Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
327 words
In a transmission having an input shaft and an output shaft and a plurality of gear sets interposed between said shafts for providing various speed ranges for the transmission, a main control element movable for making said gear sets selectively effective, a pair of power flow paths in parallel with each other and in series with said gear sets and having respectively different drive ratios which bear a ratio to each other less than the ratio between successive speed ranges of said transmission provided by said gear sets, control means for making said flow paths selectively effective, first means for actuating said control means to make the higher drive ratio power path effective, second means for actuating said control means to make the lower drive ratio power path effective, said first means being operable prior to making a respective gear set ineffective and said second means being operable after the said gear set has been made ineffective and prior to the next gear set being made effective, each said flow path having a friction clutch therein actuatable to make the respective flow path effective, said control means comprising fluid actuations for said friction clutches and a control valve controlling said fluid actuations, said first and second means comprising solenoid actuators for said control valve and switches interposed between said solenoid actuators and a source of electrical energy, said main control element being in the form of a control lever having a plurality of shifted positions in each of which a respective gear set is effective while the other gear sets are ineffective, switch actuating means operable in response to movement of said control lever away from a shifted position thereof for actuating the switch pertaining to said first means thereby to make the higher drive ratio flow path effective, and said switch actuation means being operable manually after said control lever is moved into a shifted position to make the switch pertaining to said second means effective.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
327 words
In a transmission having an input shaft and an output shaft and a plurality of gear sets interposed between said shafts for providing various speed ranges for the transmission, a main control element movable for making said gear sets selectively effective, a pair of power flow paths in parallel with each other and in series with said gear sets and having respectively different drive ratios which bear a ratio to each other less than the ratio between successive speed ranges of said transmission provided by said gear sets, control means for making said flow paths selectively effective, first means for actuating said control means to make the higher drive ratio power path effective, second means for actuating said control means to make the lower drive ratio power path effective, said first means being operable prior to making a respective gear set ineffective and said second means being operable after the said gear set has been made ineffective and prior to the next gear set being made effective, each said flow path having a friction clutch therein actuatable to make the respective flow path effective, said control means comprising fluid actuations for said friction clutches and a control valve controlling said fluid actuations, said first and second means comprising solenoid actuators for said control valve and switches interposed between said solenoid actuators and a source of electrical energy, said main control element being in the form of a control lever having a plurality of shifted positions in each of which a respective gear set is effective while the other gear sets are ineffective, switch actuating means operable in response to movement of said control lever away from a shifted position thereof for actuating the switch pertaining to said first means thereby to make the higher drive ratio flow path effective, and said switch actuation means being operable manually after said control lever is moved into a shifted position to make the switch pertaining to said second means effective.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A transmission according to claim 1, in which said switch operating means is in the form of a member which is axially reciprocable on said control lever, a guide guiding said control lever during shifting thereof, and cam regions on said guide opeRable to move said switch actuating member in one direction on said control lever as said control lever moves away from any shifted position thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A transmission according to claim 2, which includes detent means between said control lever and said switch actuating member to releasably detain the latter in axially shifted positions on said control lever.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
A transmission according to claim 2, in which said guide is in the form of a slotted plate with said control lever extending through the slot in the plate, said switch actuating member also extending through the slot, recesses formed in the plate at the shifted positions of said control lever, and means on said member engaging the plate and receivable in a respective recess in the pertaining shifted position of said control lever.