mechanical gearbox of a motor vehicle, the gearbox comprises a ratio-changing member, the motor vehicle comprises a battery, a clutch having a control member, and an engine idler member, said automatic control device comprises; a source of fluid at a pressure different from atmospheric pressure; a double-acting ratio-changing jack, activable by said fluid; said ratio-changing jack piston rod is connected to said ratio-changing member of said gearbox; first and second electrovalves interposed between said source and, respectively, both ends of said ratio-changing jack cylinder; an electrical regulating contactor, propelled at a speed proportional to that of said vehicle, and comprising at least one first and one second output terminals, selectively supplied with current by said regulating contactor from said battery for a first and second range of velocity; a first and second electrical connection, respectively interposed between said first output terminal and said first electrovalve and between said second output terminal and said second electrovalve, each of said connections comprising two contactors in parallel, of which a first of said contactors is a self-maintaining contactor activated by said ratio-changing member, and of which a second of said contactors is a maneuver contactor, activated by said clutch; and said second contactor closes in the de-clutch position and further comprises a second ratio-changing jack, said second ratio-changing jack piston rod is connected to said ratio-changing member of said gearbox, said sEcond jack activating said ratio-changing member in transverse direction if said first-mentioned ratio-changing jack activates said ratio-changing member in the longitudinal direction; a de-clutching, single-action jack, activated by said fluid; said de-clutching ratio-changing jack piston rod is connected to said control member of said clutch; an electrovalve interposed between said source and said de-clutching jack; an electrical connection between said battery and said electrovalve, said connection comprising two de-clutching contactors in series, activated by said ratio-changing member; said de-clutching contactors open one or other of said contactors when one or other of said gear ratios is interlocked; a relay; each of said contactors is mounted in parallel respectively with the contactor of said relay; said relay including a coil energized by one of said output terminals of said regulating contactor; a single-action fuel-controlling jack, activated by said fluid; said fuel-controlling jack piston rod is connected to said engine idler member; an electrovalve interposed between said source and said fuel-controlling jack; a member integral with said clutch member; an electrical connection between said battery and said electrovalve, said connection comprises an idler contactor activated at the start of the de-clutching procedure by said member integral with said clutch control member.

Claim 8

An automatic control device for a four-ratio mechanical gearbox of a motor vehicle, the gearbox comprises a ratio-changing member, the motor vehicle comprises a battery, a clutch having a control member, and an engine idler member, said automatic control device comprises; a source of fluid at a pressure different from atmospheric pressure; a double-acting ratio-changing jack, activable by said fluid; said ratio-changing jack piston rod is connected to said ratio-changing member of said gearbox; first and second electrovalves interposed between said source and, respectively, both ends of said ratio-changing jack cylinder; an electrical regulating contactor, propelled at a speed proportional to that of said vehicle, and comprising at least one first and one second output terminals, selectively supplied with current by said regulating contactor from said battery for a first and second range of velocity; a first and second electrical connection, respectively interposed between said first output terminal and said first electrovalve and between said second output terminal and said second electrovalve, each of said connections comprising two contactors in parallel, of which a first of said contactors is a self-maintaining contactor activated by said ratio-changing member, and of which a second of said contactors is a maneuver contactor, activated by said clutch; and said second contactor closes in the de-clutch position and further comprises a second ratio-changing jack, said second ratio-changing jack piston rod is connected to said ratio-changing member of said gearbox, said sEcond jack activating said ratio-changing member in transverse direction if said first-mentioned ratio-changing jack activates said ratio-changing member in the longitudinal direction; a de-clutching, single-action jack, activated by said fluid; said de-clutching ratio-changing jack piston rod is connected to said control member of said clutch; an electrovalve interposed between said source and said de-clutching jack; an electrical connection between said battery and said electrovalve, said connection comprising two de-clutching contactors in series, activated by said ratio-changing member; said de-clutching contactors open one or other of said contactors when one or other of said gear ratios is interlocked; a relay; each of said contactors is mounted in parallel respectively with the contactor of said relay; said relay including a coil energized by one of said output terminals of said regulating contactor; a single-action fuel-controlling jack, activated by said fluid; said fuel-controlling jack piston rod is connected to said engine idler member; an electrovalve interposed between said source and said fuel-controlling jack; a member integral with said clutch member; an electrical connection between said battery and said electrovalve, said connection comprises an idler contactor activated at the start of the de-clutching procedure by said member integral with said clutch control member.

Claim 9

A device as recited in claim 5, wherein said de-clutching contactors are combined into a single three-terminal de-clutching switch.

Claim 10

A device as recited in claim 6, comprises a low-pressure tube; said source of fluid at a pressure different from atmospheric pressure is an air tank at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, connected to said low-pressure tube.

Claim 11

A device as claimed in claim 7, comprises a fluid connector rod, said ratio-changing jack comprises a pneumatic jack connected to said ratio-changing member by said fluid connecting rod and further comprises a master cylinder and a hydraulic receiver jack.

Claim 12

A device as recited in claim 8, comprising a hydraulic duct; a valve; both ends of said hydraulic receiver jack are interconnected by said hydraulic duct fitted with said valve.