Hydraulic Shift Rod Layout for Stable Gear Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle transmission systems face challenges in achieving reliable and precise gear shifting due to imprecise hydraulic pressure conditions, leading to undesired axial movements and mispositioning of shift rods, which affect shift quality.

Innovation Solution

A shifting device with shared pressure chambers and a common valve unit, incorporating a check valve and air ducts, ensures stable pressure conditions and prevents accidental mispositioning of shift rods by using a common tank line and check valve, and efficiently removes air from hydraulic chambers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate valve units are used for each return line, then each pressure chamber can be controlled independently, but manufacturing tolerances cause different check pressures leading to shift rod mispositioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshift rod positioning accuracyVSAvoidnumber of valve units
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two separate valve units into a single common valve unit that serves both return lines. This merging eliminates the problem of manufacturing tolerances between separate valve units causing different check pressures, while still providing independent control of each pressure chamber through the shared valve unit's design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If larger movement play is dimensioned for shift rod, then mispositioning can be compensated, but shift quality and precision deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshift rod position stabilityVSAvoidshift quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the pressure parameters in the hydraulic system by implementing a common tank line with a common valve unit that maintains equal check pressures in both pressure chambers. This parameter change stabilizes the shift rod position without requiring increased movement play, thereby preserving shift quality while improving position stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If common tank line with common valve unit is used, then pressure conditions are stabilized and mispositioning prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure condition stabilityVSAvoidhydraulic circuit configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The common valve unit performs multiple functions: it controls both return lines, maintains equal check pressures in both pressure chambers, and prevents mispositioning of the shift rod. This multi-functionality achieves pressure stabilization without proportionally increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides stable pressure conditions and prevents mispositioning of shift rods, ensuring high-quality gearshift behavior and comfortable driving by maintaining precise shift rod positions even under pressure fluctuations.

Implementation Method 1

both rod-free ends of the shift rod can be hydraulically acted upon... hydraulic pressure to both rod ends... hydraulic medium (e.g. oil) to enter the pressure chambers in order to be able to apply hydraulic pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

The valve unit is designed as a check valve, which can prevent an undesired outflow of the hydraulic medium from the pressure chambers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCheck valve blocking: Valve

Data Source

PatentEP4589178A1Shift device and towing vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 DEERE & CO
  • EP4589178A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4589178A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4589178A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a shifting device (40) for shifting gears of a vehicle transmission (30). The shifting device (40) contains at least one shift rod (42) which is translationally movable along a shifting direction (48), the two rod free ends (44) of which are each mounted in a pressure chamber (46) for hydraulic medium and can be hydraulically actuated. The shifting device (40) has a pressure connection (50) and a hydraulic pressure line (52) connected thereto at each pressure chamber (46). Furthermore, a tank connection (54) and a hydraulic return line (56) connected thereto are arranged at each pressure chamber (46). The two return lines (56) open into a common tank line (58) for connection to a hydraulic tank. The invention further relates to a towing vehicle (10) having such a shifting device (40).