Interrelated shift, starter and clutch controls

Claim 2

In a reversible drive apparatus having positioning means to selectively establish a forward drive condition, a reverse drive condition and a neutral condition, comprising a prime mover for actuating said positioning means, a power circuit means for energizing said prime mover and including first and second drive circuit means for energizing the prime mover to selectively establish a forward drive condition and a reverse drive condition, a neutral circuit means connected to both said first and second circuit means to actuate the prime mover to establish the neutral condition, each of said first and second circuit means each including a corresponding electrically activated switch means for energizing the prime mover and each includes a disconnect switch means responsive to establishment of the corresponding drive condition to open the corresponding circuit means, said neutral circuit means including a disconnect switch means connected in common to both of the other disconnect switch means through unidirectional conducting means, and means to prevent the simultaneous effective operation of said electrically activated switch means.

Claim 3

The reversible drive apparatus of claim 1, having an engine start control means, and means coupling said start control means to the disconnect switch means of the neutral circuit means to permit starting only with the disconnect switch means in a selected position.

Claim 4

In a reversible drive apparatus having positioning means to selectively establish a forward drive condition, a reverse drive condition and a neutral condition, comprising a prime mover for actuating said positioning means, a power circuit means for energizing said prime mover and including first and second drive circuit means for energizing the prime mover to selectively establish a forward drive Condition and a reverse drive condition, said first and second drive circuit means including a selection switching means, said selection switching means including a first drive switch in said first circuit means and a second drive switch in said second circuit means and having a common control member having a first neutral position opening both said first and second switches and a second position closing said first switch and a third position closing said second switch, a neutral circuit means including a neutral drive branch circuit connected to both said first and second drive circuit means and in circuit with said selection switching means to actuate the prime mover to establish the neutral condition in response to selected opening of said drive circuit means in the presence of the said forward or reverse drive conditions, said neutral drive branch circuit further including a neutral switch means operated with said neutral position to open said neutral drive branch circuit upon establishment of the neutral position and a control electronic switch actuated through said neutral switch means and connected to said first and second drive circuit means and by oppositely polarized diodes to selectively conduct and by-pass said first and second switches, said neutral circuit means including a disable branch circuit connected to said first and second circuit means and in circuit with said selection switching means and responsive to actuation of said first and second drive circuit means to disable said neutral drive branch circuit.

Claim 5

In a reversible drive apparatus having positioning means to selectively establish a forward drive condition, a reverse drive condition and a neutral condition, comprising a prime mover for actuating said positioning means, a power circuit means for energizing said prime mover and including first and second drive circuit means for energizing the prime mover to selectively establish a forward drive Condition and a reverse drive condition, said first and second drive circuit means including a selection switching means, said selection switching means including a first drive switch in said first circuit means and a second drive switch in said second circuit means and having a common control member having a first neutral position opening both said first and second switches and a second position closing said first switch and a third position closing said second switch, a neutral circuit means including a neutral drive branch circuit connected to both said first and second drive circuit means and in circuit with said selection switching means to actuate the prime mover to establish the neutral condition in response to selected opening of said drive circuit means in the presence of the said forward or reverse drive conditions, said neutral drive branch circuit further including a neutral switch means operated with said neutral position to open said neutral drive branch circuit upon establishment of the neutral position and a control electronic switch actuated through said neutral switch means and connected to said first and second drive circuit means and by oppositely polarized diodes to selectively conduct and by-pass said first and second switches, said neutral circuit means including a disable branch circuit connected to said first and second circuit means and in circuit with said selection switching means and responsive to actuation of said first and second drive circuit means to disable said neutral drive branch circuit.

Claim 6

The reversible drive apparatus of claim 3, wherein said disable branch circuit includes second oppositely polarized diode means connected between said first and second circuit means and to the input of said electronic switch means to selectively disconnect said electronic switch means in response to closure of one of said drive switches.

Claim 7

The reversible drive apparatus of claim 4, wherein said prime mover is a motor means, and having motor driven switches including a forward drive switch and a reverse drive switch and a neutral drive switch coupled to said motor means and connected in said corresponding circuit means to selectively disconnect the corresponding circuit means in response to movement of said drive apparatus to the corresponding drive condition, said first and second diode means are connected between said first and second drive circuit means and between said drive switches of said selection switching means and said motor driven switches in each of said first and second drive circuit means, said electronic switch including a transistor means having the input bias means connected to the motor driven neutral switch and to the second diode means and having an output means collector connected between the first diode means and the opposite side of the selection switches.

Claim 8

The reversible drive apparatus of claim 4, including a start control switch coupled to said motor means and closed in response to positions of said other switches to a neutral condition.

Claim 9

In a reversible drive apparatus having positioning means to selectively establish a forward drive condition, a reverse drive condition and a neutral condition, comprising a prime mover for actuating said positioning means, a power circuit means for energizing said prime mover and including first and second drive circuit means for energizing the prime mover to selectively establish a forward drive condition and a reverse drive condition, said first and second drive circuit means including selection switching means, a neutral circuit means including a neutral drive branch circuit connected to both said first and second drive circuit means and in circuit with said selection switching means to actuate the prime mover to establish the neutral condition in response to selected opening of said drive circuit means in the presence of the said forward or reverse drive conditions, said neutral circuit means including a disable branch circuit connected to said first and second circuit means anD in circuit with said selection switching means and responsive to actuation of said selection switching means to disable said neutral drive branch circuit wherein said prime mover is a permanent magnet direct current motor including first, second and third disconnect switch means, said first circuit means including a first relay means having contacts selectively connecting said motor to power, said second circuit means including a second relay means having contacts selectively connecting said motor to power, a selection switch means having forward contact means and a reverse contact means, said first relay means being connected in an energizing circuit including the first disconnect switch means and said forward contact means, said second relay means being connected in an energizing circuit including the second disconnect switch means and said reverse contact means, said neutral circuit means including the third disconnect switch means connected to said contact means and in series with diode means to establish a circuit path from said third disconnect switch means by-passing said contact means to establish an alternate energizing path to said relay means, and sensing means connected to said contact means to deactivate said neutral circuit means in response to actuation of either of said first or second contact means.

Claim 10

In a reversible drive apparatus having positioning means to selectively establish a forward drive condition, a reverse drive condition and a neutral condition, comprising a prime mover for actuating said positioning means, a power circuit means for energizing said prime mover and including first and second drive circuit means for energizing the prime mover to selectively establish a forward drive condition and a reverse drive condition, said first and second drive circuit means including selection switching means, a neutral circuit means including a neutral drive branch circuit connected to both said first and second drive circuit means and in circuit with said selection switching means to actuate the prime mover to establish the neutral condition in response to selected opening of said drive circuit means in the presence of the said forward or reverse drive conditions, said neutral circuit means including a disable branch circuit connected to said first and second circuit means anD in circuit with said selection switching means and responsive to actuation of said selection switching means to disable said neutral drive branch circuit wherein said prime mover is a permanent magnet direct current motor including first, second and third disconnect switch means, said first circuit means including a first relay means having contacts selectively connecting said motor to power, said second circuit means including a second relay means having contacts selectively connecting said motor to power, a selection switch means having forward contact means and a reverse contact means, said first relay means being connected in an energizing circuit including the first disconnect switch means and said forward contact means, said second relay means being connected in an energizing circuit including the second disconnect switch means and said reverse contact means, said neutral circuit means including the third disconnect switch means connected to said contact means and in series with diode means to establish a circuit path from said third disconnect switch means by-passing said contact means to establish an alternate energizing path to said relay means, and sensing means connected to said contact means to deactivate said neutral circuit means in response to actuation of either of said first or second contact means.

Claim 11

The reversible drive apparatus of claim 7, having cam means driven by said motor and coupled to actuate said disconnect switches, and having a shift means and a clutch means, means operated by said motor to sequentially actuate said shift means and said clutch means to actuate the shift means when said clutch means operatively disconnects the drive apparatus, said neutral circuit means including a transistor having an output circuit and an input circuit, said diode means includes a pair of oppositely polarlized and series connected diodes connected between said first and second relay means and having a common junction, said output circuit being connected to the common junction of said diodes and to a corresponding side of said selection contact means to by-pass both said forward and reverse contact means, said sensing means including a second pair of oppositely polarized and series connected diodes connected between said first and second relay means in parallel with said first pair of diode means, the corresponding diodes of the first and second pairs of diode means being oppositely polarized, and said input circuit being connected to the common junction of the second pair of diode means to positively hold said transistor off with either of said contact means closed.

Claim 12

The reversible drive apparatus of claim 8, wherein said input circuit includes a second transistor having an output circuit connected to the input of the first transistor and an input circuit connected to the second pair of diode means to minimize the current flow with the third disconnect switch closed.

Claim 13

In a reversible drive apparatus having positioning means to selectively establish a forward drive condition, a reverse drive condition and a neutral condition, comprising a drive motor for actuating said positioning means, first and second circuit means each includes a relay means having contacts selectively connecting one side of the motor to power and the opposite side to ground and each includes a disconnect switch means coupled to the motor to open the corresponding circuit means, and said neutral circuit means includes a disconnect switch means coupled to the motor, said relay means including first and second relay windings wound oa common magnetic structure including a single armature having an intermediate pivot mount and aligned with said windings to the opposite sides of the pivot mount such that energization of winding pivots said armature to increase the spacing with respect to the opposite winding.

Claim 14

In a reversible drive apparatus having positioning means to selectively establish a forward drive condition, a reverse drive condition and a neutral condition, comprising a drive motor for actuating said positioning means, first and second circuit means each includes a relay means having contacts selectively connecting one side of the motor to power and the opposite side to ground and each includes a disconnect switch means coupled to the motor to open the corresponding circuit means, and said neutral circuit means includes a disconnect switch means coupled to the motor, said relay means including first and second relay windings wound oa common magnetic structure including a single armature having an intermediate pivot mount and aligned with said windings to the opposite sides of the pivot mount such that energization of winding pivots said armature to increase the spacing with respect to the opposite winding.

Claim 15

The reversible drive apparatus of claim 10, wherein said relay means includes a first common contact to one side of said armature and a second common ground contact aligned with said first common contact and said armature, and individual output contacts aligned with and interspaced with said output contacts and with one power contact to each side of said pivot mount, said power contacts being oppositely moved by said armature.

Claim 16

In a reversible drive apparatus having positioning means to selectively establish a forward drive condition, a reverse drive condition and a neutral condition, comprising a prime mover for actuating said positioning means, a power circuit means for energizing said prime mover and including first and second drive circuit means for energizing the prime mover to selectively establish a forward drive condition and a reverse drive condition, a neutral circuit means connected to both said first and second circuIt means to actuate the prime mover to establish the neutral conditon, having a selection switch means having forward path contacts and reverse path contacts, said first circuit means including a disconnect switch means connected between the forward path contacts of said selection switch and the first side of said motor, said second circuit means including a disconnect switch means connected between the reverse path contacts of said selection switch and the second side of said motor, said neutral circuit means including a disconnect switch means connected to said selection switch means and in series with diode means to the connection between the other disconnect switch means to establish a circuit path from said neutral circuit means with the first and second circuit means isolated through said diode means.

Claim 17

In a reversible drive apparatus having positioning means to selectively establish a forward drive condition, a reverse drive condition and a neutral condition, comprising a prime mover for actuating said positioning means, a power circuit means for energizing said prime mover and including first and second drive circuit means for energizing the prime mover to selectively establish a forward drive condition and a reverse drive condition, a neutral circuit means connected to both said first and second circuIt means to actuate the prime mover to establish the neutral conditon, having a selection switch means having forward path contacts and reverse path contacts, said first circuit means including a disconnect switch means connected between the forward path contacts of said selection switch and the first side of said motor, said second circuit means including a disconnect switch means connected between the reverse path contacts of said selection switch and the second side of said motor, said neutral circuit means including a disconnect switch means connected to said selection switch means and in series with diode means to the connection between the other disconnect switch means to establish a circuit path from said neutral circuit means with the first and second circuit means isolated through said diode means.

Claim 18

The reversible drive apparatus of claim 12, having cam means driven by said motor and coupled to actuate said disconnect switch means, and having a shift means and a clutch means, and means operated by said motor to sequentially actuate said shift means and said clutch means to actuate the shift means when said clutch means operatively disconnect the drive apparatus.

Claim 19

In a reversible drive apparatus having positioning means to selectively establish a forward drive condition, a reverse drive condition and a neutral condition, comprising a prime mover for actuating said positioning means, a power circuit means for energizing said prime mover and including first and second drive circuit means for energizing the prime mover to selectively establish a forward drive condition and a reverse drive condition, a neutral circuit means connected to both said first and second circuit means to actuate the prime mover to establish the neutral condition, wherein said prime mover is a permanent magnet direct current motor, said first circuit means including a relay having contacts selectively connecting a first side of said motor to ground and to power, said second circuit means including a relay having contacts selectively connecting the second side of said motor to ground and to power, said relays establishing the ground connection when not energized, a selection switch means having a forward path position and a reverse path position and a neutral path position, said first relay being connected in an energizing circuit including a disconnect switch means connected between said selection switch and the first side of said motor, said second relay being connected in an energizing circuit including a disconnect switch means connected between said selection switch and the second side of said motor, said neutral circuit means including a disconnect switch means connected to said selection switch means and in series with diode means to the connection between the other disconnect switch means to establish a circuit path from said neutral circuit means with the first and second circuit means isolated through said diode means.

Claim 20

In a reversible drive apparatus having positioning means to selectively establish a forward drive condition, a reverse drive condition and a neutral condition, comprising a prime mover for actuating said positioning means, a power circuit means for energizing said prime mover and including first and second drive circuit means for energizing the prime mover to selectively establish a forward drive condition and a reverse drive condition, a neutral circuit means connected to both said first and second circuit means to actuate the prime mover to establish the neutral condition, wherein said prime mover is a permanent magnet direct current motor, said first circuit means including a relay having contacts selectively connecting a first side of said motor to ground and to power, said second circuit means including a relay having contacts selectively connecting the second side of said motor to ground and to power, said relays establishing the ground connection when not energized, a selection switch means having a forward path position and a reverse path position and a neutral path position, said first relay being connected in an energizing circuit including a disconnect switch means connected between said selection switch and the first side of said motor, said second relay being connected in an energizing circuit including a disconnect switch means connected between said selection switch and the second side of said motor, said neutral circuit means including a disconnect switch means connected to said selection switch means and in series with diode means to the connection between the other disconnect switch means to establish a circuit path from said neutral circuit means with the first and second circuit means isolated through said diode means.

Claim 21

The reversible drive apparatus of claim 14, having cam means driven by said motor and coupled to actuate said disconnect switch means, and having a shift means and a clutch means, and means operated by said motor to sequentially actuate said shift means and said clutch means to actuate the shift meAns when said clutch means operatively disconnect the drive apparatus.