WO1998023460A1

WO1998023460A1 - A gear change arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO1998023460A1
Application number: PCT/SE1997/001987
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kenneth Skogward
Original assignee: Scandmec Ab
Priority date: 1996-11-27
Filing date: 1997-11-27
Publication date: 1998-06-04
Also published as: SE9604399D0; SE9604399L; SE508010C2

Abstract

Gear device for a gearbox in a motor vehicle, said gear device comprising a gear shift lever (1) for selection of different gear positions and two transmission agents (2, 3) for transmission of gear shift lever movements to the gearbox for adjustment of the selected gear. The transmission agents are coupled to the gear shift lever and are adapted for executing adjustment movements in essentially the same relative direction. The gear shift lever (1) is rotatably arranged for, on the one hand, reciprocating gear changing movements in essentially the same direction as the adjustment direction for the adjustment movements of the transmission agents and, on the other hand, gear changing movements in an essentially transversal direction in relation to the adjustment direction.

Description

TITLE:

A GEAR CHANGE ARRANGEMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD:

The present invention relates to a gear device for a gearbox in a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of appended claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: In some types of gear systems, such as for example manual gearboxes, two transmission agents are used for transmission of operating movements from/to the gear shift lever and the gearbox. One of said transmission agents transmits the reciprocating gear changing movements of the gear shift lever, while the other transmission agent transmits the lateral movements of the gear shift lever. Thus, a combination of the positions of the two transmission agents defines a certain gear position and controls an adjustment mechanism in the gearbox for engagement of the selected gear position. The adjustment of the transmission agents occurs at the gear shift lever, wherein said transmission agents are adjusted in different longitudinal displacement positions. By means of the fact that the transmission agents generally are arranged essentially in parallel with each other at the gear shift lever, a special mechanism is required for one of the gear shift lever movements, usually the lateral movement, in order for the lateral movement to be transmitted to a longitudinal displacement movement which is essentially transversal in relation to the lateral movement. Previously known gear devices have required several movable parts, which are costly, requiring a lot of. space and are likely to cause operational disturbances in the course of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages and to provide a cost-saving solution which is compact in size and reliable.

Said object is accomplished by means of the gear device according to the present invention, the characterizing features of which will be apparent from appended claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

The invention will be further described in the following with an embodiment and with reference to the annexed drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gear device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side view which shows the gear device in a central neutral gear position,

Fig. 3 is a side view which shows the gear device from the opposite side,

Fig. 4 is a top view of the gear device,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view which shows the gear device from one of its ends, Figs. 6 and 7 are side views which show the gear device with the gear shift lever in two side positions,

Fig. 8 is a side view which shows the gear device from the opposite side and with the gear shift lever in a gear position pointing backwards, and

Fig. 9 shows schematically an example of the movement pattern of the gear device according to the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

The gear device according to the invention is intended to be used in a so-called manual gearbox in a motor vehicle, in which gearbox the gear positions are adjusted by means of reciprocating movements as well as lateral movements. As is apparent from Figs. 1-5, two transmission agents 2, 3 are provided which are intended to transmit said movements at a gear shift lever 1 forming part of the gear device, wherein a combination of the positions of said transmission agents defines a gear position in the gearbox. In order to adjust the gearbox, a conventional solution may be used, which will not be further described in the present patent application. In this case, the transmission agents 2, 3 are constituted by two wire controls with wires, which are connected to the gear shift lever in such a way that they follow the movements of the gear shift lever in a way which will be described in detail below. To this end, the gear shift lever is provided with a lever rod 4 and a control stick knob 5, which are intended to be moved manually by the driver in different directions for selection of different gear positions. The lever rod 4 is constructed as a double-armed lever arm and is rotatably arranged having a first rotational link 6 in a link console 7 of the type called a cardan joint. The link console 7 is, in turn, rotatably arranged around a rotational link 8 in a base console 9, wherein said rotational link is angled in relation to the transmission agents and wherein said base console is intended to be attached to a fixed part of the vehicle, for example the vehicle bottom plate. The wires 10, 11 in the transmission agents 2, 3 have essentially the same relative extension in connection with the gear shift lever, i.e. the wires are essentially in parallel and are adapted for executing a longitudinal displacement movement in essentially the same relative direction during gear changing between different gear positions. As is best apparent from Figs. 3, 5 and 8, one of the wires 10 is fitted to a fixing point 13 in the lower end 12 of the lever rod 4, said fixing point being situated at a distance from the rotational link 6.

During reciprocating gear shift lever movements, so-called shift-movements, i.e. movements in the plane of the paper in which the gear shift lever is located in a central position according to Figs. 3 and 8, the fixing point 13 is forced to perform an arch-movement which in this way is substantially transmitted to a longitudinal displacement movement of the wire 10 in the transmission agent 2.

For selection between different movement patterns in a reciprocating direction, the gear shift lever 1 is adapted to be moved laterally in at least a neutral gear position, said movements being so-called select-movements, i.e. they are essentially in a plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the paper according to Fig. 2. This movement shall be transmitted to a longitudinal displacement movement of the wire 11 in the other transmission agent 3. To this end, the second rotational link 8, by means of which the gear shift lever 1 is rotatably arranged in the base console, is angled v° in relation to the essential extension of the transmission agents 2, 3 and, more precisely, in relation to the principal direction of the adjustment movement of the wire 11. Furthermore, the end 14 of the wire is fitted to a fixing point 15 in the link console 7 at the gear shift lever 1, wherein said wire, more precisely, is laterally displaced with a distance b from the vertical plane of the rotational link 8, as is indicated with a dotted and broken line 16 in Fig. 4, wherein said wire extends perpendicular to the plane of the paper.

In the shown example, the rotational link 8 is constructed as two link locations 17, 18, more precisely a pivot pin having an axle direction which determines the inclined geometrical axle 19 of the rotational link 8, and a ball joint 18 which provides a flexible mounting in the base console 9, more precisely in a raised section 20 from a base plate 21 on the base console, which defines a mounting plane 21'. As is apparent from the drawings, the transmission agents 2, 3 extend in a joint plane 11', which extends essentially in parallel with the mounting plane 21'. Furthermore, the first link 6 and the ball joint 18 are arranged in a joint plane, which is in parallel with the plane 11' in the central neutral gear position of the gear shift lever.

Furthermore, the base console discloses a raised attachment flange 22 in one of its ends, said attachment flange forming a mounting for the fixed part of the transmission agent 3, which in the shown example is constituted by a wire covering having an attachment section 24 which, in a conventional manner, ensures that a longitudinal displacement movement of the wires 10, 11 in the movable fixing points 13, 15 at the ends 14, 25 of the wire controls results in a corresponding longitudinal displacement movement in the opposite end of said wire controls in the gearbox.

By means of the fact that the wire 11 of the other transmission agent 3 is fitted in the fixing point 15 at a distance from the geometrical axle 19 of the rotational link via an arm 26 which protrudes from the link console 7, a rotation of the link console 7 around its link axle 8 is created by means of a lateral movement at the gear shift lever 1, by means of which an arc-shaped movement at the fixing point 15 is created and the geometrical axle 19 is a rotational center. By means of this movement, a longitudinal displacement movement of the wire 11 occurs, which is due to the fact that the distance of the fixing point 15 to the fixing point 24 of the transmission agent 3 changes. This is apparent when the various positions of the gear shift lever 1 and the fixing point 15 are compared, according to Figs. 4, 6 and 7. In this regard, Fig. 2 represents a central neutral gear position with the gear shift lever 1 being essentially in the vertical plane, i.e. in the plane of the paper according to Fig. 2. In this position, the distance between the movable and the fixed fixing points 15, 24 of the wire is designated a^ Fig. 6 shows the gear shift lever 1 laterally displaced, by means of which it discloses an angle in relation to the plane of the paper which results in that the fixing point 15 has been moved forward and that the distance to the fixed fixing point 24 has been reduced to a₂, which results in a longitudinal displacement movement of the transmission agent 3 and thereby an adjustment of the gearbox. Fig. 7 shows the gear shift lever in an angle position which is laterally displaced in an opposite direction from the plane of the paper, which results in that the fixing point 15 has been moved backwards and that the distance to the fixed fixing point 14 of the transmission agent 3 has been increased to a₃, by means of which an adjustment of, i.e. a gear changing in, the gearbox has been accomplished.

Fig. 8 shows the gear shift lever 1 when it has been moved in a movement from a neutral gear position according to Fig. 3, i.e. in a shift-movement, which in many cases is combined with a select-movement during shifting between certain gear positions which are not located along the same line, but require a lateral movement in the neutral gear position. Thus, the shift-movement in itself results in an adjustment movement of the transmission agent 2, which is due to the fact that the distance of the movable fixing point 13 to the fixed fixing point 24' in the transmission agent 2 changes from the distance c (c.f. Fig. 3) to the distance c₂ (c.f. Fig. 8), which results in an adjustment movement of the wire 10, i.e. in this case a drawing movement in the wire. Thus, this movement of the movable fixing point 13 is accomplished by means of the rotation of the gear shift lever around its rotational link 6 in the link console 7.

Fig. 9 illustrates an example of the different positions of the control stick knob 5 in a gear device according to the invention, when viewed straight from above according . to arrow 32 in Fig. 3. The movements of the control stick knob 5 are related to a common point 31, which forms a point of intersection for the shift-movements of the control stick knob, i.e. movements for the adjustment of the adjustment member 2 by means of rotation around the link 6, said movements in the shown example being constitued by three movement patterns 27, 28, 29, while the point 31 at the same time is the center of curvature for the elliptical movement pattern 30 of the control stick knob 5, which is intended for the select-movement which in a conventional gearbox is in neutral gear position. As is apparent from the illustration, an ergonomically advantageuos movement pattern is accomplished according to the invention, which is due to the fact that the movements of a drivers forearm constitute a pendulous motion which preferably may coincide with the point 31. This means that natural shift-movements for gear positions to the left will become slightly angled to the left, whereas shift-movements for gear positions to the right will become slightly angled to the right, while select-movements naturally occurs along an arched line.

To sum up, a longitudinal displacement movement of the adjustment member 3 is accomplished in a transversal direction in relation to the lateral movement of the gear shift lever 1, which is due to the fact that the gear shift lever is rotatably arranged in a link console, which, in turn, is linked in a base console having a link angle v which is inclined in relation to the adjustment direction for the adjustment member 3, in combination with the fact that the adjustment member is fitted in the link console 7 in a fixing point 15 which is situated at a distance b from the link axle 19. In principle, the angle of inclination v may be between 0° and 180°, although it can not be equal to 0° or 180°. Advantageously, the angle v° is within the interval 30°-60°, alternatively 120°-150°, and in an advantageous example, v is approximately equal to 45°. Thus, the angle of inclination v° and the distance b (c.f. Fig. 4) are parameters which are dimensioned in such a way that they provide a desired adjustment movement, i.e. a selection of the distance changing between a_ιr a₂ and a₃.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments which are described above and shown in the illustrations, but may be varied within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the transmission agents 2, 3 may be constituted by slewing brackets or hydraulic transmission, wherein two hydraulic cylinders are arranged side by side in the base console. The inclined link axle may be constituted by a through link axle or two pivot pins, which provides a support in the base console 9. For the sake of simplification, it has been declared that the wire is fitted in the gear lever member 4 and the link console 7, respectively. In practice, both wires are terminated with a rigid extension member which will not be bended during a pressure movement. Furthermore, the fixing points 24, 24' in the base console 9 has been termed fixed fixing points. In order to make the movements of the rigid extension member possible, said fixing points are per se suitably provided with a link possibility, wherein said movements are due to the fact that the height of the movable fixing points changes. As is apparent from the example in, for example, Fig. 2, the arm 26 for the movable fixing point 15 has an axle direction which cuts the inclined axle, by means of which an excellent symmetry of movements is provided. It is, however, possible to arrange the arm in another manner.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. Gear device for a gearbox in a motor vehicle, said gear device comprising a gear shift lever (1) for selection of different gear positions and two transmission agents (2, 3) for transmission of gear shift lever movements to the gearbox for adjustment of the selected gear, wherein said transmission agents are coupled to the gear shift lever and are adapted for executing adjustment movements in essentially the same relative direction, wherein said gear shift lever (1) is rotatably arranged for, on the one hand, reciprocating gear changing movements in essentially the same direction as said adjustment direction for the adjustment movements of the transmission agents and, on the other hand, gear changing movements in an essentially transversal direction in relation to said adjustment direction, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the gear shift lever (1) is rotatably arranged in a link console (7) around a first rotational link (6), the axle (6¹) of which has an essentially transversal direction in relation to said adjustment direction for the transmission agents (2, 3), wherein one of the transmission agents (2) is connected to the gear shift lever at a distance from said first link axle ( 6 ' ) , by means of which the link console (7), in turn, is articulately arranged around a second rotational link (8), the axle (19) of which extends in an oblique angle (v) in relation to said adjustment direction, wherein said other transmission agent (3) is connected to the link console in a fixing point (15) which is situated at a distance (b) from the axle (19) of said second rotational link.

2. Gear device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d i n that said oblique angle (v°) is within the interval 0° < v < 180°.

3. Gear device according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d i n that said angle (v°) is within the interval 30° < v < 60°, alternatively 120° < v < 150°.

4. Gear device according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d l n that said angle (v°) is approximately 45°.

5. Gear device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d i n that the link console (7) is rotatably arranged in a base console (9) via its second rotational link (8), wherein said base console is adapted for attachment to a fixed part of the vehicle.

6. Gear device according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d i n that the second rotational link (8) is defined by two link locations having a oint link axle and, one the one hand, a lower link and, on the other hand, an upper link, wherein said joint link axle constitutes a ball joint (18) .

7. Gear device according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d i n that the base console (9) defines a mounting plane (9') for the gear device and that the two transmission agents (2, 3) have an extension which is in the same relative plane and in parallel with the mounting plane.

8. Gear device according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d i n that the first rotational link (6) and the ball joint (18) have an extension which is in one and the same plane, which is in parallel with the joint plane (10') for the transmission agents (2, 3) when the gear shift lever is in a central neutral gear position.

9. Gear device according to claim 5, in which the two transmission agents (2, 3) are constituted by wire controls having a movable part in the form of wires (10, 11) and a fixed part in the form of covering (23), c h a r a c t - e r i z e d i n that the coverings (23) are fitted in fixed fixing points (24, 24') in the base part and that one of the wires (10) is coupled to the gear shift lever (1) and that the other wire is coupled to the link console (7).

10. Gear device for a gearbox in a motor vehicle, said gear device comprising a gear shift lever (1) having a control stick knob (5) for selection of different gear positions, transmission agents (2, 3) for transmission of gear shift lever movements to the gearbox for adjustment of the selected gear, wherein the gear shift lever (1) and its accompanying control stick knob (5) is rotatably arranged for, on the one hand, reciprocating gear changing movements and, on the other hand, gear changing movements in an essentially transversal direction in relation to said gear changing movements for selection at the control stick knob (5) between several reciprocating movement paths (27, 28, 29) along a transversal movement path (30), c h a r a c ^¬ t e r i z e d i n that the gear shift lever (1) is adapted for providing the reciprocating movement paths (27, 28, 29) of the control stick knob (5) such direction, that said movement paths converge against each other in the direction towards a common point of intersection (31).