Control tower of a gearbox of a road vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control tower of a gearbox of a road vehicle, having an operating lever (21) mounted to rotate about two rotation axes (6, 12) transverse to each other and to move between at least two pairs of gears and between the gears of each pair, and detection means (9, 15) for detecting the angular position of the operating lever (21) about the two rotation axes (6, 12) and providing at least one electrical signal to an electronic control unit (10) configured to detect the gear engaged by the operating lever (21) and to control the operation of the gearbox.

Description

Cross-references to related applications

[0001] This patent application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102024000028017, filed on December 10, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to a control tower for the gearbox of a road vehicle. Background Technology

[0003] For operating a manual transmission, a control tower is known, comprising: an operating lever mounted to rotate about two mutually orthogonal axes of rotation and allowing the driver to sequentially or non-sequentially engage multiple gears; and a transmission for connecting the operating lever and at least one selector fork configured to engage the selected gear via the operating lever.

[0004] Because the transmission device typically includes multiple connecting rods and / or cables, the aforementioned types of known control towers are relatively complex and expensive.

[0005] For controlling the operation of an automatic transmission, a control tower is also known, which includes an operating lever mounted to rotate about a single axis of rotation and a detection device, in particular an angular position sensor, for detecting the angular position of the operating lever about the aforementioned axis of rotation.

[0006] The detection device is configured to provide an electrical signal to an electronic control unit, which is in turn configured to control the gear selected via an operating lever and control the operation of the transmission.

[0007] The aforementioned types of known control towers have certain drawbacks, which mainly stem from the fact that the driver can only select gears sequentially, engaging only the gear immediately above or below the currently used gear at a time. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a control tower for an automatic transmission of a road vehicle that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages and is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0009] According to the present invention, a control tower for a transmission of a road vehicle, as claimed in the appended claims, is provided. Attached Figure Description

[0010] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention, in which:

[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the control tower of the present invention, wherein some components have been removed for clarity.

[0012] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of the first detail of the control tower, with parts removed for clarity;

[0013] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A schematic front view of the details, in which parts have been removed for clarity;

[0014] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 and Figure 3 The details are shown in schematic side views at two different operating positions, where parts have been removed for clarity;

[0015] Figure 5 and Figure 6 yes Figure 1 Two schematic perspective views of the second detail of the control tower, with parts removed for clarity;

[0016] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 and Figure 6 The details are shown in schematic side views at two different operating positions, where parts have been removed for clarity; and

[0017] Figure 8 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the control tower. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Reference Figures 1 to 8 The reference numeral 1 in the attached figure generally indicates the control tower of the transmission of a road vehicle (not shown).

[0019] The control tower 1 includes a support frame 2, which in turn includes a base plate 3 configured to be fixed to the body (not shown) of a road vehicle (not shown), and two side plates 4 protruding upward from the plate 3 perpendicular to the plate 3.

[0020] The control tower 1 is also provided with a rotating support 5, which extends between the plates 4, is substantially square, and is mounted to rotate about a rotation axis 6 that is substantially perpendicular to the plates 4 themselves.

[0021] The bracket 5 has two opposing support pins 7 that extend coaxially through the plate 4 with the axis 6, and one of the support pins 7 supports the engagement drum 8 (which will be better shown below), while the other support pin 7 supports the detection device 9 (in this case, an angular position sensor), which is configured to detect the angular position of the bracket 5 about the axis 6 and provide an electrical signal to the electronic control unit 10.

[0022] The bracket 5 supports the guide tube 11, which is installed inside the bracket 5 and is rotatably connected to the bracket 5 so as to rotate about a rotation axis 12 perpendicular to axis 6 relative to the bracket 5 in a manner which will be better explained below.

[0023] The tube 11 has two opposing support pins 13 that extend coaxially through the bracket 5 with the axis 12 and connect the support block 14 and the detection device 15 (in this case, an angular position sensor). The detection device 15 is configured to detect the angular position of the tube 11 about the axis 12 and provide an electrical signal to the electronic control unit 10, which is in turn configured to control the operation of the control tower 1 in response to the signals from the devices 9 and 15.

[0024] Block 14 supports two contact rollers 16 mounted on opposite sides of axis 12, rotatably coupled to block 14 to rotate relative to block 14 about corresponding axes of rotation 17 parallel to each other and parallel to axis 12, and cooperates with a damping device 18 mounted on bracket 5 parallel to axis 6.

[0025] The damping device 18 includes a cylinder 19 and a piston 20. The piston 20 protrudes parallel to the axis 12 to the outside of the cylinder 19, is slidably connected to the cylinder 19, and is kept in contact with the roller 16 by a spring 20a inserted between the cylinder 19 and the piston 20.

[0026] The preload of spring 20a is selectively controlled by a disc 20b slidably engaged in the cylinder 19 and an adjusting screw 20c screwed through the cylinder 19 to move the disc 20b along the cylinder 19.

[0027] The tube 11 is slidably engaged by an operating lever 21, which protrudes upward from the tube 11 and the plate 4 and is axially locked upward by an upper locking plate 22 attached to the free end of the plate 4, allowing the gearbox 1 to operate in at least a partially manual mode.

[0028] The lever 21 is moved by a spring 23 inserted between the tube 11 and the lever 21 and is normally held in the raised position by the spring 23, and is moved to the lowered position by the driver against the action of the spring 23.

[0029] The plate 22 is provided with a central channel 24 that is substantially parallel to the axis 6 and a plurality of pairs of lateral channels 25 distributed along the channel 24 (in this case, three pairs of channels 25).

[0030] Each pair of channels 25 includes two channels 25 arranged on opposite sides of channel 24, substantially parallel to axis 12, and corresponding to the corresponding gear of the gearbox (not shown).

[0031] In use, lever 21 is moved by the driver to engage a gear:

[0032] Starting from the gap position corresponding to the central pair of channels 25, move around axis 12 and along channel 24; and

[0033] Move around axis 6 and along one of the channels 25 to engage the gear in question.

[0034] Obviously, the operation sequence is reversed from the one just described to disengage from a given gear.

[0035] In this configuration, panel 22 is also associated with multiple operation buttons 26a and one operation button 26b, where operation buttons 26a allow operation of the transmission (not shown) in automatic operation mode and operation button 26b allows operation of the transmission (not shown) in manual operation mode.

[0036] The lever 21 is also provided with a connecting pin 27, which protrudes from the lever 21 through the tube 11 parallel to the axis 12, and the connecting pin is able to move along a guide track 28 formed on the outer surface of the tube 11 due to the movement of the lever 21 about the axis 12.

[0037] According to a variant not shown, plate 22 and buttons 26a, 26b are eliminated and replaced with a closed plate (not shown) provided with four pairs of channels 25, the last pair of channels 25 being related to the operating mode of the automatic transmission (not shown).

[0038] In this configuration, to engage the automatic operation mode, lever 21 first moves against the action of spring 23 to its downward position to disengage pin 27 from track 28, then moves about axis 12 to align with channel 25 in the last pair of channels 25 and engage pin 27 in seat 29 formed at the corresponding end of track 28, and finally moves about axis 6 and along one channel 25.

[0039] Regarding the above description, it should be noted that:

[0040] At the end of the movement around axis 12, lever 21 engages in "neutral" mode;

[0041] At the end of the movement around axis 6 and along channel 25, lever 21 engages the "forward" mode; and

[0042] At the end of the movement around axis 6 and along another channel 25, lever 21 engages the "reverse" mode.

[0043] The drum 8 is fixedly connected to the bracket 5 at an angle so as to rotate about the axis 6, has three seats 30 formed on the free end of the drum 8, and defines a portion of the engagement assembly GI, which is configured to mechanically reproduce the engagement load of the gear selected by the driver.

[0044] The assembly GI also includes two stop units 31, 32, which are mounted on opposite sides of the drum 8 in a direction 33 parallel to the axis 12 to at least limit the rotation of the assembly defined by the drum 8 and the lever 21 about the axis 6.

[0045] In this case, unit 31 includes an electromagnetic actuator 34 fixed to frame 2 parallel to direction 33, and is provided with an output rod 35 slidably connected to actuator 34 to perform linear motion relative to actuator 34 in direction 33.

[0046] The rod 35 is provided with a connecting roller 36, which is mounted on the free end of the rod 35 to rotate about a rotation axis 37 parallel to the axis 6, and is movable between a forward stop position and a rearward release position. In the forward stop position, the roller 36 engages a slot 38 formed on the side surface of the drum 8 to at least limit the rotation of the assembly defined by the drum 8 and the lever 21 about the axis 6. In the rearward release position, the roller 36 disengages from the slot 38 to allow the assembly defined by the drum 8 and the lever 21 to rotate about the axis 6.

[0047] The lever 35 is moved by a spring 39 inserted between the actuator 34 and the lever 35 and is normally held in its forward stop position by the spring 39. When the gear selected by the driver matches the gear pre-selected by the control unit 10, the lever 35 moves from its forward stop position to its rearward release position by energizing the actuator 34, overcoming the action of the spring 39.

[0048] in other words:

[0049] When the driver selects a new gear immediately above or below the already engaged gear, the control unit 10 controls the power supply to the actuator 34 to move the lever 35 to its rearward release position and allow the new gear to be engaged; and

[0050] When the driver selects a new gear that is not immediately above or below an already engaged gear, the control unit 10 commands the actuator 34 to be deactivated so that the spring 39 can move the lever 35 to its forward stop position and temporarily prevent the new gear from being engaged while waiting for the transmission to synchronize the selected gear.

[0051] Unit 32 includes a guide cylinder 40 and a stop member 41, which is slidably engaged in the cylinder 40 to move in a direction 33 between a stop position and a disengaged position. In the stop position, member 41 engages the seat 30 of the drum 8 to at least limit rotation of the assembly defined by the drum 8 and the lever 21 about axis 6. In the disengaged position, member 41 disengages from the seat 30 itself to allow rotation of the assembly defined by the drum 8 and the lever 21 about axis 6.

[0052] Component 41 includes a pin element 42 and a ball element 43 inserted between the pin element 42 and the drum 8.

[0053] The pin element 42 further includes: a support rod 44 provided with a connecting roller 45 mounted in direction 33 on the opposite side of the ball element 43 to rotate about a rotation axis 46 orthogonal to axes 6 and 12; a tip 47 inserted between the ball element 43 and the rod 44; and a spring 48 inserted between the cylinder 40 and the tip 47 to move the ball element 43 and normally hold the ball element 43 in its stopped position.

[0054] Unit 32 also includes an operating device 49 that is movable between a locked position and a released position, wherein in the locked position the device 49 prevents the member 41 from moving to its disengaged position, and in the released position the device 49 allows the member 41 to move to its disengaged position.

[0055] In this case, the device 49 includes an electromagnetic actuator 50, which is fixed to the frame 2 in a direction 51 parallel to the axis 6 and transverse to the direction 33, and is provided with an output rod 52 slidably connected to the actuator 50 to perform linear motion relative to the actuator 50 in the direction 51.

[0056] The rod 52 is provided with a slot 53 formed on its outer surface and is movable in direction 51 between a release position and a locking position. In the release position, the slot 53 is aligned with the roller 45 in direction 33 to allow the roller 45 to engage the slot 53 and allow the member 41 to move to its disengaged position under the thrust of the drum 8. In the locking position, the roller 45 disengages from the slot 53 and the rod 52 prevents the member 41 from moving to its disengaged position under the thrust of the drum 8.

[0057] The lever 52 is moved by a spring 54 inserted between the actuator 50 and the lever 52 and is normally held in its locked position by the spring 54. When the clutch pedal (not shown) of the road vehicle (not shown) is engaged by the driver, the lever 52 moves from its locked position to its released position by energizing the actuator 50, overcoming the action of the spring 54.

[0058] Gearbox 1 has many advantages, mainly due to the following facts:

[0059] The stop unit 31 only allows the specific gear to be engaged when the gear selected by the driver matches the gear pre-selected by the control unit 10.

[0060] The stop unit 32 only allows a given gear to be engaged when the clutch pedal (not shown) of a road vehicle (not shown) is operated by the driver; and

[0061] The configuration of the spring 20a of the damping device 18, the spring 48 of the pin element 42, and the seat 30 of the drum 8 allows for the simulation of the engagement force of the selected gear and allows the operating lever 21 to move to its initial neutral position.

Claims

1. A control tower for a transmission of a road vehicle, the control tower comprising an operating lever (21) mounted to rotate about a first axis of rotation (6) and a second axis of rotation (12) transverse to each other, and movable between at least two pairs of gears and between the gears of each pair of gears; characterized in that, The control tower also includes detection devices (9, 15) for detecting the angular position of the operating lever (21) about the first rotation axis (6) and the second rotation axis (12) and supplying at least one electrical signal to an electronic control unit (10) configured to detect the gear engaged by the operating lever (21) and control the operation of the gearbox.

2. The control tower according to claim 1, characterized in that, The detection device (9, 15) includes: a first detection component (9), in particular a first angular position sensor, for detecting the angular position of the operating lever (21) about the first rotation axis (6); and a second detection component (15), in particular a second angular position sensor, for detecting the angular position of the operating lever (21) about the second rotation axis (12).

3. The control tower according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, It also includes a damping device (18) for resisting rotation of the operating lever (21) about the second rotation axis (12).

4. The control tower according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, It also includes an engagement drum (8) which is connected to the operating lever (21) at a fixed angle so as to rotate about the first rotation axis (6) between a rest position and two operating positions to engage the corresponding gear.

5. The control tower according to claim 4, characterized in that, It also includes a first stop unit (31, 32) for limiting the rotation of the assembly defined by the engagement drum (8) and the operating lever (21) about the first rotation axis (6).

6. The control tower according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first stop unit (32) is configured to move between a stop position and a disengagement position of the assembly defined by the engagement drum (8) and the operating lever (21), and is capable of moving from the stop position to the disengagement position in response to the driver engaging the clutch pedal.

7. The control tower according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The engagement drum (8) is provided with three seats (30), and the first stop unit (32) includes a stop member (41) that is movable between a stop position and a disengagement position in a first forward direction (33) transverse to the first rotation axis (6). In the stop position, the stop member (41) engages the seats (30) of the engagement drum (8) to restrict the rotation of the assembly defined by the engagement drum (8) and the operating lever (21) about the first rotation axis (6). In the disengagement position, the stop member (41) disengages from the seats (30) to allow the assembly defined by the engagement drum (8) and the operating lever (21) to rotate about the first rotation axis (6).

8. The control tower according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first stop unit (32) further includes a first operating device (49) that is movable between a locked position and a released position. In the locked position, the first operating device (49) prevents the stop member (41) from moving to its disengaged position, and in the released position, the first operating device (49) allows the stop member (41) to move to its disengaged position.

9. The control tower according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first operating device (49) includes a first actuator (50) having an output rod (52) movable between the locked position and the released position.

10. The control tower according to claim 9, characterized in that, The output rod (52) of the first actuator (50) is movable between the locked position and the released position in a second forward direction (51) transverse to the first forward direction (33) and is provided with a slot (53) configured to be engaged by the stop member (41) after the stop member (41) moves from the stop position to the separated position.

11. The control tower according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that, The stop member (41) includes a pin element (42) and a ball element (43) inserted between the pin element (42) and the engagement drum (8).

12. The control tower according to claim 11 when dependent on claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The pin element (42) includes a support rod (44) that cooperates with the output rod (52), a top end (47) inserted between the ball element (43) and the support rod (44), and a spring (48) for moving the top end (47) and generally keeping the top end (47) in contact with the ball element (43).

13. The control tower according to any one of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that, It also includes a second stop unit (31) for limiting the rotation of the assembly defined by the engagement drum (8) and the operating lever (21) about the first rotation axis (6).

14. The control tower according to claim 13, characterized in that, The first stop unit (31) and the second stop unit (32) are located on opposite sides of the engagement drum (8).

15. The control tower according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that, The second stop unit (31) is configured to move between a stop position and a release position, in which the second stop unit (31) prevents the assembly defined by the engagement drum (8) and the operating lever (21) from moving about the first rotation axis (6), and in the release position, the second stop unit (31) allows the assembly defined by the engagement drum (8) and the operating lever (21) to move about the first rotation axis (6).

16. The control tower according to claim 15, characterized in that, The second stop unit (31) includes a second actuator (34) which is provided with an output rod (35) that is movable between the stop position and the release position.

17. The control tower according to claim 16, characterized in that, When the gear selected by the operating lever (21) corresponds to the gear pre-selected by the electronic control unit (10), the output rod (35) of the second actuator (34) can move from its stop position to its release position.

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