GB118547A - Improvements in or relating to Gear-shifting Mechanism. - Google Patents

Abstract

118,547. Wade, H., (Vulcan Motor Devices Co.). Jan. 15, 1918. Controlling variable-speed gearing.-Variablespeed gear shifting mechanism for motor-vehicles is operated, after a selection has been made, by power brought into action by movement of the clutch pedal, the power being cut off automatically at the completion of the shift. The power is provided by solenoids 3 - - 6, Fig. 7, in four parallel circuits, any one of which can be connected up by a selecting-switch 11. The gearchange is subsequently effected by closing a switch 10 by means of a full strode of the clutch pedal, which is connected to a rod 16, Fig. 1. The gearshifting forks 1. 2 are fixed to the cores 12, 13 of the solenoids. A pin-and-slot device 17 allows the clutch to be operated by a partial stroke of the pedal without moving a lever 18. With a full stroke, the lever 18 turns a shaft 19 and an arm 20, and swings a shaft 21 carrying a pawl 23 which, by means of an arm 25, turns a shaft 26 carrying an arm 27 geared to a similar arm 28. These arms act on pins, 14. 15 on the forks 1, 2 and bring all the gears into the neutral position with the pins in alinement, as shown. An arm 31 of the pawl 23 then strikes a fixed stop 32, which disengages the arm 25. leaving the shaft 26 free, and a dog 22 acts on a bar 30, closing the switch 10 to operate the selected gear. The consequent movement of one of the pins 14, 15 rotates the shaft 26, causing the arm 25 to act on an arm 33 on the shaft 21, which is then swung back to its former position. The switch 10 is then opened either by a spring 34 or positively by the dog 22. The gear forks 1, 2 are locked by spring-pressed plungers 40, Fig. 6, engaging notches 37 in the bars 12, 13, and these plungers are fixed, except when the gear is being changed, by a bar 43 formed with flats 44. The bar is rotated to release the plungers by means of linkage connected to the lever 18, Fig. 1. To provide for actuation of the device by hand, the shaft 29, on which the arm 28 is loosely mounted, is provided with a socket 63, Fig. 3, for a handle, by means of which it can be moved endways to cause either of two keys 49, 50 to engage with forks 51, 52 which act on the pins 14, 15 when the shaft 29 is rotated. Both keys cannot be brought into engagement at the same time. Other source of power, such as pneumatic, may replace the electric device described.