Engine and transmission with safety system

Claim 2

A transmission including shift means having at least one engaged position and a neutral position, said transmission including a housing, at least one stationary electrical contact carried by said housing and having an internal surface exposed to the interior of said housing and an external surface exposed exteriorly of said housing, means associated with the external surface of said stationary contact for connecting a conductor of an electrical circuit thereto, movable contact means located in a chamber of said housing, said movable contact means comprising a conducting strip and an insulating block carrying said strip, said shift means compirisng two adjacent shifter forks lineally movable in parallel paths, a spring in said chamber urging said movable contact means toward said shifter forks, means extending into said chamber into engagement with said movable contact means and movable by said shifter forks to move said movable contact means toward said spring when said shifter forks are in one of the engaged and neutral positions and to enable said spring to move said movable contact means toward said shifter forks when said shifter forks are in the other of the engaged and neutral positions, said movable contact means being in engagement with said stationary contacts when said shift Means is in one of the positions.

Claim 3

In combination, an internal combustion engine, a transmission connected with said engine, said transmission including shift means having at least one engaged position and a neutral position, said transmission having a switch operated by said shift means, said switch being in a closed position when said shift means is in the neutral position and being in an open position when said shift means is in the engaged position, said switch being connected with said engine and being effective to prevent starting of said engine when said switch is in the open position and to enable said engine to start when said switch is in the closed position, said shift means including a pair of side-by-side shifter forks individually lineally movable in parallel paths, each of said shifter forks having recess means which are in alignment when both of said shifter forks are in the neutral position, said switch comprising movable contact means, means engageable by said shifter forks to move said movable contact means in a path within said housing between the closed position and the open position of said switch, said movable contact means being in the closed position when said recess means are aligned and in the open position when said recess means are out of alignment.

Claim 4

In combination, an internal combustion engine, a transmission connected with said engine, said transmission including shift means having at least one engaged position and a neutral position, said transmission having a switch operated by said shift means, said switch being in a closed position when said shift means is in the neutral position and being in an open position when said shift means is in the engaged position, said switch being connected with said engine and being effective to prevent starting of said engine when said switch is in the open position and to enable said engine to start when said switch is in the closed position, said shift means including a pair of side-by-side shifter forks individually lineally movable in parallel paths, each of said shifter forks having recess means which are in alignment when both of said shifter forks are in the neutral position, said switch comprising movable contact means, means engageable by said shifter forks to move said movable contact means in a path within said housing between the closed position and the open position of said switch, said movable contact means being in the closed position when said recess means are aligned and in the open position when said recess means are out of alignment.

Claim 5

In combination, an internal combustion engine, a transmission connected with said engine, said transmission including shift means having at least one engaged position and a neutral position, said transmission having a switch operated by said shift means, said switch being in a closed position when said shift means is in the neutral position and being in an open position when said shift means is in the engaged position, said switch being connected with said engine and being effective to prevent starting of said engine when said switch is in the open position and to enable said engine to start when said switch is in the closed position, said shift means including shifter fork means lineally movable in said housing, said shift means having a recess, said switch comprising movable contact means, means engageable by said shift means to move said movable contact means in a path within said housing between the closed position and the open position of said switch, said engageable means extending into said recess when said shift means is in the neutral position to cause said movable contact means to be in the closed position, and said engageable means being out of the recess when said shift means is in the engaged position to cause said movable contact means to be in the open position.

Claim 6

In combination, an internal combustion engine, a transmission connected with said engine, said transmission including shift means having at least one engaged position and a neutral position, said transmission having a switch operated by said shift means, said switch being in a closed position when said shift means is in the neutral position and being in an open position when said shift means is in the engaged position, said switch being connected with said engine and being effective to prevent starting of said engine when said switch is in the open position and to enable said engine to start when said switch is in the closed position, said shift means including shifter fork means lineally movable in said housing, said shift means having a recess, said switch comprising movable contact means, means engageable by said shift means to move said movable contact means in a path within said housing between the closed position and the open position of said switch, said engageable means extending into said recess when said shift means is in the neutral position to cause said movable contact means to be in the closed position, and said engageable means being out of the recess when said shift means is in the engaged position to cause said movable contact means to be in the open position.

Claim 7

A transmission including shift means having at least one engaged position and a neutral position, said transmission including a housing, at least one stationary electrical contact carried by said housing and having an internal surface exposed to the interior of said housing and an external surface exposed exteriorly of said housing, means associated with the external surface of said stationary contact for connecting a conductor of an electrical circuit thereto, movable contact means within said housing movable in a path toward and away from said stationary contact, said movable contact means comprising a conducting strip and an insulating block carrying said strip, means connecting said movable contact means with said shift means to cause said movable contact means to engage said stationary contact when said shift means is in a predetermined position, said shift means comprising a slide block, means formed by said housing for guiding said slide block in a lineal path, a shift lever engageable with said slide block for moving said slide block between the engaged position and the neutral position, said slide block having a recess in which said insulating block is located, said conducting strip extending out of said recess, said conducting strip engaging said stationary electrical contact when said slide block is in the neutral position.

Claim 8

A transmission including shift means having at least one engaged position and a neutral position, said transmission including a housing, at least one stationary electrical contact carried by said housing and having an internal surface exposed to the interior of said housing and an external surface exposed exteriorly of said housing, means associated with the external surface of said stationary contact for connecting a conductor of an electrical circuit thereto, movable contact means within said housing movable in a path toward and away from said stationary contact, said movable contact means comprising a conducting strip and an insulating block carrying said strip, means connecting said movable contact means with said shift means to cause said movable contact means to engage said stationary contact when said shift means is in a predetermined position, said shift means comprising a slide block, means formed by said housing for guiding said slide block in a lineal path, a shift lever engageable with said slide block for moving said slide block between the engaged position and the neutral position, said slide block having a recess in which said insulating block is located, said conducting strip extending out of said recess, said conducting strip engaging said stationary electrical contact when said slide block is in the neutral position.

Claim 9

A transmission including shift means having at least one engaged positioN and a neutral position, said transmission including a housing, at least one stationary electrical contact carried by said housing and having an internal surface exposed to the interior of said housing and an external surface exposed exteriorly of said housing, means associated with the external surface of said stationary contact for connecting a conductor of an electrical circuit thereto, movable contact means within said housing movable in a path toward and away from said stationary contact, said movable contact means comprising a conducting member, means connecting said movable contact means with said shift means to cause said movable contact means to engage said stationary contact when said shift means is in a predetermined position, said shift means comprising a slide block, means formed by said housing for guiding said slide block in a lineal path, a shift lever engageable with said slide block for moving said slide block between the engaged position and the neutral position, said conducting member being carried by said slide block and engaging said stationary electrical contact when said slide block is in one of the engaged and neutral positions.

Claim 10

A transmission including shift means having at least one engaged positioN and a neutral position, said transmission including a housing, at least one stationary electrical contact carried by said housing and having an internal surface exposed to the interior of said housing and an external surface exposed exteriorly of said housing, means associated with the external surface of said stationary contact for connecting a conductor of an electrical circuit thereto, movable contact means within said housing movable in a path toward and away from said stationary contact, said movable contact means comprising a conducting member, means connecting said movable contact means with said shift means to cause said movable contact means to engage said stationary contact when said shift means is in a predetermined position, said shift means comprising a slide block, means formed by said housing for guiding said slide block in a lineal path, a shift lever engageable with said slide block for moving said slide block between the engaged position and the neutral position, said conducting member being carried by said slide block and engaging said stationary electrical contact when said slide block is in one of the engaged and neutral positions.

Claim 11

A transmission including shift means having at least one engaged position and a neutral position, said transmission including a housing, at least one stationary electrical contact carried by said housing and having an internal surface exposed to the interior of said housing and an external surface exposed exteriorly of said housing, means associated with the external surface of said stationary contact for connecting a conductor of an electrical circuit thereto, movable contact means within said housing movable in a path toward and away from said stationary contact, said movable contact means comprising a conducting strip and an insulating block carrying said strip, means connecting said movable contact means with said shift means to cause said movable contact means to engage said stationary contact when said shift means is in a predetermined position, said insulating block having an elongate opening, said shift means comprising shift mechanism and a shift lever, said lever extending through said elongate opening, said contact means being in one position when said shift means is in the neutral position and being in either of two other positions when said shift means in in an engaged position.

Claim 12

A transmission including shift means having at least one engaged position and a neutral position, said transmission including a housing, at least one stationary electrical contact carried by said housing and having an internal surface exposed to the interior of said housing and an external surface exposed exteriorly of said housing, means associated with the external surface of said stationary contact for connecting a conductor of an electrical circuit thereto, movable contact means within said housing movable in a path toward and away from said stationary contact, said movable contact means comprising a conducting strip and an insulating block carrying said strip, means connecting said movable contact means with said shift means to cause said movable contact means to engage said stationary contact when said shift means is in a predetermined position, said insulating block having an elongate opening, said shift means comprising shift mechanism and a shift lever, said lever extending through said elongate opening, said contact means being in one position when said shift means is in the neutral position and being in either of two other positions when said shift means in in an engaged position.