Electric shift control assembly
First Claim
1. A shift control assembly for a power transmission device having at least two distinct speed ranges comprising, in combination,a bi-directionally rotating shift rail having a pair of spaced apart cam followers, a shift fork adapted to translate a shift component between at least two positions corresponding to such speed ranges, said shift fork including an aperture for receiving said shift rail and a pair of cam surfaces, each of said cam surfaces engaged by a respective one of said pair of cam followers, a circular plate disposed for rotation with said shift rail, said circular plate defining a plurality of spaced-apart apertures, a plurality of sensors disposed in sensing relationship adjacent said circular plate, an electric drive motor having an output, and a gear train directly coupling said output of said drive motor and said shift rail, whereby rotational movement of said electric drive motor correspondingly translates said shift fork.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Shift control assembly for a power transmission device includes an electric drive motor and gear train having an output which is coupled to and bi-directionally rotates a shift rail. The shift rail includes a pair of spaced-apart cam followers. Freely rotatably receiving the shift rail and disposed thereon between the cam followers is a shift fork assembly. The shift fork assembly includes a body having a pair of spaced-apart helical cam surfaces engaged by the cam followers and a fork engaging a shift clutch collar. As the shift rail rotates bi-directionally, the shift fork assembly and clutch collar bi-directionally translate. A circular plate is disposed for rotation with the shift rail and includes an array of apertures. A plurality of sensors are disposed in adjacent, sensing relationship to the circular plate. As the circular plate and shift rail rotate, the sensors generate unique combinations of signals corresponding to a plurality of specific angular positions of the shift rail and translational positions of the shift fork.
59 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A shift control assembly for a power transmission device having at least two distinct speed ranges comprising, in combination,
a bi-directionally rotating shift rail having a pair of spaced apart cam followers, a shift fork adapted to translate a shift component between at least two positions corresponding to such speed ranges, said shift fork including an aperture for receiving said shift rail and a pair of cam surfaces, each of said cam surfaces engaged by a respective one of said pair of cam followers, a circular plate disposed for rotation with said shift rail, said circular plate defining a plurality of spaced-apart apertures, a plurality of sensors disposed in sensing relationship adjacent said circular plate, an electric drive motor having an output, and a gear train directly coupling said output of said drive motor and said shift rail, whereby rotational movement of said electric drive motor correspondingly translates said shift fork.
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8. A transfer case shift control assembly for selecting one of a plurality of operating modes comprising, in combination,
an input member, a speed reduction assembly having an output, a clutch member for selectively engaging at least said input member and said speed reduction assembly output, a rotating shift rail having a pair of spaced apart cam followers, a shift fork engaging said clutch member, said shift fork disposed on said shift rail and including a pair of cams, each of said cams engaged by a respective one of said pair of cam followers and directly translating said shift fork in response to rotation of said shift rail, a plate disposed for rotation with said shift rail, said plate defining an array of spaced-apart apertures, a plurality of sensors disposed in sensing relationship with said array of apertures, an electric drive motor having an output, and a gear train driven by said output of said drive motor and directly driving said shift rail.
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15. A shift control assembly for a power transmission device having at least two operating modes comprising, in combination,
an input member, a speed reducing assembly having an output, a clutch member for selectively engaging at least said input member and said output of said speed reducing assembly output, a rotating shift rail having a pair of spaced apart cam followers, a shift fork engaging said clutch member, said shift fork disposed on said shift rail and including a pair of cams, each of said cams engaged by a respective one of said pair of cam followers and directly translating said shift fork in response to rotation of said shift rail, a flat member disposed for rotation with said shift rail, said flat member defining an array of apertures, a plurality of sensors disposed in sensing relationship with said array of apertures, a drive motor having a bi-directional output, and a gear train driven by said output of said drive motor and directly driving said shift rail.
Specification