Shift mechanism for engaging sliding gear in manual transmission

Claim 2

A mechanism for controlling gear shifts in a manual transmission comprising: a gear selector mounted for rotation and axial displacement in response to control of the vehicle operator, defining shift planes containing gear engagement positions, each gear engagement position corresponding to a gear selected for operation; a guide rail driveably connected to the gear selector shaft for movement therewith among shift planes and gear engagement positions corresponding to those of the gear selector, carrying a selector pin extending outward therefrom; a first gear and second gear, the first gear slidably mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the second gear; a lever having an arm extending outward from a pivotable support, engaging the first gear and causing the first gear to slide on the support shaft as the lever arm pivots; and means for releaseably connecting the selector pin and lever and for pivoting the lever arm as the selector pin moves toward the first shift plane.

Claim 3

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the connecting means comprises: a pawl pivotably supported on the lever, having a surface located for contact with the selector pin as said selector pin moves into the first shift plane, said pawl defining a recess for receiving and retaining the selector pin therein; and means for guiding the selector pin to a seated position in the recess as the pawl rotates on its pivotable support.

Claim 4

The mechanism of claim 2 wherein the pawl further includes a slotted hole extending through the pawl substantially parallel to the pivotable support at which the pawl is supported on the lever, and wherein the guide means includes a post fixed in position and extending into the slotted hole.

Claim 5

A mechanism for controlling gear shifts in a manual transmission comprising: a guide rail mounted for rotation and axial displacement in response to control of the vehicle operator, defining shift planes containing gear engagement positions, each gear engagement position corresponding to a gear selected for operation, carrying a selector pin extending outward therefrom; a first gear and second gear, the first gear slidably mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the second gear; a lever having an arm extending outward from a pivotable support, engaging the first gear and causing the first gear to slide on the support shaft as the lever arm pivots; and means for releaseably connecting the selector pin and lever and for pivoting the lever arm as the selector pin moves toward the first shift plane.

Claim 6

A mechanism for controlling gear shifts in a manual transmission comprising: a guide rail mounted for rotation and axial displacement in response to control of the vehicle operator, defining shift planes containing gear engagement positions, each gear engagement position corresponding to a gear selected for operation, carrying a selector pin extending outward therefrom; a first gear and second gear, the first gear slidably mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the second gear; a lever having an arm extending outward from a pivotable support, engaging the first gear and causing the first gear to slide on the support shaft as the lever arm pivots; and means for releaseably connecting the selector pin and lever and for pivoting the lever arm as the selector pin moves toward the first shift plane.

Claim 7

The mechanism of claim 4 wherein the connecting means comprises: a pawl pivotably supported on the lever, having a surface located for contact with the selector pin as said selector pin moves into the first shift plane, said pawl defining a recess for receiving and retaining the selector pin therein; and means for guiding the selector pin to a seated position in the recess as the pawl rotates on its pivotable support.

Claim 8

The mechanism of claim 5 wherein the pawl further includes a slotted hole extending through the pawl substantially parallel to the pivotable support at which the pawl is supported on the lever, and wherein the guide means includes a post fixed in position and extending into the slotted hole.

Claim 9

A mechanism for controlling gear shifts in a manual transmission comprising: a gear selector shaft mounted for rotation between first and second shift planes and axial movement within each shift plane; a first control block fixed to the selector shaft; a guide rail mounted for rotation about, and axial displacement along, an axis that extends transversely with respect to the selector shaft; a second control block fixed to the guide rail having a selector pin extending outward therefrom; a first bellcrank mounted for rotation about and axial displacement along an axis that extends transversely with respect to the selector shaft, having one arm engaged in the first control block and a second arm engaged in the second control block, whereby axial displacement and rotation of the selector shaft produce axial displacement and rotation, respectively, of the guide rail; a first gear supported for sliding movement; a lever supported for pivotal movement, having a first arm engageable by the selector pin upon rotation of the guide rail into the first shift plane and a second arm engaging the first gear and causing the first gear to slide as the lever pivots; and means for releaseably connecting the selector pin and lever.

Claim 10

A mechanism for controlling gear shifts in a manual transmission comprising: a gear selector shaft mounted for rotation between first and second shift planes and axial movement within each shift plane; a first control block fixed to the selector shaft; a guide rail mounted for rotation about, and axial displacement along, an axis that extends transversely with respect to the selector shaft; a second control block fixed to the guide rail having a selector pin extending outward therefrom; a first bellcrank mounted for rotation about and axial displacement along an axis that extends transversely with respect to the selector shaft, having one arm engaged in the first control block and a second arm engaged in the second control block, whereby axial displacement and rotation of the selector shaft produce axial displacement and rotation, respectively, of the guide rail; a first gear supported for sliding movement; a lever supported for pivotal movement, having a first arm engageable by the selector pin upon rotation of the guide rail into the first shift plane and a second arm engaging the first gear and causing the first gear to slide as the lever pivots; and means for releaseably connecting the selector pin and lever.

Claim 11

The mechanism of claim 7 further comprising means for pivoting the lever arm as the selector pin moves toward the first shift plane

Claim 12

The mechanism of claim 7 wherein the connecting means comprises: a pawl pivotably supported on the lever, defining a recess for receiving and retaining the selector pin therein; and means for guiding the selector pin to a seated position in the recess as the pawl rotates on its pivotable support.

Claim 13

The mechanism of claim 8 wherein the pivoting means comprises a pawl having a surface located for contact with the selector pin as said selector pin moves into the first shift plane.

Claim 14

The mechanism of claim 9 wherein the pawl further includes a slotted hole extending through the pawl substantially parallel to the pivotable support at which the pawl is supported on the lever, and wherein the guide means includes a post fixed in position and extending into the slotted hole.

Claim 15

A mechanism for controlling gear shifts in a manual transmission comprising: means for moving between first and second shift planes and for moving within a shift plane; a first gear and second gear, the first gear slidably mounted on a support shaft for movement into and out of engagement with the second gear; means for sliding the first gear on the support; and means for releaseably connecting the moving means and sliding means and for actuating the sliding means as the selector pin moves from the second shift plane to the first shift plane.

Claim 16

A mechanism for controlling gear shifts in a manual transmission comprising: means for moving between first and second shift planes and for moving within a shift plane; a first gear and second gear, the first gear slidably mounted on a support shaft for movement into and out of engagement with the second gear; means for sliding the first gear on the support; and means for releaseably connecting the moving means and sliding means and for actuating the sliding means as the selector pin moves from the second shift plane to the first shift plane.

Claim 17

The mechanism of claim 12 wherein the connecting means comprises: a pawl pivotably supported on the lever, having a surface located for contact with the moving means as it moves to the first shift plane from the second shift plane, said pawl defining a recess for receiving and retaining the moving means therein; and means for guiding the moving means to a seated position in the recess as the pawl rotates on its pivotable support.

Claim 18

The mechanism of claim 13 wherein the pawl further includes a slotted hole extending through the pawl substantially parallel to the pivotable support at which the pawl is supported on the lever, and wherein the guide means includes a post fixed in position and extending into the slotted hole.