FR3047532A3 - "INTERNAL CONTROL DEVICE OF GEARBOX COMPRISING A CONTROL SHAFT" - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (12) for controlling an internal gearbox of a motor vehicle comprising: a housing (14); - A control shaft (16) pivotally received in the housing (14) about its axis (A) between two extreme orientations and sliding along its axis (A) between two extreme axial positions; - Elastic return means of the shaft (16) in an intermediate neutral position; characterized in that the elastic return means comprise: - a cam face (18) carried by the shaft (16) and having a radial profile in a bowl; and - a cam follower (20) fixed relative to the casing (14) which applies a radial elastic return force on the cam face (18) to return the control shaft (16) towards a single stable point orientation death.

Description

"Internal transmission control device having a control shaft"

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an internal gearbox control for a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates more particularly to an internal control device for a motor vehicle gearbox comprising: a housing; a control shaft which is pivotally received in the housing about its axis between extreme orientations of selection of report lines and which is slidably received along its axis between two extreme axial positions; - Elastic return means of the shaft in an intermediate neutral position.

Internally controlled gearboxes known as horizontal architecture are already known. Such an internal control of a motor vehicle gearbox comprises a stationary casing in which a control shaft is received pivoting about its axis and sliding along its axis. In the case of an internal control for a manual gearbox, the pivoting and sliding of the control shaft are controlled by the driver by means of an external control member, for example by means of a lever gears or a joystick.

In a traditional manner, the external control member can be moved to predetermined positions according to a standard grid which is shown in FIG. 1. This is a grid corresponding to a gearbox equipped with six gear ratios. discreet. Subsequently a gear ratio will be designated "report".

Thus, the external control member is likely to occupy a dead center "PM" which corresponds to a rest position when no gear is engaged.

The gear change is an operation that is performed in two stages.

In a first selection step, the external control member can be moved transversely, to the right or to the left with reference to FIG. 1, along a neutral line "LN" to select a line "L1", "L2" or "L3" of reports. During this trip, no report is engaged.

In this selection step, the external control member rotates the control shaft to a selected orientation.

When the driver has selected the desired gear line, a second gearshift step on the selected gear line is performed by moving the external control member forwards or backwards.

During this passage step, the external control member slides the shaft to a selected axial position corresponding to an axial gear position engaged.

The function of the control shaft is to transmit the movements of the external control member inside the gearbox to engage the ratio corresponding to the position of the external control member on the grid. The commitment of the report is for example made by interconnection controlled by means of forks.

When the external control unit is positioned on the neutral line "LN", it is elastically returned to the dead center "PM". In this way the driver constantly knows the exact position of the external control member without having to look at it.

The return of the external control member is generally carried out by means of a torsion spring which is arranged around the control shaft in order to resiliently return the control shaft towards a dead center orientation corresponding to the dead point. PM ".

When the control member moves along a line of reports "L1", "L2" or "L3", it must be able to occupy three stable axial positions corresponding to the two extreme axial positions of engaged ratio and the axial position Neutral intermediate on the neutral line "LN". It is preferable that the external control member is not blocked between two of these three axial positions. For this purpose, it is known to resiliently return the control shaft to one of these three axial positions in a stable manner by means of a cam face concentric with the axis of pivoting of the shaft and having in profile axial with two bumps and three valleys. A blasting radially biases the cam face to return the shaft to its neutral intermediate axial position in which a log ball is received in the valley between the two bumps, and its two axial gear positions engaged in which the ball of Billing is received on the other side of one or the other of the bumps.

Moreover, motor vehicles are currently equipped with accessories that require the detection of the axial position and / or the orientation of the control shaft of the internal control device of the gearbox. For this purpose, an electronic detection device is arranged inside the housing of the internal control device. To allow the detection device to communicate with an electronic control unit of the vehicle, wire connection means are arranged outside the housing through corresponding through holes.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a less expensive and lighter internal gearbox control device with fewer components. The invention thus relates to an internal control device of the type described above, characterized in that the elastic return means comprise: a cam face carried by the shaft and having a radial profile in a bowl; and - a cam follower fixed relative to the casing which applies a radial elastic return force on the cam face to return the control shaft to a single stable orientation of neutral.

According to other characteristics of the invention: the cam face has an axial profile comprising at least one hump enabling said cam follower to index the axial position of the shaft in at least two stable axial positions, whatever the orientation of the control shaft; the radial profile of the cam face has two successive bumps enabling said cam follower to resiliently return the shaft to three stable axial positions respectively corresponding to two extreme positions of gear engaged and to a neutral intermediate position; - The cam follower is formed by a shot having a radial axis bushing trapping a ball received slidably with the interposition of an elastic member between a bottom of the sleeve and the ball to urge the ball permanently against the face of cam through a proximal opening; - The sleeve is housed in a casing of the housing which opens outwards; - The sleeve has a distal section which protrudes outside the housing; the socket comprises an external electronic connection member which is connected by wire means to an internal electronic device contained in the housing; the electronic device is a device for detecting the axial position and / or the orientation of the control shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge during the reading of the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view which represents a standard gearshift grille for an external control member of a manual gearbox; - Figure 2 is a perspective view with peeling which represents an internal gearbox control device made according to the teachings of the invention; FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view showing a cam face carried by a control shaft of the device of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view along the sectional plane 4-4 of FIG. 2 which represents the control shaft and a cam follower of the device of FIG. 2, the control shaft occupying an axial position; neutral; FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 in which the control shaft occupies a first axial gear position; FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 in which the control shaft occupies a second axial gear position; FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along the section plane 7-7 of FIG. 1 which represents the control shaft and a cam follower of the device of FIG. 2, the control shaft occupying an orientation of dead point; FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 in which the control shaft occupies a first selection orientation of a line of reports; FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 in which the control shaft occupies a second orientation of selection of a line of reports; - Figure 10 is a view similar to that of Figure 7 wherein the control shaft occupies a third selection orientation of a report line corresponding to the reverse of the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, for ease of understanding, as well as those of claims, we will use the terms axial and radial with reference to the axis of rotation of the box shaft, and the terms longitudinal transverse, and vertical or horizontal, without reference to the Earth's gravity and with reference to the trihedron L, V, T indicated in the figures.

The terms "axial" and "radial" will be used with reference to the axis "A" of the control shaft 16.

In the rest of the description and in the claims, the term "orientation" is synonymous with "angular position".

Similar, identical or similar components will be designated by the same references.

There is shown in Figure 2 a device 12 for internal control of a motor vehicle gearbox made according to the teachings of the invention. This is a control device 12 for a manual gearbox.

It comprises a fixed casing 14 which encloses a shaft 16 for controlling axis "A" longitudinally. The housing 14 has not been shown in its entirety to allow to see inside. The control shaft 16 is connected to the housing by an axially sliding pivot connection. The control shaft 16 is thus slidably received in the housing 14 along its axis "A" between two extreme axial positions. The control shaft 16 is also pivotally received in the housing 14 about its axis "A" between two extreme orientations of selection of report lines.

In the example shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the control shaft 16 is capable of occupying three determined axial positions, namely two extreme axial positions corresponding to engaged gear positions which are visible in FIGS. 5 and 6, and a neutral intermediate axial position which is illustrated in FIG.

The internal control device 12 comprises means for indexing the axial position of the control shaft 16. For this purpose, the control shaft 16 has a cam face 18 and a cam follower 20 which constantly applies a radial elastic force, here vertical, on the cam face 18.

The cam face 18 is turned radially outwards. The cam face 18 is integral in displacement and pivoting with the control shaft 16. In the example shown in Figures 4 to 6, the cam face 18 is carried by a sleeve 22 which is fixed around the control shaft 16.

The cam face 18 has an axial profile, in particular visible in FIGS. 3 to 6, comprising at least one hump 24 enabling said cam follower 20 to elastically return the control shaft 16 to at least two stable axial positions respectively corresponding to the neutral axial position, as shown in Figure 4, and an axial position of engaged ratio, as shown in Figure 5. The cam face 18 has this axial profile bumped on an angular sector around the control shaft 16 sufficient to allow the indexing of the control shaft 16 in its determined axial positions regardless of the orientation of the control shaft 16.

As explained above, the control shaft 16 being here capable of occupying three distinct axial positions, the radial profile of the cam face 18 here has two successive bumps 24, 26. Each bump 24 has a curved shape to the outside. The axial profile of the cam face 18 thus has an intermediate valley 28 extending in a radial plane which is tucked between the two bumps 24, 26. The axial profile of the cam face 18 also has two valleys 30, 32 d end each extending in a radial plane on the other side of the boss 24, 26 associated with the intermediate valley 28.

Such axial profile allows said cam follower 20 to resiliently bias the control shaft 16 towards its three stable axial positions regardless of the orientation of the control shaft 16 between its two end orientations. In each of the two extreme axial positions of the engaged ratio of the control shaft 16, the cam follower 20 is arranged radially opposite each of the end valleys 30, 32, as shown respectively in FIGS. 6. In the neutral intermediate axial position of the control shaft 16, shown in FIG. 4, the cam follower 20 is arranged radially opposite the intermediate valley 28.

The follower 20 of cam is formed by a blasting comprising a sleeve 34 of axis "B" radial, here vertical, which comprises a generally cylindrical tubular body. The sleeve 34 is fixed to the casing 14, radially facing the cam face 18.

The bushing 34 is here housed in a slot 35 of the casing 14 which opens outwards. The lumen 35 is formed in a well 37. A distal end portion of the sleeve 34 thus opens radially outside the casing 14 in favor of the lumen 35. The distal end portion of the sleeve 34 is here protruding radially outside the casing 14.

The sleeve 34 has in its end proximal to the control shaft 16 an end opening having a passage diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the body of the sleeve 34. The passage opening opens on the face 18 of the cam. The sleeve 34 traps a ball 36 received in radial sliding with the interposition of an elastic member (not shown) between a distal bottom of the sleeve 34 and the ball 36 in order to urge the ball projecting radially through the proximal opening against the cam face 18.

In the example shown in the figures, the control shaft 16 is here capable of occupying at least three selection orientations, the intermediate selection orientation corresponding to the dead center "PM" towards which the control shaft 16 is recalled. elastically. For this purpose, the control device 12 comprises means for resilient return of the shaft in its intermediate neutral position.

The elastic return means comprise a cam face carried by the shaft and having a radial profile in a bowl and a cam follower fixed relative to the casing 14 which applies a radial elastic force of return on the cam face to recall the control shaft 16 to a single stable orientation corresponding to the neutral position "PM", at least when the shaft 16 occupies its neutral axial position.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the cam follower 20 previously described is common to the indexing function of the axial position and to the elastic return function of the shaft towards its neutral position "PM".

Consequently, the cam face 18 is shaped to simultaneously have an axial indexing role of the control shaft 16 and a role of the control shaft 16 to return to its neutral position "PM".

To do this, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7 to 10, the cam face 18 has a radial profile in the form of a bowl. The radial profile more particularly has a recess 38 arranged near the axis "A" of the control shaft 16. A first slope 40 extends generally transversely to the left with reference to Figures 7 to 10, from an inner end in the recess 38 to an outer end radially away from the axis "A". A second slope 42 extends generally transversely, to the right with reference to Figures 7 to 10, from the recess 38 radially away from the axis "A".

Each slope 40, 42 is here rectilinear.

In a variant, the slopes have a concavely curved shape.

When the control shaft 16 occupies its neutral position "PM", the cam follower, here the ball 36, is arranged in the recess 38 as shown in FIG. 7. The external control member is then aligned with the second line of reports "L2" with reference to Figure 1. This is the only stable orientation of the control shaft 16 authorized by the axial profile of the cam face 18.

When the driver rotates the control shaft 16 to select the first ratio line "L1", respectively the second ratio line "L2", the cam follower 20 is constrained radially outwardly by the second slope 42, respectively by the first slope 40, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. This causes compression of the elastic return member. In the case here of a gearbox comprising a reverse gear "R" arranged on a gear line located beyond the first gear line "L1", the second slope 42 is extended by a third slope 44 which is away from the "A" shaft axis relative to the outer end of the second slope 42, as shown in Figure 10.

The axial profile of the cam face 18 remains substantially identical regardless of the axial position of the control shaft 16. This allows the driver not to feel substantially difference in effort when shifting reports regardless of the selected report line.

The cam face 18 is thus generated, as illustrated in FIG. 3, by translation of the radial profile along the axial profile.

In addition, the casing 14 contains an electronic device 46. This is for example a device for detecting the axial position and the orientation of the control shaft 16.

Such an electronic device 46 must be able to be electrically powered and / or to communicate wiredly with an electronic control unit of the vehicle located outside the casing 14. To do this, the electronic device 46 is connected by means 50 to an electrical connection member 48 which is arranged outside the casing 14.

Advantageously, the connection member 48 is carried by a distal end of the casing 34 of the casing which is arranged outside the casing 14 via the light 35. Thus the wired electrical connection means 50 pass inside the casing. This arrangement thus avoids having to make a passage opening dedicated to the wire means.

When mounting the internal control device 12, the sleeve 22 carrying the cam face 18 is fixed around the control shaft 16. The control shaft 16 is then mounted in the housing 14. The cam follower 20 is then vertically received in the lumen 35 of the well 37 from the outside. The sleeve 34 is for example fixed to the housing 14 by screwing.

During the operation of the internal control device 12, during the gear line selection step, the driver exerts the effort required to pivot the control shaft 16 toward one of the angular selection directions against the elastic return force of the cam follower 20 which is biased by one of the slopes 40, 42, 44 of the cam face 18.

If the driver releases his effort while no gear is engaged, the cam follower radially biases the slope 40, 42, 44 inwardly until it reaches the recess 38, thereby forcing the control shaft 16 to pivot towards its neutral position. The control shaft 16 is thus resiliently returned to its neutral position "PM".

During the shift stage, the driver must provide enough effort to move the cam follower one of the humps 24, 26. When the top of the hump 24, 26 has been passed, the shaft 16 of the control force forced to move to its next stable axial position under the effect of the elastic restoring force exerted by the cam follower 20 on the side of the boss 24, 26 until reaching the valley 28, 30, 32 desired. This gives the impression to the driver of a "swallowing" effect of the external control member when the top of a boss 24, 26 has been crossed.

The internal control device 12 made according to the teachings of the invention makes it possible to resiliently return the control shaft 16 towards its dead center orientation "PM" by means of a cam follower 20 cooperating with a cam face 18. This allows in particular to control the elastic return force very precisely.

In addition, the control device 12 is simpler and less expensive to manufacture because it has fewer parts than the devices of the state of the art. This advantage is obtained by performing the functions of indexing and angular return by means of a single cam follower 20 cooperating with a single cam face 18.

This last characteristic also makes it possible to produce a very compact internal control device 12.

In addition, the invention takes advantage of the arrangement of the casing 34 of the blasting in a through opening of the casing 14 to pass means 50 to connect an electronic device 46 included in the casing 14 with a connection member 46 located outside the casing 14.

Advantageously, the connecting member 46 is carried by the sleeve 34 of the blasting. This reduces the number of operations when mounting the internal control device 12.

Claims (8)

1. Device (12) for internal control of a motor vehicle gearbox comprising: - a housing (14); - a control shaft (16) which is pivotally received in the housing (14) about its axis (A) between extreme orientations of selection of report lines and which is slidably received along its axis (A) between two extreme axial positions; - Elastic return means of the shaft (16) in an intermediate neutral position; characterized in that the elastic return means comprise: - a cam face (18) carried by the shaft (16) and having a radial profile in a bowl; and - a cam follower (20) fixed relative to the casing (14) which applies a radial elastic return force on the cam face (18) to return the control shaft (16) towards a single stable point orientation death. 2. Device (12) for internal control according to claim 1, characterized in that the face (18) of cam has an axial profile comprising at least one boss (24, 26) for said follower (20) to index cam the axial position of the shaft (16) in at least two stable axial positions regardless of the orientation of the control shaft (16). 3. Device (12) for internal control according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the radial profile of the cam face (18) has two successive bumps (24, 26) for said cam follower (20) to resiliently recall the shaft (16) to three stable axial positions respectively corresponding to two extreme positions engaged ratio and a neutral intermediate position. 4. Device (12) for internal control according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cam follower (20) is formed by a blasting comprising a sleeve (34) of radial axis trapping a ball (36). slidably received by interposing a resilient member between a bottom of the socket (34) and the ball (36) to urge the ball (36) continuously against the cam face (18) through a proximal opening. 5. Device (12) for internal control according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sleeve (34) is housed in a slot (35) of the casing (14) which opens outwards. 6. Device (12) for internal control according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sleeve (34) has a distal section which projects outside the housing (14). 7. Device (12) for internal control according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sleeve (34) comprises an external member (48) for electronic connection which is connected by means (50) to a wire device (46) electronic internal content in the crankcase. 8. Device (12) for internal control according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the device (46) is a electronic device for detecting the axial position and / or the orientation of the control shaft (16).