WO2007104880A2

WO2007104880A2 - Gearbox equipped with a position sensor

Info

Publication number: WO2007104880A2
Application number: PCT/FR2007/050889
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pierre Imbault; Bruno Gaully
Original assignee: Peugeot Citroën Automobiles SA
Priority date: 2006-03-10
Filing date: 2007-03-07
Publication date: 2007-09-20
Also published as: FR2898395A1; WO2007104880A3; FR2898395B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a gearbox equipped with a position sensor that senses the position of the control member which is moved in order to change gear. The gearbox comprises a casing through which there passes a control member (6, 7) that is able to move translationally along an axis (AX) termed the control axis, and rotationally about this control axis (AX) in order to change gear. It is equipped with a two-way sensor (11) that has a body (12) rigidly fixed to the casing (2) and a moving part (13, 23, 24) able to move translationally along an axis (AC) of the sensor and rotationally about this axis (AC) of the sensor, this moving part (13, 23, 24) being connected in terms of motion to the control member (6, 7) so as to determine the angular position and the longitudinal position of this control member (6, 7). The invention applies to a motor vehicle gearbox and presents advantages and has applications particularly in respect of energy saving, hydridizing, and operational safety.

Description

"Gearbox equipped with a position sensor"

The invention relates to a gearbox of a motor vehicle, comprising a casing carrying a control member movable in translation along a so-called control axis and rotated about this control axis, to change gear.

In such a known gearbox in particular FR2749908, the control member is connected to a position sensor system for identifying the position of this control member.

This sensor system is intended to provide data representative of the current state of the gearbox, to a central unit or any other steering member fitted to the motor vehicle.

The solution adopted in this document is to couple two separate sensors to linkage elements of the gearbox that actuates the control member.

The implementation of these sensors and their coupling with the linkage elements require significant changes that lead to significant additional costs. The object of the invention is to propose a gearbox equipped with a sensor system for determining the position of the control member which is both precise and easy to implant without modification of the internal mechanism of the box. speeds. For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a gearbox of a motor vehicle, comprising a casing carrying a control member movable in translation along a so-called control axis and in rotation around this control shaft, to change gear, characterized in that it is equipped with a bidirectional sensor having a body rigidly fixed to the housing and a portion movable in translation along an axis of the sensor and rotated around this axis of the sensor, this movable portion being linked in motion to the control member to determine the angular position and the longitudinal position of the control member. The invention also relates to a gearbox as defined above, in which the axis of the sensor is oriented parallel to the control axis while being spaced therefrom.

The invention also relates to a gearbox as defined above, in which the mobile part of the sensor is coupled to the control member via a link.

The invention also relates to a gearbox as defined above, wherein the rod is linked in motion to the control member by a pivot connection having an axis parallel to the control axis and to the axis of the sensor being spaced from these axes, and wherein the rod is connected to the movable portion of the sensor by a ball joint having its center spaced from the control axis and the axis of the sensor.

The invention also relates to a gearbox as defined above, in which the rod is linked in motion to the movable part of the sensor by a pivot connection having an axis parallel to the control axis and to the axis of the sensor being spaced from these axes, and wherein the rod is connected to the control member by a ball joint having its center spaced from the control axis and the axis of the sensor. The invention also relates to a gearbox as defined above, in which the pivot connection is formed by two ball joints.

The invention also relates to a gearbox as defined above, wherein each ball joint comprises a spherical stud snapped into a complementary base rigidly fixed to the link. The invention also relates to a gearbox as defined above, wherein the movable portion of the sensor comprises a movable rod and a radial finger rigidly secured to said movable rod, said radial finger comprising a spherical end snapping into a corresponding base of the rod.

A box according to the invention finds advantages and applications especially for energy savings, hybridization and operational safety.

The invention will now be described in more detail and with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example. Figure 1 is an overall view of a gearbox according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a close-up view showing the control member with the rod and the sensor of the box of the device according to the invention. Figure 3 is a view showing the control member and the rod of the device according to the invention.

Figures 4a to 4c are schematic representations of three embodiments of the rod of the device according to the invention. FIG. 5 is a side view of the device according to the invention in which the control member occupies a neutral angular position and a neutral longitudinal position. FIG. 6 is a view from above of the device according to the invention in which the control member occupies a neutral angular position.

Figure 7 is a top view of the device according to the invention wherein the control member occupies an angular position shifted in an indirect direction. FIG. 8 is a view from above of the device according to the invention in which the control member occupies an angular position shifted in a forward direction.

Figure 9 is a side view of the device according to the invention wherein the control member occupies an upper longitudinal position and an angular position shifted in the indirect direction.

Figure 10 is a side view of the device according to the invention wherein the control member occupies a lower longitudinal position and an angular position shifted in the indirect direction.

Figure 11 is a side view of the device according to the invention wherein the control member occupies an upper longitudinal position and a angular position offset in the forward direction. Figure 12 is a side view of the device according to the invention wherein the control member occupies a lower longitudinal position and a angular position shifted in the forward direction.

In FIG. 1, a gearbox 1 comprises a casing 2 formed of a so-called rear portion 3 and of a so-called front portion 4 secured to each other; the front part being intended to be coupled to an engine not shown, a motor vehicle.

This gearbox is equipped with a control member 6 comprising a not shown control shaft and a cam 7 which is rigidly secured to this shaft.

The control shaft passes through the rear portion 3 of the casing 2 at an opening marked by 8, and the cam 7 comprises a central bore 9 receiving the control shaft, this cam 7 being rigidly secured to the control shaft. control by means not shown.

The gearbox also includes a sensor

11 which comprises a body 12 and a movable portion 13, the body 12 being rigidly attached to the rear portion 3 of the housing. The moving part 13 of the sensor 11 is linked in motion to the cam 7 by a rod 14. The cam 7 is displaceable in translation along a control axis marked by AX in FIG. 2, and it is able to pivot about this control axis AX. This cam 7 is for example made in a cut sheet and extends mainly in a plane normal to the axis AX.

It comprises two ends each provided with a spherical end stud. These pads, marked 16 and 17 are intended to be coupled to an unrepresented linkage to move along and around the axis AX to make gear changes.

As seen in the figures, the end bearing the stud 17 is slightly raised relative to that bearing the stud 16. This elevation is obtained by two folds to define a median inclined portion 10 which is extended by the end bearing the stud 17 .

The sensor 11 is of the bidirectional type, that is to say that can give position information with respect to two degrees of freedom distinct from its mobile part 13. In the example of the figures, the mobile part 13 is able to be moved in translation along an axis AC and in rotation around this axis AC.

As shown in the figures, the sensor 11 is mounted such that the axis AC is parallel to the axis AX while being spaced therefrom. The connecting rod 14 links the cam 7 to the moving part 13 in such a way that a rotation movement of the cam 7 about the axis AX in a direction of rotation results in a rotational movement of the mobile part 13 in the opposite direction, around the AC axis.

A translational movement of the cam 7 along the axis AX results in a translational movement of the movable portion 13 in the same direction, but along the axis AC. This rod 14 is, for example, in the form of a sheet metal plate having a right-angled triangle contour comprising a short side 18 and a long side 19 perpendicular to each other, and having rounded tops.

It is located between the axis AX and the axis AC extending in a direction which is perpendicular to a plane normal to these axes, and oblique with respect to a plane passing through these two axes.

This rod 14 comprises a first vertex 21, joining its long side 19 to its hypotenuse, this vertex being linked in motion to the movable portion 13 of the sensor 11 by a first ball joint 22 having a center of rotation C1 spaced from the axis AC .

More particularly, the movable portion 13 of the sensor 11 comprises a rod 23 extended by a finger 24 extending radially relative to this rod, and having a spherical end 26. The link 14 comprises, at its first vertex 21, a base

27 in which the spherical end 26 is adapted to come snap together to form with this base the ball joint. In FIG. 2, the ball joint 22 is shown not yet assembled, the radial finger 24 and its spherical end 26 being represented for two different angular positions of the mobile part 13 about the axis of the sensor AC. According to FIG. 3, this rod 14 is, on the other hand, linked in motion to the cam 7 by a pivot connection

28 forming a hinge about another axis marked by AP, parallel to the axes AX and AC and spaced therefrom. The small side 18 of the triangle defining the contour of the link 14 is also parallel to these axes.

This pivot connection 28 is formed by a second and a third ball joint 29 and 31 having respective centers of rotation, C2 and C3, aligned on the axis AP. As in the case of the first ball joint 22, the second and third ball joints 29 and 31 are respectively formed by bases 32 and 33 integral with the rod 14, and end pads corresponding spherical, 34 and 36; each stud coming snap into its respective base.

Still with reference to FIG. 3, the cam 7 extends mainly in a plane normal to the axis AX, and comprises a tab 35 folded perpendicularly, extending parallel to the axis AX, and carrying the studs with spherical ends. 34 and 36.

The second and third ball joints 29 and 31 are respectively located in the vicinity of the second vertex 37 of the triangle, joining its long side 19 and its short side 18, and in the vicinity of the third vertex 38 of this link 14 which joins the short side 18 to the hypotenuse.

The bases 32 and 33 are fixed to the link 14, near the second and third peaks 37 and 38, respectively.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the three ball joints thus have their respective centers, C1, C2, C3 located respectively at the vertices of a right-angled triangle having its long side facing upwards. However, other configurations can be envisaged as illustrated in FIGS. 4a to 4c. FIG. 4a illustrates the configuration of the example of FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5 to 12. FIG. 4b illustrates a configuration in which the long side is oriented downwards, and finally FIG. 4c illustrates another configuration in which the links kneecaps have their centers confused with the vertices of a triangle that is isosceles instead of being rectangle.

The coupling by the rod 14 of the cam 7 with the mobile part 13 of the bidirectional sensor 11 makes it possible to precisely determine the position of this control member in translation and in rotation, from the sensor 11.

This sensor is for example connected to a central unit or any other onboard control member in the motor vehicle, which is thus able to know the current state of the gearbox. The selection of a report by a user of the vehicle, that is to say a transverse movement of the shift lever, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and in the case of a manual gearbox, translated by a rotation of the control member 6 around the axis AX.

The passage of a gear, that is to say its engagement by longitudinal displacement of the gear lever results in a translation of the control member 6 along the axis AX.

In the example of Figures 5 and 6, the device is shown in side view in a situation for which the control member 7 occupies a so-called median longitudinal center position, and a median angular position said neutral.

To select a ratio, the control member 7 is rotated for example in an indirect direction from this neutral angular position. The moving part 13 of the sensor 12 then pivots in the opposite direction, that is to say in the forward direction, as shown schematically in FIG.

Similarly, when the control member 7 is rotated in a forward direction from the neutral angular position, the movable portion 13 of the sensor 12 pivots in the indirect direction, as shown schematically in FIG.

To pass a report, the control member 7 is moved in translation along the axis AX. Starting from the position of FIG. 7, it can thus be moved upwards to reach a higher position, as is the case in FIG. 9, which causes a corresponding displacement of the mobile part 13.

Starting from the position of FIG. 7, the control member 7 can also be displaced in translation in the opposite direction to reach a so-called lower longitudinal position, which corresponds to the situation of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the control member 7 can also be moved to the upper and lower longitudinal position starting from the angular position it occupies in FIG. 8. As in the previous cases, these longitudinal displacements are translate by corresponding longitudinal displacements of the mobile part 13 of the sensor.

The control member 7 may also be moved longitudinally towards the upper or lower position from the neutral angular position which it occupies in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The assembly according to the invention thus ensures that a translational movement of the control member 7 is translated solely by a translational movement of the movable portion 13 of the sensor 11. Similarly, this arrangement ensures that a rotational movement of the control member 7 only results in a rotational movement of the movable portion 13 of the sensor. This bidirectional sensor 11 comprises, for example, two coding wheels or two independent potentiometers, enabling it to determine continuously precisely the angular position and the longitudinal position of the mobile part 13, and therefore of the control member 7. The system thus ensures a decoupling between a movement of passage and selection.

As visible in these figures, this sensor is located outside the housing, which minimizes the changes to be made to an existing gearbox to implement a system for determining the position of its control member.

Claims

1. Transmission (1) of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (2) carrying a control member (6) movable in translation along an axis (AX) said control and rotated about this control axis

(AX), for changing gear, equipped with a bidirectional sensor (11) having a body (12) rigidly fixed to the housing (2) and a movable part (13) in translation along an axis (AC) of the sensor and rotated around this axis (AC) of the sensor, this moving part (13) being linked in motion to the control member (6) to determine the angular position and the longitudinal position of this control member (6) , characterized in that the movable portion (13) of the sensor (11) is coupled to the control member (6) via a link (14).

2. Transmission according to claim 1, wherein the axis (AC) of the sensor (11) is oriented parallel to the control axis (AX) being spaced therefrom.

Gearbox according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rod (14) is linked in motion to the control member (6) by a pivot connection (28) having an axis (AP) parallel to the axis. (AX) and to the axis of the sensor (AC) being spaced from these axes, and wherein the rod (14) is connected to the movable portion (13) of the sensor (11) by a ball joint (22). ) having its center (Cl) spaced from the control axis (AX) and the sensor axis (AC).

4. Gearbox according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the link (14) is linked in motion to the movable portion (13) of the sensor (11) by a pivot connection (22) having an axis parallel to the axis (AX) and to the axis of the sensor (AC) being spaced from these axes, and wherein the rod (14) is connected to the control member (6) by a ball joint having its center spaced from the control axis (AX) and the sensor axis (AC).

5. Transmission according to claim 3, wherein the pivot connection (28) is formed by two ball joints (29, 31).

6. Gearbox according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein each ball joint (22, 29, 31) comprises a spherical stud (26, 34, 36) latched in a complementary base (27, 32, 33). rigidly fixed to the link (14).

7. Gearbox according to claim 3, wherein the movable portion (13) of the sensor (11) comprises a movable rod (23) and a radial finger (24) rigidly secured to the movable rod (23), this radial finger (24) comprising a spherical end (26) snapping into a corresponding base (27) of the rod (14).