Method and apparatus for actuating a transmission

• US 6,003,649 A
• Filed: 04/03/1997
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Luk Getriebe-Systeme GmbH
• Original Assignee: Luk Getriebe-Systeme GmbH
• Inventors: Fischer, Robert, Rogg, Andreas, Esly, Norbert, Hirt, Gunter
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Dirk
• Application Number:
  US08/834,812
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 74/337.5, 74/335, 74/336 R, 74/473.1, 74/473.12, 477/123, 477/124, 192/3.58, 192/3.61, 192/3.63
• US Class Current: 192/3.58
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2063/3089 Spring assisted shift, e.g. springs for accumulating energy of shift movement and release it when clutch teeth are aligned
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/28 with at least one movement of the final actuating mechanism being caused by a non-mechanical force, e.g. power-assisted
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/30 Hydraulic or pneumatic motors or related fluid control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/32 Electric motors actuators or related electrical control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/18 the final actuating mechanism comprising cams
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/30 Constructional features of the final output mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19279 Cam operated

Abstract

The present invention proposes a power train and the operation thereof, suitable for automated actuation of a transmission shiftable between a plurality of gears with a torque transmitting system being actuated automatically at least during a gear change, at least one actuating element operable by at least one drive unit and at least one actuatable shift element being disposed at the transmission side. The invention provides a power train in which a driving connection is disposed between at least one actuatable shift element associated with the transmission and an actuator having at least one drive unit, and at least one presettable elastic means is provided in the power transmitting path of the driving connection between the drive unit and the at least one shift element. Further, at least one additional presettable elastic element can be disposed in the power transmitting path between the at least one actuating element and the at least one shift element on the transmission side.

Claims

1. A power train for use in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a transmission shiftable into and from a plurality of different gears;

an automatically actuatable torque transmitting clutch;

means for automatically operating said torque transmitting clutch at least during shifting of said transmission;

at least one mobile element actuatable to shift said transmission into and from selected ones of said plurality of different gears; and

at least one actuator for said mobile element, comprising at least one drive unit and means for transmitting motion between said at least one drive unit and said at least one mobile element, said motion transmitting means including at least one elastic portion.

2. The power train of claim 1, wherein said motion transmitting means comprises at least one actuating member and said at least one elastic portion forms part of said at least one actuating member.

3. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion includes at least one spring which stores energy during actuation of said at least one mobile element.

4. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion includes at least one spring which stores energy prior to, during, and subsequent to transmission of motion from said at least one drive unit to said at least one mobile element.

5. The power train of claim 1, wherein said transmission has a plurality of shift channels for said at least one mobile element and at least one gear accessible within each of said channels, said at least one drive unit comprising a device for moving said at least one mobile element into and from selected ones of said channels and a device for moving said at least one mobile element into and from a gear in a selected channel.

6. The power train of claim 5, wherein said at least one elastic portion is disposed in a path between said at least one mobile element and at least one of said devices.

7. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion is provided at a joint of said motion transmitting means.

8. The power train of claim 1, wherein said motion transmitting means is movable along a predetermined path and said at least one actuator further comprises at least one stop for limiting the movements of said motion transmitting means along said path, said at least one elastic portion being located at said at least one stop.

9. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion is adjacent said at least one mobile element.

10. The power train of claim 1, wherein said motion transmitting means includes a first part receiving motion from said at least one drive unit and a second part transmitting motion to said at least one mobile element, said at least one elastic portion being disposed between said first and second parts.

11. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion includes a plurality of discrete springs.

12. The power train of claim 1, wherein said motion transmitting means further comprises at least one part which is arranged to perform at least one of substantially linear and angular movements relative to said at least one elastic portion.

13. The power train of claim 1, wherein said motion transmitting means further comprises a plurality of parts at least one of which is arranged to perform at least one of substantially linear and angular movements relative to said at least one elastic portion.

14. The power train of claim 1, wherein said motion transmitting means further comprises a plurality of parts including at least one first part arranged to perform at least one of substantially linear and angular movements and connects said at least one elastic portion with said at least one mobile element, and at least one mobile second part connecting said at least one elastic portion with said at least one drive unit.

15. The power train of claim 1, wherein said motion transmitting means further comprises a plurality of parts defining at least one receptacle for said at least one elastic portion.

16. The power train of claim 15, wherein said parts of said motion transmitting means are movable relative to each other and said at least one elastic portion is arranged to move said parts relative to each other.

17. The power train of claim 16, wherein said motion transmitting means further comprises means for limiting the extent of movability of said parts relative to each other by said at least one elastic portion.

18. The power train of claim 16, wherein said parts of said motion transmitting means have at least substantially unrestricted freedom of movability relative to each other under the action of said at least one elastic portion.

19. The power train of claim 18, wherein said motion transmitting means further comprises at least one slip clutch between said parts.

20. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion is arranged to store variable amounts of energy and said motion transmitting means further comprises a plurality of parts movable relative to each other under the action of said at least one elastic portion when said at least one elastic portion stores a predetermined amount of energy.

21. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion comprises at least one spring.

22. The power train of claim 21, wherein said at least one spring is one of a compression spring, a tension spring, a coil spring, a diaphragm spring, a leg spring and a beam spring.

23. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion comprises at least one plastic compound.

24. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion contains an elastomeric material.

25. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion comprises an energy storing device.

26. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion is deformable and said motion transmitting means further comprises means for limiting the extent of deformability of said at least one elastic portion.

27. The power train of claim 26, wherein said means for limiting comprises at least one abutment for said at least one elastic portion.

28. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion has a characteristic curve having at least one step.

29. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion is installed in said actuator with play.

30. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion is installed in said actuator without play.

31. The power train of claim 1, wherein said motion transmitting means further comprises at least two parts which are movable relative to each other against the resistance of said at least one elastic portion, said at least one elastic portion having a characteristic curve including an essentially increasing branch during movement of said at least two parts relative to each other.

32. The power train of claim 1, wherein said motion transmitting means further comprises at least two parts which are movable relative to each other against the resistance of said at least one elastic portion, said at least one elastic portion having a characteristic curve including an essentially constant branch during movement of said at least two parts relative to each other.

33. The power train of claim 1, wherein said motion transmitting means further comprises a plurality of parts and said at least one elastic portion is installed in said motion transmitting means with a predetermined play relative to said parts, said at least one elastic portion having a characteristic curve including at least one portion indicative of the absence of force transmission by said at least one elastic portion due to said play.

34. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion is arranged to transmit a variable force between said at least one drive unit and said at least one mobile element during shifting of said transmission, and further comprising signal generating means for monitoring said force.

35. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion is arranged to cover a variable distance between said at least one drive unit and said at least one mobile element during shifting of said transmission, and further comprising signal generating means for monitoring said variable distance.

36. The power train of claim 1, wherein said motion transmitting means further comprises at least one gearing.

37. The power train of claim 36, wherein said gearing is a variable-RPM gearing.

38. The power train of claim 36, wherein said gearing is a variable-ratio gearing.

39. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one drive unit is one of (a) mechanical, (b) electromotoric, (c) hydraulic, (d) pneumatic, and (e) spring-operated drive units.

40. The power train of claim 1, wherein said motion transmitting means further comprises at least one of (a) a linkage, (b) a fluid-operated motion transmitting device, (c) at least one lever, and (d) at least one Bowden wire.

41. The power train if claim 1, wherein said at least one mobile element is disposed in said transmission and comprises at least one of (a) a shifting fork, (b) a shifting shaft, (c) a shifting rod, and (d) a shifting sleeve.

42. The power train of claim 1, wherein said motion transmitting means further comprises at least one of (a) a shifting shaft, (b) a shifting rod, (c) a roller, (d) a crank drive, and (e) a shifting lever.

43. The power train of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic portion constitutes at least a substantial part of said motion transmitting means.

44. A method of operating a power train in a motor vehicle wherein the power train comprises an automated torque transmitting clutch, a transmission shiftable into a plurality of different gears, and at least one mobile element for shifting the transmission into selected ones of said plurality of gears, comprising the steps of:

automatically operating the torque transmitting clutch at least during shifting of the transmission; and

shifting the transmission into a selected one of said plurality of different gears by way of the at least one mobile element, including providing for the at least one mobile element at least one actuator having at least least one drive unit and at least one at least partially elastic motion transmitting connection between the at least one drive unit and the at least one mobile element.

45. The method of claim 44 of operating a power train wherein the transmission is shiftable into and from a neutral gear and a plurality of additional gears, wherein said shifting step includes shifting the transmission first into the neutral gear and thereupon into a selected one of said plurality of additional gears.

46. The method of claim 44 of operating a power train wherein the transmission is shiftable into and from a neutral gear and a plurality of additional gears, wherein said shifting step comprises causing the at least one at least partially elastic motion transmitting connection to store energy during shifting into said neutral gear.

47. The method of claim 44 of operating a power train wherein the transmission is shiftable into and from a neutral gear and a plurality of additional gears, wherein said shifting step comprises shifting from the neutral gear at least partially into at least one of said additional gears under the bias of the at least one at least partially elastic motion transmitting connection.

48. The method of claim 44 of operating a power train wherein the transmission is shiftable into and from a neutral gear and a plurality of additional gears, wherein said shifting step includes operating the at least one drive unit to move the at least one mobile element against a stop and to thereupon cause the at least one at least partially elastic motion transmitting connection to store energy while the at least one mobile element abuts the stop and the operation of the at least one drive unit continues.

49. A power train for use in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a transmission shiftable into and from a plurality of different gears;

a torque transmitting system;

means for automatically operating said torque transmitting system at least during shifting of said transmission;

at least one mobile element actuatable to shift said transmission into and from selected ones of said plurality of different gears; and

at least one actuator for said mobile element, comprising at least one drive unit and means for transmitting motion between said at least one drive unit and said at least one mobile element, said motion transmitting means including at least one elastic portion and at least two parts which are movable relative to each other against the resistance of said at least one elastic portion, said at least one elastic portion having a characteristic curve including an essentially increasing branch during movement of said at least two parts relative to each other.

50. A power train for use in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a transmission shiftable into and from a plurality of different gears;

a torque transmitting system;

means for automatically operating said torque transmitting system at least during shifting of said transmission;

at least one mobile element actuatable to shift said transmission into and from selected ones of said plurality of different gears; and

at least one actuator for said mobile element, comprising at least one drive unit and means for transmitting motion between said at least one drive unit and said at least one mobile element, said motion transmitting means including at least one elastic portion and at least two parts which are movable relative to each other against the resistance of said at least one elastic portion, said at least one elastic portion having a characteristic curve including an essentially constant branch during movement of said at least two parts relative to each other.

51. A power train for use in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a transmission shiftable into and from a plurality of different gears;

a torque transmitting system;

means for automatically operating said torque transmitting system at least during shifting of said transmission;

at least one mobile element actuatable to shift said transmission into and from selected ones of said plurality of different gears; and

at least one actuator for said mobile element, comprising at least one drive unit and means for transmitting motion between said at least one drive unit and said at least one mobile element, said motion transmitting means including at least one elastic portion and a plurality of parts, said at least one elastic portion being installed in said motion transmitting means with a predetermined play relative to said parts and having a characteristic curve including at least one portion indicative of the absence of force transmission by said at least one elastic portion due to said play.

52. A power train for use in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a transmission shiftable into and from a plurality of different gears;

a torque transmitting system;

means for automatically operating said torque transmitting system at least during shifting of said transmission;

at least one mobile element actuatable to shift said transmission into and from selected ones of said plurality of different gears;

at least one actuator for said mobile element, comprising at least one drive unit and means for transmitting motion between said at least one drive unit and said at least one mobile element, said motion transmitting means including at least one elastic portion arranged to transmit a variable force between said at least one drive unit and said at least one mobile element during shifting of said transmission; and

signal generating means for monitoring said force.

53. A power train for use in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a transmission shiftable into and from a plurality of different gears;

a torque transmitting system;

means for automatically operating said torque transmitting system at least during shifting of said transmission;

at least one mobile element actuatable to shift said transmission into and from selected ones of said plurality of different gears;

at least one actuator for said mobile element, comprising at least one drive unit and means for transmitting motion between said at least one drive unit and said at least one mobile element, said motion transmitting means including at least one elastic portion arranged to cover a variable distance between said at least one drive unit and said at least one mobile element during shifting of said transmission; and

signal generating means for monitoring said variable distance.