Patent US5819585A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5819585A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle transmissions with automatic safety override when in manual mode
Assignee: LuK Leamington Ltd
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Filing: 1996-03-15
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Granted: 1998-10-13
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Expires: 2016-03-15
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle transmission having a main drive clutch (14), a multi-ratio gearbox (12), a gear engaging mechanism (25) for engaging the operative ratio of the gearbox, and a manually operable gear selector (24) allowing the operator to manually select the operative ratio of the gearbox when the transmission is acting in a manual mode. An electronic control unit (36) is also included which controls the disengagement and engagement of the drive clutch at start-up and halting of the associated vehicle and during gear changes and which controls the operation of the gear engaging mechanism (25) in response to movements of the gear selector (24). The electronic control unit (36) is also arranged to override the gear ratio currently selected by the operator to select a more appropriate gear ratio for the current conditions if a predetermined operating condition occurs when in its manual mode. The transmission may also have an automatic mode of operation, the electronic control means (36) will then also determine which gear ratio is to be selected when the transmission is operating in its automatic mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Malcolm Darnell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:05
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H61/00; F16H61/16; B; B60; B60W; B60W10/00; B60W10/02; B60W10/04; B60W10/06; B60W10/10; B60W10/11; B60W30/00; B60W30/18; B60W30/1819; F16D; F16D48/00; F16D48/06; F16D48/066; F16D48/068; F16H61/02; F16H61/0202; F16H61/0248; B60W2510/00; B60W2510/06; B60W2510/0638; F16D2500/00; F16D2500/10; F16D2500/104; F16D2500/10406; F16D2500/10412; F16D2500/108; F16D2500/1081; F16D2500/1083; F16D2500/30; F16D2500/306; F16D2500/3067; F16D2500/308; F16D2500/30806; F16D2500/314; F16D2500/3146; F16D2500/31466; F16D2500/50; F16D2500/502; F16D2500/50203; F16D2500/50224; F16D2500/506; F16D2500/50653; F16D2500/50676; F16D2500/508; F16D2500/50858; F16D2500/70; F16D2500/704; F16D2500/70402; F16D2500/7041; F16D2500/70464; F16D2500/70488; F16D2500/71; F16D2500/7105; F16H2061/161; F16H2061/166; F16H59/00; F16H59/36; F16H59/38; F16H59/42; F16H61/0204; F16H61/0213; F16H63/00; F16H63/40; F16H63/46; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19219; Y10T74/19251; Y10T74/19256; Y10T74/1926
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A vehicle transmission comprising a main drive clutch (14), a multi-ratio gearbox (12), a gear engaging mechanism (25) for engaging the operative ratio of the gearbox, a manually operable gear selector (24) allowing an operator to manually select the operative ratio of the gearbox when the transmission is operating a manual mode, and an electronic control means (36) which controls the disengagement and engagement of the drive clutch at start-up and stopping of the associated vehicle and during gear changes and which controls the operation of the gear engaging mechanism (25) in response to movements of the gear selector (24), the transmission being characterised in that the electronic control means (36) is arranged to override the gear ratio currently selected by the operator to select a different gear ratio for current conditions if a predetermined operating condition occurs when in its manual mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A vehicle transmission comprising a main drive clutch (14), a multi-ratio gearbox (12), a gear engaging mechanism (25) for engaging the operative ratio of the gearbox, a manually operable gear selector (24) allowing an operator to manually select the operative ratio of the gearbox when the transmission is operating a manual mode, and an electronic control means (36) which controls the disengagement and engagement of the drive clutch at start-up and stopping of the associated vehicle and during gear changes and which controls the operation of the gear engaging mechanism (25) in response to movements of the gear selector (24), the transmission being characterised in that the electronic control means (36) is arranged to override the gear ratio currently selected by the operator to select a different gear ratio for current conditions if a predetermined operating condition occurs when in its manual mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A transmission according to claim 1 characterised in that an automatic mode of operation is also provided and the electronic control means (36) also determines which gear ratio is to be selected when the transmission is operating in its automatic mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A transmission according to claim 1 characterised in that the override occurs if a predetermined engine speed is exceeded in which circumstances an upshift of the gear ratio is implemented by the electronic control means (36).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A transmission according claim 1 characterised in that the override occurs if the engine speed falls below a predetermined level in which circumstances a downshift of the gear ratio is implemented by the electronic control means (36).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A transmission according to claim 4 characterised in that the downshift is not implemented unless the resulting engine speed remains below a present level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A transmission according to claim 2 characterised in that when operating in automatic mode the operator can manually override the gear ratio currently selected by movement of the gear selector (24).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A transmission according to claim 6 characterised in that when a manual override occurs the manually selected override ratio is held engaged by the control means for a specified time period after which the automatic override function again becomes operative.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A transmission according to claim 2 characterised in that the override occurs if a predetermined engine speed is exceeded, in which circumstances, an upshift of the gear ratio is implemented by the electronic control means (36).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A transmission according to claim 2 characterised in that the override occurs if a predetermined engine speed is exceeded, in which circumstances, an upshift of the gear ratio is implemented by the electronic control means (36).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A transmission according to claim 3 characterised in that the override occurs if a predetermined engine speed is exceeded, in which circumstances, an upshift of the gear ratio is implemented by the electronic control means (36).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A transmission according to claim 8 characterised in that when operating in automatic mode, the operator can manually override the gear ratio currently selected by movement of the gear selector (24).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A transmission according to claim 9 characterised in that when operating in automatic mode, the operator can manually override the gear ratio currently selected by movement of the gear selector (24).
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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) | 2001-10-12 | 2002-04-13 | 2002-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-12 | 2006-04-13 | 2006-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-12 | 2010-04-13 | 2010-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |