GB196836A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for the control of variable speed gear mechanism of motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

196,836. Ter Cock, C. May 31, 1922. Facilitating changing speed. - The rotary change-speed gear control handle described in Specification 173,802 is provided with means whereby, when the handle is turned to " change down " the gear, the engine shaft and the gearbox shaft are temporarily and automatically speeded up, while when the gear is " changed up " the engine shaft is temporarily slowed down. The control handle carries a disc 3 having four pins 4a - - 4d corresponding to the four-speed positions of the handle. When the handle is turned in either direction, one of these pins acts on a deformable spring switch-lever 5 or 6 and closes contacts 11 or 49. To change down, the handle is rotated anticlockwise and the contacts 11 are closed, completing a circuit from the battery 12 through solenoids 17, 22. The solenoid 17 acts upon a fuel pump 26 so that a certain quantity of fuel is forced into the induction pipe 28 of the engine and the engine speed increases. The solenoid 22 brings friction gears 47, 48 into contact with the clutch members 40, 40<a> on the engine-shaft and gear-box shaft respectively, so that although the clutch is disengaged the gearbox shaft is driven from the engine at the increased speed. The stroke of the fuel pump 26 is regulated by means of a pin 25<a> and a sliding inclined member 29 connected to the accelerator pedal 32, the stroke increasing with the amount of throttle opening. For changing up, the control handle is turned clockwise and the contacts 49 are closed, completing a circuit through a rheostat 55 and a solenoid 57 operating a brake 59 on the engine-shaft. The rheostat is controlled by the accelerator pedal 32, and the braking effect; which is governed by the resistance in the rheostat, is therefore dependent on the throttle opening. At low speeds the pedal 32 disconnects the rheostat so that the brake 59 is not applied. Auxiliary contacts 11<a>, 49<a>, one set of which is closed whenever the control handle is rotated, control a circuit through a solenoid 18 operating a clamp 36 for the rod connecting the pedal 32 to the throttle lever 30. The control handle carries a plate 60 having four cams acted upon by a spring-pressed ball 61 to retard slightly the rotation of the handle and allow time for the operation of changing gear. Instead of injecting fuel into the induction pipe, a flexible container connected to the mixing chamber may be squeezed to supply additional mixture. Specification 105,192 is referred to.