WO2015173834A2

WO2015173834A2 - Electro-mechanical gear shifter for electric vehicles with illumination

Info

Publication number: WO2015173834A2
Application number: PCT/IN2015/000208
Authority: WO
Inventors: Radhakrishnan RAMASAMY; S.D.NandaKumar DEIVASIGAMANI; Rajkumar KIRUBAMOORTHY
Original assignee: Pricol Limited
Priority date: 2014-05-15
Filing date: 2015-05-14
Publication date: 2015-11-19
Also published as: WO2015173834A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electro-mechanical gear shifter with illumination for electric vehicles. An electro-mechanical gear shifter apparatus for electric vehicles that senses the gear position as selected by user and effectively transfers the gear position signal to the motor control unit while driving the vehicle. The sensing arrangement used in the gear shifter is non-contact type sensing. Advantageously, the present invention is provided with illumination on top of the gear shifter to increase the aesthetic aspects of said gear shifter in dark operative environment.

Description

ELECTRO-MECHANICAL GEAR SHIFTER FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES WITH

ILLUMINATION

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electro-mechanical gear shifter with illumination for electric vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electro-mechanical gear shifter apparatus for electric vehicles that senses the gear position as selected by user and effectively transfers the gear position signal to the motor control unit while driving the vehicle. The sensing arrangement used in the gear shifter is non-contact type sensing. Advantageously, the present invention is provided with illumination on top of the gear shifter to increase the aesthetic aspects of said gear shifter in dark operative environment.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

In typical automotive design, a vehicle is provided with a transmission that couples the output of the vehicle's engine to the ' drive wheels of the vehicle. Commonly, the transmission is actually coupled to the engine through gearings, which in turn used to drive the wheels, said transmissions may be of either manual or automatic. In the manual transmission, the driver of the vehicle manually shifts through the gears of the transmission. In the automatic transmission, the transmission is programmed to shift on its own based on vehicle speed, engine speed, or other monitored characteristics.

The transmission typically has a series of internal gears that may be brought together in various combinations to achieve the desired direction of travel, as well as the desired drive ratio. Each of these transmissions is typically equipped with several selectable gears. For example automatic transmission will typically have a "Park", "Neutral", and "Reverse" gear, as well as a primary "Drive" gear. The gear changes are brought about by moving a gear selector rod located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The gear selector rod is designed to be moved through the series of available gears. Normally, the gear selector rod is provided with detents or similar means that release ably restrain the gear selector rod in each gear. Thus, once the gear selector rod is placed in "Drive", for example, it will remain there until moved by the operator. The gear selector rod is typically coupled to one end of a connecting means which may be for example a cable. The other end of connecting means is connected to the transmission. As the gear selector rod is moved through the selectable gears, the connecting means causes a corresponding movement of an actuator or other device on the transmission, thereby placing the transmission into the selected gear.

In fuel combustion vehicles, mechanical gear shifting mechanism is utilized to shift the gear position for different speed as selected by the user. But this mechanism could not be incorporated in the electric motor type vehicles due to the structural complexity of gear box. Also, this will increase the weight and cost of the vehicle. Further, in the old electric motor type vehicles, knob type design is used by rotating the knob, the gear position signal is transferred as selected by user and which cannot be simulate like in fuel combustion vehicles. Henceforth, the user will feel discomfort on handling the knob type design.

Some of the prior arts are:

US6209408 discloses a shifter system for shifting a transmission on a vehicle includes a shifter having a manually-operated shift lever movable between various gear positions, an electrical sensing device on the shifter for sensing positions of the shift lever, and a controller electrically connected to the sensing device and constructed to control shifting of a transmission based on signals from the sensing device indicative of the position of the shift lever.

CN202251919 discloses a gear-shifting location device of a two-gear electric control mechanical automatic transmission for an electric vehicle. The gear-shifting location device comprises a control unit, a gear-shifting motor, a gear and rack mechanism and a position detection unit; and the control unit is connected with the gear and rack mechanism through the gear-shifting motor, and the location detection unit is arranged on the gear and rack mechanism and connected with the control unit through a circuit.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a gear shifter in electric vehicles which can simulate as a mechanical version gear shifter available in the fuel combustion vehicles.

OBJECTS OF INVENTION

One or more of the problems of the conventional prior art may be overcome by various embodiments of the system and method of the present invention.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an electro-mechanical gear shifter for electric vehicles, which can simulate as a mechanical version gear shifter available in the fuel combustion vehicles.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electro-mechanical gear shifter apparatus for electric vehicles that senses the gear position as selected by user and effectively transfers the gear position signal to the motor control unit while driving the vehicle.

It has four positions Reverse-Neutral-Forward-Boost (R-N-F-B).

• Reverse position for moving the vehicle in the reverse direction.

• Neutral position for keeping the vehicle in idle condition.

• Forward position for moving the vehicle in the forward direction.

• Boost position for moving the vehicle in the forward direction at higher speeds. It is another object of the present invention, wherein the gear shifter is simple construction, light weight, economical and also feel ease for the users.

It is another object of the present invention, wherein sensing arrangement used in the gear shifter uses non-contact type sensing technology.

It is another object of the present invention, wherein the electric vehicles includes but not limited to car, van, minibus, etc. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Thus according to the basic aspect of the present invention there is provided an electromechanical gear shifter for electric vehicles comprising:

a gear shifter or assembly handle the bottom end of which is pivoted to a housing ; a switch assembly positioned at top end of the gear shifter or assembly handle ; a detent mechanism ;

wherein the said housing comprising:

a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) with one or more reed switches ; a solenoid ; and

a lock pin ,

wherein the gear shifter or assembly handle fitted with a magnet which has one or more position movements with respect to the axis of the pivot pin pivoted at the bottom of the housing ,

wherein while pressing the switch assembly , circuit in the PCB gets triggered and the solenoid mounted below the gear shifter or assembly handle gets activated, wherein the detent mechanism is provided with a detent pin, which get seated in any one of the grooves provided in the housing and each groove in the housing is provided for each gear position, wherein the reed switches are positioned in the PCB at pre determined location with pre-defined air gap with respect to the position of the magnet and is controlled by the detent mechanism in the housing , and

wherein gear position signal is transferred contactless through the reed switches as each reed switch indicates each position of the gear shifter or assembly handle .

According to another aspect of the invention the switch assembly ensures change in gear position, only when user presses the switch assembly energized in the vehicle. According to another aspect of the invention a roller is used on the detent pin pivoted in the detent mechanism of the gear shifter or assembly handle for shifting operation.

According to another aspect of the invention the lock pin provided in the solenoid helps in locking the gear position to avoid un-intentional gear shifting.

According to another aspect of the invention during solenoid activation, the lock pin disengages from slot and allows user to change to another gear position.

According to another aspect of the invention the gear position signal is fed to vehicle Integrated Engine Management System (IEMS), said IEMS triggers on motor to run the vehicle depending on the selected gear position.

According to another aspect of the invention, the top portion of the gear shifter or assembly handle is provided with illumination arrangement

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Figure 1 : schematically illustrates an electro-mechanical gear shifter apparatus for electric vehicle according to the present invention. Figure 2: schematically illustrates another view of electro-mechanical gear shifter apparatus according to the present invention.

Figure 3: schematically illustrates detailed view A of Figure 2. (Positioning of reed switch and magnet each other)

Figure 4: schematically illustrates assembly handle[2] of electro-mechanical gear shifter apparatus according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The present invention as discussed hereinbefore relates to an electro-mechanical gear shifter for electric vehicles, which can simulate as a mechanical version gear shifter available in the fuel combustion vehicles.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the electro-mechanical gear shifter apparatus comprises of a switch assembly [1]; a gear shifter or assembly handle [2] to change the gear; a detent mechanism [3]; and a housing [4] comprising a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) [5] with one or more reed switches [6] as shown in Figures 2 and 3; a solenoid [7] as shown in figure 4 ; and a lock pin [8]. Top end of the gear shifter or assembly handle [2] is provided with the switch assembly [1] and bottom end of the gear shifter or assembly handle [2] is pivoted to the housing [4] by pivot pin [10] .The gear shifter or assembly handle [2] which has one or more position movements with respect to the axis of the pivot pin [10] positioned in bottom of the housing [4] . As shown in Figure 3, a magnet [9] is fitted to the housing [4] .The switch assembly [1] ensures change in gear position, only when user presses the switch assembly [1] in the vehicle , in energized condition. The lock pin [8] provided in the solenoid [7] as shown in Figure 1, helps in locking the gear in the required position and to avoid un-intentional gear shifting. During solenoid [7] activation, the lock pin [8] disengages from the slot and allows the user to shift to another required gear position. The detent mechanism [3] is provided with a pin, which get seated in one of the grooves provided in the housing [4] and each groove in the housing [4] is provided for each gear position movement. A cylindrical hardened roller is used on the detent pin pivoted in the detent mechanism [3] of the gear shifter or assembly handle [2] for smooth and proper shifting operation and good feel to the user. The type of roller used includes but not limited only to cylindrical hardened rollers. During gear change, the roller rolls over on the profile of the housing [4] and get be seated in the required groove.

The reed switches [6] are positioned in the PCB [5] at pre determined position with predefined air gap with respect to the position of the magnet [9], as shown in Figure 3 and is controlled by the detent mechanism [3] in the housing [4]. The gear position signal is transferred through the reed switches [6] as each reed switch [6] indicates each position of the gear shifter or assembly handle [2]. The gear position signal is fed to vehicle Integrated Engine Management System (IEMS), said IEMS trigger on motor to run the vehicle. The IEMS also identify the gear position and produce suitable signal for the display of the gear positions in the vehicle dash board. The electric vehicle includes but not limited to car, van, minibus, etc.

The gear position includes but not limited to Reverse-Neutral-Forward-Boost (R-N-F-B).

• Reverse position for moving the vehicle in the reverse direction.

· Neutral position for keeping the vehicle in idle condition.

• Forward position for moving the vehicle in the forward direction.

• Boost position for moving the vehicle in the forward direction at higher speeds.

The top portion of the gear shifter or assembly handle [2] of the electro-mechanical gear shifter is provided with illumination arrangement which increases the aesthetic aspects of said gear shifter as well as useful for the visualization in dark operative environment such as night driving.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. An electro-mechanical gear shifter for electric vehicles comprising:

a gear shifter or assembly handle [2] the bottom end of which is pivoted to a housing [4] ;

a switch assembly [1 ] positioned at top end of the gear shifter or assembly handle [2]; a detent mechanism [3];

wherein the housing [4] comprising:

a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) [5] with one or more reed switches [6]; a solenoid [7]; and a lock pin [8], wherein the gear shifter or assembly handle [2] fitted with a magnet [9] which has one or more position movements with respect to the axis of the pivot pin [10] pivoted at the bottom of the housing [4], wherein while pressing the switch assembly [1], circuit in the PCB [5] gets triggered and the solenoid [7] mounted below the gear shifter or assembly handle [2] gets activated, wherein the detent mechanism [3] is provided with a detent pin, which get seated in any one of the grooves provided in the housing [4] and each groove in the housing [4] is provided for each gear position, wherein the reed switches [6] are positioned in the PCB [5] at pre determined location with pre-defined air gap with respect to the position of the magnet [9] and is controlled by the detent mechanism [3] in the housing [4], and wherein gear position signal is transferred contactless through the reed switches [6] as each reed switch [6] indicates each position of the gear shifter or assembly handle [2].

2. The electro-mechanical gear shifter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the switch assembly [1] ensures change in gear position, only when user presses the switch assembly [1] energized in the vehicle.

3. The electro-mechanical gear shifter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a roller is used on the detent pin pivoted in the detent mechanism [3] of the gear shifter or assembly handle [2] for shifting operation.

4. The electro-mechanical gear shifter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lock pin [8] provided in the solenoid helps in locking the gear position to avoid un-intentional gear shifting.

5. The electro-mechanical gear shifter as claimed in claim 4, wherein during solenoid [7] activation, the lock pin [8] disengages from slot and allows user to change to another gear position.

6. The electro-mechanical gear shifter as claimed in claim 5, wherein the gear position signal is fed to vehicle Integrated Engine Management System (IEMS), which triggers on motor to run the vehicle depending on the selected gear position.

7. The electro-mechanical gear shifter as claimed in claim 6, wherein the top portion of the gear shifter or assembly handle [2] is provided with illumination arrangement.