Dual cable transmission gearshift mechanism

Claim 2

Remote shifter apparatus comprising two separate elongated push-pull cables, a receiver unit having a first actuation element coupled to one end of one such cable and selectively movable by longitudinal actuation of said one cable into and from any of a plurality of receiver unit shifting positions, said receiver unit having a second actuation element coupled to one end of the other of said cables and selectively movable by longitudinal actuation of said other cable into and from receiver unit shifted position selected by said first actuation element, and a transmitter unit remote from said receiver unit comprising first and second lever arms having swinging ends respectively coupled to the respective other ends of the push-pull cables, means mounting the first lever arm for swinging about an axis extending generally lengthwise of said first lever arm, means mounting the second lever arm for swinging about an axis transverse to the length of the second lever arm and which passes substantially through the coupling between the first lever arm and the end of the push-pull cable coupled thereto, and an operating lever arm common to both said first and second lever arms, extending lengthwise of said second lever arm past said second mentioned axis thence extends transversely of the lengthwise extent of said second lever arm.

Claim 3

A dual linkage remote shifter apparatus comprising a transmitter unit and a receiver unit, said transmitter unit having a control member, guide means mounting said control member and guiding the same for rotary motion about a first axis in a first mode through a succession of control selection positions and further guiding said control member in each of said control selection positions for independent motion angular about a second axis in a second mode through a succession of control actuation positions, first and second elongated motion transmission links extending between said units, a first actuator member connected between the first link and the control member and movable by the control member in its first mode to move the first link lengthwise substantially without substantially thereby moving the second link, a second actuator member connected between the second link and the control member and movable by the control member in its second mode to move the second link lengthwise substantially without thereby moving the first link, said receiver unit having shifter means, and first and second actuated members respectively connected between said shifter means and the first and second links to actuate said shifter means in each of two modes substantially independently by respective movements of the said first and second links, said control member having a control arm extending transversely therefrom and operable to rotate the control member about said first axis and also operable to swing the control member about the second axis extending transversely to the first axis, said first actuator member comprising a first lever arm mounted on the control member at a mounting location on the control member offset from said second axis generally in the direction of said first axis, said first lever arm extending from the control member to a point of coupling with said first link at a location substantially on the second axis and offset transversely from said first axis and in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal extent of the first link, said second actuator comprising a second lever arm extending generally axially of the control member to be swung conjointly therewith about said transverse axis, said second lever arm extending to a point of coupling with the second link at a location offset from said second axis generally along said first axis and in a direction substantially transverse to the second link.

Claim 4

A dual linkage remote shifter apparatus comprising a transmitter unit and a receiver unit, said transmitter unit having a control member, guide means mounting said control member and guiding the same for rotary motion about a first axis in a first mode through a succession of control selection positions and further guiding said control member in each of said control selection positions for independent motion angular about a second axis in a second mode through a succession of control actuation positions, first and second elongated motion transmission links extending between said units, a first actuator member connected between the first link and the control member and movable by the control member in its first mode to move the first link lengthwise substantially without substantially thereby moving the second link, a second actuator member connected between the second link and the control member and movable by the control member in its second mode to move the second link lengthwise substantially without thereby moving the first link, said receiver unit having shifter means, and first and second actuated members respectively connected between said shifter means and the first and second links to actuate said shifter means in each of two modes substantially independently by respective movements of the said first and second links, said control member having a control arm extending transversely therefrom and operable to rotate the control member about said first axis and also operable to swing the control member about the second axis extending transversely to the first axis, said first actuator member comprising a first lever arm mounted on the control member at a mounting location on the control member offset from said second axis generally in the direction of said first axis, said first lever arm extending from the control member to a point of coupling with said first link at a location substantially on the second axis and offset transversely from said first axis and in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal extent of the first link, said second actuator comprising a second lever arm extending generally axially of the control member to be swung conjointly therewith about said transverse axis, said second lever arm extending to a point of coupling with the second link at a location offset from said second axis generally along said first axis and in a direction substantially transverse to the second link.

Claim 5

The shifter apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein the control member comprises an elongated shaft.

Claim 6

The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein the control arm has a manual grip on the end thereof remote from the guide means.