Directional shift inhibitor

Claim 2

For use with a vehicle having forward and reverse transmission clutches, a directional shift inhibitor comprising a valve body, an inhibitor valve slidably mounted in said valve body, a conduitry system formed in said valve body, a source of fluid under pressure in said conduitry system, the flow of said fluid through alternate portions of said conduitry system being controlled by the axial movement of said inhibitor valve, pin means axially slidably mounted in said inhibitor valve and responsive to said fluid under pressure for alternately holding said inhibitor valve in its two extreme axial positions, valve means operatively connected to said conduitry system for controlling the retention and exhaust of the fluid pressure adjacent the ends of said inhibitor valve for overcoming the holding effect of said fluid on said pin means to thereby move said inhibitor valve upon the attainment of a predetermined speed of said vehicle, and centrifugal means operatively connected to said valve means for actuating said valve means in response to predetermined vehicle speeds.

Claim 3

For use with a vehicle having forward and reverse transmission clutches, a directional shift inhibitor comprising a valve body, an inhibitor valve slidably mounted in said valve body, a conduitry system formed in said valve body, a source of fluid under pressUre in said conduitry system, the flow of said fluid through alternate portions of said conduitry system being controlled by the axial movement of said inhibitor valve, first and second aligned axial passages formed in the ends of said inhibitor valve, a set of two pins slidably mounted in each of said first and second axial passages and responsive to said fluid under pressure for alternately holding said inhibitor valve in its two extreme axial positions, first and second openings formed in said valve body adjacent the respective ends of said inhibitor valve and communicating with said conduitry system, a valve slidably mounted adjacent each of said first and second openings for controlling the opening and closing of said first and second openings to thereby control the pressure adjacent the ends of said inhibitor valve for overcoming the effect of said fluid pressure on said two sets of two pins to move said inhibitor valve upon the attainment of a predetermined speed of said vehicle, and centrifugal means operatively connected to said two valves for actuating said two valves in response to predetermined vehicle speeds.

Claim 4

For use with a vehicle having forward and reverse transmission clutches, a directional shift inhibitor comprising a valve body, an inhibitor valve slidably mounted in said valve body, a conduitry system formed in said valve body, a source of fluid under pressUre in said conduitry system, the flow of said fluid through alternate portions of said conduitry system being controlled by the axial movement of said inhibitor valve, first and second aligned axial passages formed in the ends of said inhibitor valve, a set of two pins slidably mounted in each of said first and second axial passages and responsive to said fluid under pressure for alternately holding said inhibitor valve in its two extreme axial positions, first and second openings formed in said valve body adjacent the respective ends of said inhibitor valve and communicating with said conduitry system, a valve slidably mounted adjacent each of said first and second openings for controlling the opening and closing of said first and second openings to thereby control the pressure adjacent the ends of said inhibitor valve for overcoming the effect of said fluid pressure on said two sets of two pins to move said inhibitor valve upon the attainment of a predetermined speed of said vehicle, and centrifugal means operatively connected to said two valves for actuating said two valves in response to predetermined vehicle speeds.

Claim 5

For use with a vehicle having forward and reverse transmission clutches, a directional shift inhibitor comprising a valve body, an inhibitor valve slidably mounted in said valve body, a conduitry system formed in said valve body, a source of fluid under pressure in said conduitry system, the flow of said fluid through alternate portions of said conduitry system being controlled by the movement of said inhibitor valve, pin means axially slidably mounted in said inhibitor valve and responsive to said fluid under pressure for alternately holding said inhibitor valve in its two extreme axial positions, valve means operatively connected to said conduitry system for controlling the pressure adjacent the ends of said inhibitor valve for overcoming the effect of said pin means to move said inhibitor valve at a predetermined speed of said vehicle, solenoid means operatively connected to said valve means, and a governor assembly including a housing, an engine-driven shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, a centrifugal weight member mounted for rotation with said shaft, a first contact secured to said housing, a second contact movable in response to the movement of said weight member under the action of centrifugal force alternately into and out of contact with said first contact, wire leads connected between said first contact and said solenoid means.

Claim 6

For use with a vehicle having forward and reverse transmission clutches, a directional shift inhibitor comprising a valve body, an inhibitor valve slidably mounted in said valve body, a conduitry system formed in said valve body, a source of fluid under pressure in said conduitry system, the flow of said fluid through alternate portions of said conduitry system being controlled by the movement of said inhibitor valve, pin means axially slidably mounted in said inhibitor valve and responsive to said fluid under pressure for alternately holding said inhibitor valve in its two extreme axial positions, valve means operatively connected to said conduitry system for controlling the pressure adjacent the ends of said inhibitor valve for overcoming the effect of said pin means to move said inhibitor valve at a predetermined speed of said vehicle, solenoid means operatively connected to said valve means, and a governor assembly including a housing, an engine-driven shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, a centrifugal weight member mounted for rotation with said shaft, a first contact secured to said housing, a second contact movable in response to the movement of said weight member under the action of centrifugal force alternately into and out of contact with said first contact, wire leads connected between said first contact and said solenoid means.

Claim 7

The directional shift inhibitor described in claim 3, and manual adjustment means operatively connected to said first contact.

Claim 8

The directional shift inhibitor described in claim 3, and manual adjustment means operatively connected to said second contact.

Claim 9

For use with a vehicle having forward and reverse transmission clutches, a directional shift inhibitor comprising a valve body, an inhibitor valve slidably mounted in a bore formed in said valve body, a conduitry system formed in said valve body, a source of fluid under pressure in said conduitry system, first and second pairs of aligned pins axially slidably mounted in opposite ends of said inhibitor valve and responsive to said fluid under pressure for alternately holding said inhibitor valve in its two extreme axial positions, said conduitry system including first and second annular grooves formed in said inhibitor valve forming first and second annular chambers with said bore, first and second annular recesses formed on opposite ends of said inhibitor valve forming first and second end chambers with said bore, first and second passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication between said fluid source and said respective first and second annular chambers, first and second branch passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication between said first and second passages and said respective first and second end chambers, third and fourth branch passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication between said First and second passages and intermediate said respective second and first pairs of aligned pins, first and second exhaust ports formed in said valve body communicating with said respective first and second end chambers, third and fourth passages formed in said valve body for communication between said first and second annular chambers and said respective reverse and forward clutches, and third and fourth exhaust ports formed in said valve body for alternate communication with said first and second annular chambers, the alternate flow of said fluid between said first and third passages and between said second and fourth passages being controlled by the axial movement of said inhibitor valve, first and second valves slidably mounted in said valve body for controlling the retention and exhaust of said fluid under pressure in said respective first and second end chambers for overcoming the effect of said fluid pressure on said respective second and first pairs of aligned pins to move said inhibitor valve upon the attainment of a predetermined speed of said vehicle, and centrifugal weight means operatively connected to said first and second valves for actuating said first and second valves to control said respective first and second exhaust ports in response to predetermined vehicle speeds.

Claim 10

For use with a vehicle having forward and reverse transmission clutches, a directional shift inhibitor comprising a valve body, an inhibitor valve slidably mounted in a bore formed in said valve body, a conduitry system formed in said valve body, a source of fluid under pressure in said conduitry system, first and second pairs of aligned pins axially slidably mounted in opposite ends of said inhibitor valve and responsive to said fluid under pressure for alternately holding said inhibitor valve in its two extreme axial positions, said conduitry system including first and second annular grooves formed in said inhibitor valve forming first and second annular chambers with said bore, first and second annular recesses formed on opposite ends of said inhibitor valve forming first and second end chambers with said bore, first and second passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication between said fluid source and said respective first and second annular chambers, first and second branch passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication between said first and second passages and said respective first and second end chambers, third and fourth branch passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication between said First and second passages and intermediate said respective second and first pairs of aligned pins, first and second exhaust ports formed in said valve body communicating with said respective first and second end chambers, third and fourth passages formed in said valve body for communication between said first and second annular chambers and said respective reverse and forward clutches, and third and fourth exhaust ports formed in said valve body for alternate communication with said first and second annular chambers, the alternate flow of said fluid between said first and third passages and between said second and fourth passages being controlled by the axial movement of said inhibitor valve, first and second valves slidably mounted in said valve body for controlling the retention and exhaust of said fluid under pressure in said respective first and second end chambers for overcoming the effect of said fluid pressure on said respective second and first pairs of aligned pins to move said inhibitor valve upon the attainment of a predetermined speed of said vehicle, and centrifugal weight means operatively connected to said first and second valves for actuating said first and second valves to control said respective first and second exhaust ports in response to predetermined vehicle speeds.

Claim 11

A directional shift inhibitor valve body comprising an inhibitor valve slidably mounted in a bore formed in said valve body, first and second pairs of aligned pins axially slidably mounted in opposite ends of said inhibitor valve for alternately holding said inhibitor valve in its two extreme axial positions, a conduitry system formed in said valve body, said conduitry system including first and second annular grooves formed in said inhibitor valve forming first and second annular chambers with said bore, first and second annular recesses formed on oppoiste ends of said inhibitor valve forming first and second end chambers with said bore, first and second inlet passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication with said respective first and second annular chambers depending upon the axial position of said inhibitor valve, first and second branch passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication between said first and second inlet passages and said respective first and second end chambers, third and fourth branch passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication between said first and second inlet passages and intermediate said respective second and first pairs of aligned pins, first and second exhaust ports formed in said valve body communicating with said respective first and second end chambers, first and second outlet passages formed in said valve body for communication with said respective first and second annular chambers, and third and fourth exhaust ports formed in said valve body for alternate communication with said first and second annular chambers, first and second spring-loaded valves slidably mounted in said valve body, first and second solenoids mounted on said valve body, and first and second levers pivotally mounted at an intermediate point thereof on said valve body and connected at opposite ends thereof to said respective first spring-loaded valve and said first solenoid and to said second spring-loaded valve and said second solenoid.

Claim 12

A directional shift inhibitor valve body comprising an inhibitor valve slidably mounted in a bore formed in said valve body, first and second pairs of aligned pins axially slidably mounted in opposite ends of said inhibitor valve for alternately holding said inhibitor valve in its two extreme axial positions, a conduitry system formed in said valve body, said conduitry system including first and second annular grooves formed in said inhibitor valve forming first and second annular chambers with said bore, first and second annular recesses formed on oppoiste ends of said inhibitor valve forming first and second end chambers with said bore, first and second inlet passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication with said respective first and second annular chambers depending upon the axial position of said inhibitor valve, first and second branch passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication between said first and second inlet passages and said respective first and second end chambers, third and fourth branch passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication between said first and second inlet passages and intermediate said respective second and first pairs of aligned pins, first and second exhaust ports formed in said valve body communicating with said respective first and second end chambers, first and second outlet passages formed in said valve body for communication with said respective first and second annular chambers, and third and fourth exhaust ports formed in said valve body for alternate communication with said first and second annular chambers, first and second spring-loaded valves slidably mounted in said valve body, first and second solenoids mounted on said valve body, and first and second levers pivotally mounted at an intermediate point thereof on said valve body and connected at opposite ends thereof to said respective first spring-loaded valve and said first solenoid and to said second spring-loaded valve and said second solenoid.

Claim 13

For use with a vehicle having forward and reverse transmission clutches, a directional shift inhibitor comprising a valve body, an inhibitor valve slidably mounted in a bore formed in said valve body, a conduitry system formed in said valve body, a source of fluid under pressure in said conduitry system, first and second pairs of aligned pins axially slidably mounted in opposite ends of said inhibitor valve and responsive to said fluid under pressure for alternately holding said inhibitor valve in its two extreme axial positions, said conduitry system including first and second annular grooves formed in said inhibitor valve forming first and second annular chambers with said bore, first and seCond annular recesses formed on opposite ends of said inhibitor valve forming first and second end chambers with said bore, first and second passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication between said fluid source and said respective first and second annular chambers, first and second branch passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication between said first and second passages and said first and second end chambers, third and fourth branch passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication between said first and second passages and intermediate said respective second and first pairs of aligned pins, first and second exhaust ports formed in said valve body communicating with said respective first and second end chambers, third and fourth passages formed in said valve body for communication between said first and second annular chambers and said respective reverse and forward clutches, and third and fourth exhaust ports formed in said valve body for alternate communication with said first and second annular chambers, the alternate flow of said fluid between said first and third passages and between said second and fourth passages being controlled by the axial movement of said inhibitor valve, first and second spring-loaded valves slidably mounted in said valve body for controlling the retention and exhaust of said fluid under pressure in said respective first and second end chambers for overcoming the effect of said fluid pressure on said respective second and first pairs of aligned pins to move said inhibitor valve upon the attainment of a predetermined speed of said vehicle, first and second solenoids mounted on said valve body, and first and second levers pivotally mounted at an intermediate point thereof on said valve body and connected at opposite ends thereof to said respective first spring-loaded valve and said first solenoid and to said second spring-loaded valve and said second solenoid, a governor including a housing, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, a pin member axially slidably mounted in said drive shaft adjacent the inner end thereof, a fixed and a movable electrical contact mounted in said housing axially aligned with said pin member, a wire lead connected between said contacts and said first and second solenoids, and centrifugal weight means operatively mounted on said drive shaft for moving said pin member to alternately open and close said contacts in response to predetermined vehicle speeds and thereby respectively deenergizing and energizing said solenoids to actuate said first and second spring-loaded valves to control said respective first and second exhaust ports.

Claim 14

For use with a vehicle having forward and reverse transmission clutches, a directional shift inhibitor comprising a valve body, an inhibitor valve slidably mounted in a bore formed in said valve body, a conduitry system formed in said valve body, a source of fluid under pressure in said conduitry system, first and second pairs of aligned pins axially slidably mounted in opposite ends of said inhibitor valve and responsive to said fluid under pressure for alternately holding said inhibitor valve in its two extreme axial positions, said conduitry system including first and second annular grooves formed in said inhibitor valve forming first and second annular chambers with said bore, first and seCond annular recesses formed on opposite ends of said inhibitor valve forming first and second end chambers with said bore, first and second passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication between said fluid source and said respective first and second annular chambers, first and second branch passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication between said first and second passages and said first and second end chambers, third and fourth branch passages formed in said valve body for alternate communication between said first and second passages and intermediate said respective second and first pairs of aligned pins, first and second exhaust ports formed in said valve body communicating with said respective first and second end chambers, third and fourth passages formed in said valve body for communication between said first and second annular chambers and said respective reverse and forward clutches, and third and fourth exhaust ports formed in said valve body for alternate communication with said first and second annular chambers, the alternate flow of said fluid between said first and third passages and between said second and fourth passages being controlled by the axial movement of said inhibitor valve, first and second spring-loaded valves slidably mounted in said valve body for controlling the retention and exhaust of said fluid under pressure in said respective first and second end chambers for overcoming the effect of said fluid pressure on said respective second and first pairs of aligned pins to move said inhibitor valve upon the attainment of a predetermined speed of said vehicle, first and second solenoids mounted on said valve body, and first and second levers pivotally mounted at an intermediate point thereof on said valve body and connected at opposite ends thereof to said respective first spring-loaded valve and said first solenoid and to said second spring-loaded valve and said second solenoid, a governor including a housing, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, a pin member axially slidably mounted in said drive shaft adjacent the inner end thereof, a fixed and a movable electrical contact mounted in said housing axially aligned with said pin member, a wire lead connected between said contacts and said first and second solenoids, and centrifugal weight means operatively mounted on said drive shaft for moving said pin member to alternately open and close said contacts in response to predetermined vehicle speeds and thereby respectively deenergizing and energizing said solenoids to actuate said first and second spring-loaded valves to control said respective first and second exhaust ports.