Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16H—GEARING
  • F16H61/00—Control functions within control units of change-speed- or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion ; Control of exclusively fluid gearing, friction gearing, gearings with endless flexible members or other particular types of gearing
  • F16H61/26—Generation or transmission of movements for final actuating mechanisms
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16H—GEARING
  • F16H61/00—Control functions within control units of change-speed- or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion ; Control of exclusively fluid gearing, friction gearing, gearings with endless flexible members or other particular types of gearing
  • F16H61/26—Generation or transmission of movements for final actuating mechanisms
  • F16H61/36—Generation or transmission of movements for final actuating mechanisms with at least one movement being transmitted by a cable
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
  • B60Y2200/00—Type of vehicle
  • B60Y2200/10—Road Vehicles
  • B60Y2200/11—Passenger cars; Automobiles
  • B60Y2200/114—Racing vehicles, e.g. Formula one, Karts
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16H—GEARING
  • F16H59/00—Control inputs to control units of change-speed-, or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion
  • F16H59/02—Selector apparatus
  • F16H2059/0239—Up- and down-shift or range or mode selection by repeated movement
  • F16H2059/0247—Up- and down-shift or range or mode selection by repeated movement with lever or paddle behind steering wheel

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a control box for a gearbox system of a go-kart. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a gearbox system of a go-kart which comprises said control box. In addition, the go-kart which comprises said control box and said gearbox system are also the object of the present invention.
• go-karts are known provided with a gearbox employable by the driver to vary the speed of the go-kart.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a control box for a gearbox system which solves the aforementioned typical drawbacks of the prior art.
• the object of the present invention is to have a go-kart gearbox system which overcomes the aforementioned drawback.
• the object of the present invention is to have a go-kart which is allowed to participate in races where regulations prohibit participation with electronic or electromechanical gearbox systems.
• Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a control box for a gearbox system of a go-kart according to the present invention
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the control box of Figure 1 open;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of some components of the control box of Figure 1;
• Figure 3a shows a front view of the control box shown in Figure 2’, in a neutral configuration;
• Figure 3b shows a front view of the control box shown in Figure 2 , in a configuration with the first control device actuated;
• Figure 3c illustrates a front view of the control box shown in Figure 2 , in a configuration with the second control device actuated;
• Figure 4 shows a side view of a go-kart according to a preferred embodiment
• Figure 5 shows a side view of a motor group and of a gearbox group and of a control box according to a preferred embodiment, according to the present invention.
• reference numeral 1 indicates a control box according to the present invention as a whole.
• the control box 1 is suitable for being included in a gearbox system 500 of a go-kart which is itself the subject of the present invention.
• the go-kart 900 that comprises said control box 1 and said gearbox system 500 are also the object of the present invention.
• the gearbox system 500 of a go-kart 900 comprising at least one gearbox group 501 and the control box 1 is mountable on, in other words engageable with, said gearbox group 501.
• the gearbox group 501 is mountable on the powertrain which joins the motor group 950 of the go-kart 900 to the wheels 960 of the go-kart 900.
• the gearbox group 501 comprises a plurality of gears, the reciprocal meshing of which results in a specific drive ratio.
• said reciprocal meshing is controllable by moving a transmission lever 551.
• the gearbox system 500 also comprises control means 550 controllable by the driver.
• Said control means 550 comprise a pair of paddles 551, 552 mountable on the steering wheel 910 and a pair of control cables 5510, 5520.
• the paddles 551, 552 are mountable on the steering wheel 910 in such a way as to be proximal to the steering wheel to be operable by the hands, in particular by the fingers or fingertips, of the driver who keeps his/her palms on the steering wheel 910.
• each paddle 551, 552 is operatively connected to the control box 1 by means of a respective control cable 5510, 5520.
• the two paddles 551, 552 are mutually separate and independent. In other words, the movement of one paddle does not involve any movement of the other paddle. In other words, when moving one paddle there is no change of the position of the other paddle.
• control box 1 comprises a box body 2.
• Said box body 2 extends along a longitudinal axis L- L, a transverse axis T-T and a vertical axis V-V.
• said box body 2 defines a working housing 200.
• Said working housing 200 is accessed by means of a box lid 29.
• Said box body 2 comprises a main axis X-X parallel to the transverse axis T-T.
• the main axis X-X is positioned in a central region, preferably it is placed in the center of the box body 2.
• the box body 2 with the exception of the box lid 29, is made of a material belonging to the family of metallic materials, for example it is of an aluminum alloy, preferably obtained from a solid.
• the box lid 29 is also made of a material belonging to the family of metallic materials.
• control box 1 comprises a shaft 3 which extends along the axis X-X.
• the shaft 3 comprises an inner end 31 housed in the box body 2, in the working housing 200, and an outer end 32 operatively connectable to a gearbox system.
• the outer end 32 is engageable to the gearbox group and the movement of the outer end 32 involves the change of meshing and the variation of the drive ratio.
• the shaft 3, in particular the outer end 32 is engaged and moves the transmission lever 511 included in the gearbox group 501.
• a lever 320 engaged with said transmission lever 511 is engaged to the outer end 32.
• the lever 320 and the transmission lever 511 are mutually engaged by means of a tie rod 515.
• control box 1 comprises control members 4 housed in the box body 2.
• control members 4 When said control members 4 are moved, said shaft 3 is moved and therefore the drive ratio change is controlled.
• the gearbox group is controlled in a ratio, or in a gear, up or down.
• said control members 4 comprise a main gear 5 and two control devices
• the main gear 5 is centered on the main axis X-X and is integrally connected with the inner end 31 of the shaft 3.
• the main gear 5 comprises two gear portions 50 positioned substantially diametrically opposite to each other. [0040]In particular, said gear portions 50 are distal from the main axis X-X.
• the two control devices 6 are positioned diametrically opposite, i.e. positioned distal from the main axis X-X.
• the two control devices 6 are controllable in movement along the longitudinal axis L-L between a starting position and a control position.
• the longitudinal axis L-L extends tangentially with respect to the main axis X-X.
• each control device 6 is engaged with a paddle and is controllable along the longitudinal direction by the movement of a respective paddle 551, 552.
• each control device 6 is engaged to a paddle by means of a respective control cable 5510, 5520.
• the respective control cable 5510, 5520 By pulling, by means of the paddle 551, 552, the respective control cable 5510, 5520 the respective control device 6 is moved longitudinally starting from the starting position, up to the control position.
• each control cable 5510, 5520 extends into the box body 2 through box holes 21, 22.
• each control device 6 moved longitudinally into the control position engages the respective gear portion 50 and rotates the main gear 5, in a first rotary direction or in a second rotary direction, in turn rotating the shaft 3.
• one control device 6 moves the main gear 5, and therefore the shaft 3 in a clockwise direction.
• the other control device 6 moves the main gear 5, and therefore the shaft 3, in a counter-clockwise direction.
• the main gear 5 is shaped in such a way that each gear portion 50 extends for a circumferential length and comprises a thrust tooth 51 engageable by the respective control device 6 in its longitudinal movement.
• the gear portion 50 comprises an abutment 52 which in a rotated configuration of the main gear 5, induced by a first control device 6, prevents the longitudinal movement of the other control device 6, as shown by way of example in Figures 3b and 3c.
• each gear portion 50 extends for a circumferential length between a thrust tooth 51 and the abutment 52.
• the two respective thrust teeth 51 are positioned mutually facing each other along the vertical axis V-V, offset with respect to the main axis X-X; this feature is well highlighted in the embodiment shown in Figure 3a.
• the thrust teeth 51 are substantially positioned mirror-like with respect to the main axis X-X offset with respect to a diametrical position.
• control members 4 are positionable in the box body 2 in a neutral or starting configuration such as that shown by way of example in Figure 3a.
• control devices 6 are in the starting position and the main gear 5 is positioned in a non- rotated position, in which it is disengaged from both control devices 6.
• the non-rotated position of the main gear 5 places it substantially parallel to the vertical axis V-V.
• the rotation, in a first rotary direction, of the main gear 5, and the relative angular positioning of the first gear portion 50, controlled by the first control device 6 in the control position involves the angular positioning of the second gear portion 50 in a position in which the longitudinal movement of the second control device 6 is prevented.
• the positioning of the abutment 52 of the second gear portion 50 prevents the longitudinal movement of the second control device 6.
• each control device 6 comprises a slide element 60 movable along the longitudinal axis L-L and a control lever 65 housed on the slide element 60.
• each control cable is engaged to a slide element 60.
• the longitudinal movement of the slide element 60 forces the control lever 65 to move so as to engage the gear portion 50 of the main gear 5.
• control lever 65 is hinged to the slide element 60 and is guided in rotation by means of a cam profile.
• cam profile is obtained on the box body 2.
• the box body 2 comprises two control guides 260 in which the control devices 6 are housed.
• control guides 260 are housings extending longitudinally and laterally delimited by two guide walls 260', 260 ,f .
• said cam profile is obtained on one of said guide walls 260', 260' .
• the box housing 200 comprises in addition to the two control guides 260 also a main housing 250 in which the main gear 5 is housed.
• the control lever 65 comprises a cam end 652 engaged to the cam profile and a control end 650 which engages the gear portion 50.
• each control device 6 comprises an elastic return element 69 operating longitudinally to return and maintain the control device 6 in the starting position.
• the elastic return element 69 is a helical spring.
• the return to the starting configuration of the main gear 5 is performed by the action of the gearbox group to which the shaft 3 is engaged.
• the elastic return element 69 in turn housed in the control guide 260, is suitable for performing and/or assisting said action.
• the calibration operations provide for the insertion of two calibration pins suitable for locking the main gear 5 in the starting configuration starting from which the length of the go-kart control cables is adjustable.
• the calibration pins are insertable in the calibration holes 25 present in the box body 2, in such a way that the calibration pins extend along the transverse axis T- T.
• the go-kart which mounts is allowed to participate in races that do not allow participation to go-karts with electronic or electromechanical gearbox systems.
• the control is returned to the steering wheel of the go-kart.
• the driver actuates the control box and therefore the gear shift while keeping both hands on the steering wheel.
• control box allows shifting in one direction, inhibiting operations in the other direction until the starting configuration is reached.
• control action that controls the longitudinal translation of a control device requires a minimum actuation and a minimum force.
• the action of the control device and therefore the gear shift is effectively transmitted to the driver's fingers, giving him/her feedback.
• the gearbox is easily installable on a go-kart.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Control Of Transmission Device (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=77021721

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (4)

• 2021
  • 2021-03-31 IT IT102021000008012A patent/IT202100008012A1/it unknown
• 2022
  • 2022-03-21 WO PCT/IB2022/052532 patent/WO2022208224A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

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