US3894443A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transmission gear shift control mechanism for heavy vehicles
Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
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Filing: 1973-03-22
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Granted: 1975-07-15
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Expires: 1993-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A first locking mechanism prevents continuous displacement of a speed control gear shift lever through a plurality of operative positions in a down-shift direction while a second locking device prevents displacement of a directional control lever from a neutral position when vehicle speed is excessive. The second locking device is momentarily released by selective actuation of a push button switch wile the first locking device is momentarily released in response to initial displacement of the speed control lever. Also, in response to excessive engine speed, shifting operation is prevented.
Inventors
- 👤 Willi Beig
- 👤 Fritz Feller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:21
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H61/00; F16H61/22; F16H59/00; F16H59/02; F16H59/04; F16H59/044; F16H61/18; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20012; Y10T74/20018; Y10T74/20085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
In a drivE ratio control mechanism for a vehicle having a pair of control devices respectively controlling output speed of a gear transmission and direction of movement of the vehicle in response to displacement of the control devices to a plurality of operative positions, first locking means engageable with one of the control devices for preventing continuous displacement thereof through said operative positions, second locking means engageable with the other of the control devices for preventing displacement thereof from one of the operative positions, selectively controlled means for momentarily releasing the second locking means to permit displacement of the other of the control devices from said one of the operative positions, and speed controlled means for preventing release of said second locking means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a drivE ratio control mechanism for a vehicle having a pair of control devices respectively controlling output speed of a gear transmission and direction of movement of the vehicle in response to displacement of the control devices to a plurality of operative positions, first locking means engageable with one of the control devices for preventing continuous displacement thereof through said operative positions, second locking means engageable with the other of the control devices for preventing displacement thereof from one of the operative positions, selectively controlled means for momentarily releasing the second locking means to permit displacement of the other of the control devices from said one of the operative positions, and speed controlled means for preventing release of said second locking means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said first locking means includes a locking disc connected to said one of the control devices, detent means engageable with the locking disc for yieldably holding said one of the control devices in each of the operative positions, stop means rendered operative to engage the locking disc for limiting displacement of said one of the control devices and switch means responsive to displacement of said one of the control devices for temporarily rendering the stop means operative.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein the locking disc is provided with one-way ratchet teeth engageable by the stop means to limit displacement of said one of the control devices in a downshifting direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said second locking means includes a second locking disc connected to the other of the control devices, biased means engageable with the second locking disc for holding the other of the control devices in each of the operative positions thereof, said selectively controlled means including electromechanical means for disengaging the biased means from the second locking disc when energized, and delay circuit means for limiting said energization of the electromechanical means to a period of short duration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said speed controlled means includes a pair of rotation counting devices for respectively measuring engine and vehicle speeds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 5 including reverse interlock means connected to the control devices for limiting the number of drive ratios selected by said one of the control devices in another of the operative positions of the other of the control devices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said switch means includes a switch actuating disc having actuating formations thereon, a switch device actuated by said formations in response to displacement of said one of the control devices for momentarily operating the stop means, and delay means connected to the switch device for maintaining the stop means operative for a predetermined period of short duration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
111 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said reverse interlock means includes a control disc connected to the other of the control devices in coplanar relation to said switch actuating disc, a ball element supported between said coplanar discs, each of said discs having a peripheral edge formed with an arcuate recess, the radial spacing between the peripheral edge of one of the discs and the arcuate recess in the other of the discs being substantially equal to the diameter of the ball element, the angular extent of said arcuate recesses corresponding to the number of the drive ratios in reverse drive selected by displacement of said one of the control devices.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said control devices include levers having handle formations thereon of different size and shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination of claim 9 including a housing enclosing the control mechanism in spaced relation to a wall of the gear transmission the handle formation on one of the levers being ball-shaped while the formation on the other of the levers being of substantially tapering cross-section extending laTerally away from the wall of the gear transmission.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 10 including spacing formations on one side of said housing through which the housing is connected to said wall of the gear transmission.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein said levers are disposed between said one side of the housing and the wall of the gear transmission.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein the locking disc is provided with two-way locking teeth engageable by the stop means to prevent displacement in both downshifting and upshifting directions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said second locking means includes a second locking disc connected to the other of the control devices, biased means engageable with the second locking disc for holding the other of the control devices in each of the operative positions thereof, said selectively controlled means including electromechanical means for disengaging the biased means from the second locking disc when energized, and delay circuit means for limiting said energization of the electromechanical means to a period of short duration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said switch means includes a switch actuating disc having actuating formations thereon, a switch device actuated by said formations in response to displacement of said one of the control devices for momentarily operating the stop means, and delay means connected to the switch device for maintaining the stop means operative for a predetermined period of short duration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 15 including reverse interlock means connected to the control devices for limiting the number of drive ratios selected by said one of the control devices in another of the operative positions of the other of the control devices.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
111 words
The combination of claim 16 wherein said reverse interlock means includes a control disc connected to the other of the control devices in coplanar relation to said switch actuating disc, a ball element supported between said coplanar discs, each of said discs having a peripheral edge formed with an arcuate recess, the radial spacing between the peripheral edge of one of the discs and the arcuate recess in the other of the discs being substantially equal to the diameter of the ball element, the angular extent of said arcuate recesses corresponding to the number of the drive ratios in reverse drive selected by displacement of said one of the control devices.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said speed controlled means includes a pair or rotation counting devices for respectively measuring engine and vehicle speeds.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 1 including reverse interlock means connected to the control devices for limiting the number of drive ratios selected by said one of the control devices in another of the operative positions of the other of the control devices.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said control devices include levers having handle formations thereon of different size and shape.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination of claim 20 including a housing enclosing the control mechanism in spaced relation to a wall of the gear transmission, the handle formation on one of the levers being ball-shaped while the formation on the other of the levers being of substantially tapering cross-section extending laterally away from the wall of the gear transmission.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 21 including spacing formations on one side of said housing through which the housing is connected to said wall of the gear transmission.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 22 wherein said levers are disposed between said one side of the housing and the wall of the gear transmission.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 1 including a housing enclosing the control mechanism in spaced relation to a wall of the gear transmission, said control devices including levers disposed between the housing and the wall having handle formations of different size and shape.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-01-13 | 1979-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-14 | 1983-01-13 | 1983-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-14 | 1987-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |