US3863520A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Limit mechanism for manual shift control lever
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1973-06-13
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1993-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A manually operable shift control mechanism having a pivoted lever angularly movable to selectively establish one of a multiplicity of speed ratios in a transmission, a limit mechanism being operable to limit the number of consecutively arranged settings through which the control lever may be continuously moved. The invention also includes different embodiments of override means being selectively operable to permit substantially free angular movement of the lever through the consecutively arranged settings.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth R Moline
- 👤 Maurice F Franz
- 👤 Philip S Webber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:33
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G1/00; G05G1/015; F; F16; F16H; F16H59/00; F16H59/02; F16H59/04; G05G5/00; G05G5/02; G05G5/04; G05G5/12; G05G5/20; G05G5/24; F16H2059/047; F16H61/00; F16H61/24; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20012; Y10T74/20018; Y10T74/20085; Y10T74/20098; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20582; Y10T74/2063; Y10T74/20636; Y10T74/20672; Y10T74/20678
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A manually operable shift control mechanism for selectively establishing one of a multiplicity of speed ratios in a transmission, comprising a shift control housing, a shift control lever pivotably mounted on said housing for operating the transmission, said lever being angularly movable to a multiplicity of consecutively arranged settings, respectively corresponding to the transmission speed ratios. releasable means tending to engage said shift control lever in each of said multiplicity of settings, limit means coupled with said lever, said limit means being operable to limit the number of consecutively arranged settings through which the lever may be angularly moved prior to engagement of said shift control lever by said releasable means, override means operatively coupled with said limit means, said override means being selectively operable to override said limit means and permit substantially free angular movement of said lever through said multiplicity of settings, and alternate limit means for varying the number of consecutively arranged settings through which the lever may be angularly moved during a selected speed ratio range of operation in the transmission.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A manually operable shift control mechanism for selectively establishing one of a multiplicity of speed ratios in a transmission, comprising a shift control housing, a shift control lever pivotably mounted on said housing for operating the transmission, said lever being angularly movable to a multiplicity of consecutively arranged settings, respectively corresponding to the transmission speed ratios. releasable means tending to engage said shift control lever in each of said multiplicity of settings, limit means coupled with said lever, said limit means being operable to limit the number of consecutively arranged settings through which the lever may be angularly moved prior to engagement of said shift control lever by said releasable means, override means operatively coupled with said limit means, said override means being selectively operable to override said limit means and permit substantially free angular movement of said lever through said multiplicity of settings, and alternate limit means for varying the number of consecutively arranged settings through which the lever may be angularly moved during a selected speed ratio range of operation in the transmission.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The shift control mechanism of claim 1 wherein said limit means comprises a movable member resiliently centered relative to said housing and arranged for engagement with said lever when said lever is out of engagement with said releasable means and stop means for Limiting motion of said movable member from its resiliently centered position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The shift control mechanism of claim 2 wherein the releasable means comprises a multiplicity of detent means arranged corresponding to respective speed ratio settings with spring means urging the control lever into engagement with one of the detent means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
270 words
A manually operable shift control mechanism for selectively establishing one of a multiplicity of speed ratios in a transmission, comprising a shift control housing, a shift control lever pivotably mounted on said housing for operating the transmission, said lever being angularly movable to a multiplicity of consecutively arranged settings respectively corresponding to the transmission speed ratios, releasable means tending to engage said shift control lever in each of said multiplicity of settings, the releasable means comprising a multiplicity of detent means arranged corresponding to respective speed ratio settings with spring means urging the control lever into engagement with one of the detent means, limit means coupled with said lever, said limit means being operable to limit the number of consecutively arranged settings through which the lever may be angularly moved prior to engagement of said shift control lever by said releasable means, said limit means comprising a movable member resiliently centered relative to said housing and arranged for engagement with said lever when said lever is out of engagement with said releasable means and stop means for limiting motion of said movable member from its resiliently centered position, and override means operatively coupled with said limit means, said override means being selectively operable to override said limit means and permit substantially free angular movement of said lever through said multiplicity of settings, the detent means and movable limit member are arranged upon opposite sides of a control lever with the control lever necessarily being engaged either with the movable limit member or the detent means, the override means being operable to release the control lever from the movable limit member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
270 words
A manually operable shift control mechanism for selectively establishing one of a multiplicity of speed ratios in a transmission, comprising a shift control housing, a shift control lever pivotably mounted on said housing for operating the transmission, said lever being angularly movable to a multiplicity of consecutively arranged settings respectively corresponding to the transmission speed ratios, releasable means tending to engage said shift control lever in each of said multiplicity of settings, the releasable means comprising a multiplicity of detent means arranged corresponding to respective speed ratio settings with spring means urging the control lever into engagement with one of the detent means, limit means coupled with said lever, said limit means being operable to limit the number of consecutively arranged settings through which the lever may be angularly moved prior to engagement of said shift control lever by said releasable means, said limit means comprising a movable member resiliently centered relative to said housing and arranged for engagement with said lever when said lever is out of engagement with said releasable means and stop means for limiting motion of said movable member from its resiliently centered position, and override means operatively coupled with said limit means, said override means being selectively operable to override said limit means and permit substantially free angular movement of said lever through said multiplicity of settings, the detent means and movable limit member are arranged upon opposite sides of a control lever with the control lever necessarily being engaged either with the movable limit member or the detent means, the override means being operable to release the control lever from the movable limit member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
188 words
A manually operable shift control mechanism for selectively establishing one of a multiplicity of speed ratios in a transmission, comprising a shift control housing, a shift control lever pivotably mounted on said housing, said lever being angularly movable to a multiplicity of consecutively arranged settings respectively corresponding to the transmission speed ratios. releasable means arranged on said housing and tending to engage said shift control lever in each of said multiplicity of settings, limit means coupled with said lever, said limit means being operable to limit the number of consecutively arranged settings through which the lever is angularly movable prior to engagement of said shift control lever by said releasable means, said limit means comprising a movable member resiliently centered relative to said housing and arranged for engagement with said lever when said lever is out of engagement with said releasable means and stop means for limiting motion of said movable member from its resiliently centered position, and alternate limit means for varying the number of consecutively arranged settings through which the lever may be angularly moved during a selected speed ratio range of operation in the transmission.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
188 words
A manually operable shift control mechanism for selectively establishing one of a multiplicity of speed ratios in a transmission, comprising a shift control housing, a shift control lever pivotably mounted on said housing, said lever being angularly movable to a multiplicity of consecutively arranged settings respectively corresponding to the transmission speed ratios. releasable means arranged on said housing and tending to engage said shift control lever in each of said multiplicity of settings, limit means coupled with said lever, said limit means being operable to limit the number of consecutively arranged settings through which the lever is angularly movable prior to engagement of said shift control lever by said releasable means, said limit means comprising a movable member resiliently centered relative to said housing and arranged for engagement with said lever when said lever is out of engagement with said releasable means and stop means for limiting motion of said movable member from its resiliently centered position, and alternate limit means for varying the number of consecutively arranged settings through which the lever may be angularly moved during a selected speed ratio range of operation in the transmission.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The shift control mechanism of claim 5 further comprising override means operatively coupled with said limit means, said override means being selectively operable to override said limit means and permit substantially free angular movement of said lever through said multiplicity of settings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The shift control mechanism of claim 5 wherein the releasable means comprises a multiplicity of detent means arranged corresponding to respective speed ratio settings with spring means urging the control lever into engagement with one of the detent means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The shift control mechanism of claim 7 wherein the deTent means and movable limit member are arranged upon opposite sides of a control lever with the control lever necessarily being engaged either with the movable limit member or the detent means, the override means being operable to release the control lever from the movable limit member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |