Servo-assisted gear selector

• US 5,080,207 A
• Filed: 01/17/1990
• Issued: 01/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG
• Inventors: Horneffer, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Whitelaw, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US07/458,675
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 192/3.63, 192/30 W
• US Class Current: 192/3.63
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/14 Clutch pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/006 Overriding automatic control
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/0239 Up- and down-shift or range or mode selection by repeated movement mechanical step by step selection devices F16H63/14
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/56 dependent on signals from the main clutch
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/68 Inputs being a function of gearing status
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/40 comprising signals other than signals for actuating the final output mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/46 Means, e.g. links, for connecting the pedal to the controlled unit

Abstract

Servo-assisted gear selection for a vehicle gearbox and gear change controlled by the driver by actuating the clutch, wherein the driver is informed of the selection having been performed in the gearbox by a haptic or tactile signal at the clutch pedal. The signal is transmitted mechanically from an electromagnet to the clutch pedal, or the electromagnet is arranged in the pedal plate of the clutch pedal. The signal generator may also consist of an electromagnet in conjunction with a pressure piston, which acts on the pressure line of the clutch actuating mechanism, or of an electropneumatic valve in conjunction with a differential piston signal generator.

Claims

1. A gear-selection assembly, comprising:

a vehicle gearbox;

servoassist means operatively connected with said gearbox for shifting gears thereof;

operator-controlled gear-selection means operatively connected to said servoassist means for selecting a gear into which said gearbox is to be shifted;

a clutch pedal depressable by an operator in response to actuation of said operator-controlled gear-selection means to enable shifting of gears by said gear box; and

means responsive to a gearshift performed in said gearbox for generating a haptic signal and applying said signal to said clutch pedal in a form tactilely sensed by said operator while said clutch pedal is depressed, to indicate that said clutch pedal can be released to reengage gears following shifting thereof.

2. A gear-selection assembly, comprising:

a vehicle gearbox;

servoassist means operatively connected with said gearbox for shifting gears thereof;

operator-controlled gear-selection means operatively connected to said servoassist means for selecting a gear into which said gearbox is to be shifted;

a clutch pedal depressable by an operator in response to actuation of said operator-controlled gear-selection means to enable shifting of gears by said gear box; and

means including a signal generator arranged at or on said clutch pedal and responsive to a gearshift performed in said gearbox for generating a haptic signal and applying said signal to said clutch pedal in a form tactilely sensed by said operator while said clutch pedal is depressed, to indicate that said clutch pedal can be released to reengage gears following shifting thereof.

3. The gear-selection assembly defined in claim 2 wherein said signal generator is an electrical signal generator.

4. The gear-selection assembly defined in claim 3 wherein said signal generator includes an electromagnet arranged in a plate of said clutch pedal, and an armature of the electromagnetic acting directly on a cover of the clutch plate.

5. The gear-selection assembly defined in claim 3 wherein said signal generator includes an electromagnet arranged in a plate of said clutch pedal, and an armature of the electromagnet acting on a cover of the clutch plate via a transmission plate.

6. The gear-selection assembly defined in claim 3 wherein said signal generator includes an electromagnet and a potentiometer is connected in circuit with said signal generator for regulating said haptic signal.

7. A gear-selection assembly, comprising:

a vehicle gearbox;

servoassist means operatively connected with said gearbox for shifting gears thereof;

operator-controlled gear-selection means operatively connected to said servoassist means for selecting a gear into which said gearbox is to be shifted;

a clutch pedal depressable by an operator in response to actuation of said operator-controlled gear-selection means to enable shifting of gears by said gear box; and

means including a pressure shock generator responsive to a gearshift performed in said gearbox for generating a haptic signal in the form of a pressure shock and applying said signal to said clutch pedal in a form tactilely sensed by said operator while said clutch pedal is depressed, to indicate that said clutch pedal can be released to reengage gears following shifting thereof.

8. The gear-selection assembly defined in claim 7 wherein said means for generating a haptic signal includes:

a transducer piston-cylinder unit at said clutch pedal and coupled thereto;

a slave piston-cylinder unit at a clutch operated by said pedal;

a pressure line connecting said units;

a pressure piston connected to said pressure line and actuatable to generate a pressure shock therein; and

means for operating said pressure piston to produce said pressure shock whereby said pressure shock is transmitted as said haptic signal to said clutch pedal.

9. The gear-selection assembly defined in claim 7 wherein said means for generating a haptic signal includes:

a transducer piston-cylinder unit at said clutch pedal and coupled thereto;

a slave piston-cylinder unit at a clutch operated by said pedal;

a pressure line connecting said units;

a pressure piston connected to said pressure line and actuatable to generate a pressure shock therein; and

means including an electropneumatic directional control valve for operating said pressure piston to produce said pressure shock whereby said pressure shock is transmitted as said haptic signal to said clutch pedal.

10. The gear-selection assembly defined in claim 9 further comprising an adjustable pressure reducing valve between a source of pressurized medium and said electropneumatic directional control valve.