Motorcycle Gear Shift Drum Sensing for Fast Low-Resistance Shifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorcycle gear shift systems are costly, complex, and have long intervention times, providing a resistance feeling during gear shifts, which is unacceptable in racing, and often require double sensors and elastic elements that increase maintenance costs and reduce reliability.
Innovation Solution
A system using a single Hall-effect sensor on the gearbox drum to detect gear shifts, generating voltage signals that are interpreted by an ECU to manage torque dynamics for quick and reliable gear changes, eliminating the need for additional sensors and elastic elements, and allowing gear shifts with minimal mechanical resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If double sensors and elastic elements are used to detect gear shifts, then gear shift detection accuracy is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the elastic element from the system, replacing the complex double-sensor mechanism with a single sensor that directly detects gear shift position without mechanical resistance interference. This reduces system complexity while maintaining detection accuracy through electronic sensing alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The single sensor on the gearbox drum performs multiple functions: detecting gear shift initiation, determining shift direction (upshift/downshift), and monitoring shift completion. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for separate sensors and elastic elements, reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If double sensors and elastic elements are used to detect gear shifts, then gear shift detection reliability is improved, but maintenance cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the elastic element and one sensor from the system, the patent eliminates the primary sources of mechanical failure and wear. The simplified system with a single sensor has fewer moving parts and no elastic elements that can degrade, thereby reducing maintenance requirements and costs while maintaining reliable detection.
3Measurement precision
If elastic element is used between gear lever and gearbox selector drum, then gear shift detection is improved, but intervention time increases and rider feeling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the elastic element that caused delayed response and resistance feeling. The direct mechanical connection allows the sensor to detect gear shift movements immediately without the time delay introduced by elastic element deformation, reducing intervention time and improving rider feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical elastic element with an electronic sensing solution. Instead of using mechanical deformation to detect gear shifts, the system uses a sensor to directly detect positional changes, eliminating the time delay and resistance associated with elastic element mechanics.
4Adaptability or versatility
If prior art quickshift systems are implemented, then gear shifting capability is achieved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single sensor on the gearbox drum serves multiple detection purposes (gear shift initiation, direction, and completion), replacing the need for multiple dedicated sensors. This multi-functional approach significantly reduces system cost while maintaining full gear shifting capability including upshifts, downshifts, and neutral engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes unnecessary components (one sensor and the elastic element) from the system. By eliminating these redundant parts, the system achieves cost reduction without compromising gear shifting capability, as the single remaining sensor provides sufficient detection information for all shift operations.
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 system provides a more responsive, cost-effective, and reliable gear shift experience with reduced maintenance needs, ensuring quick shifts even at low engine revolutions and improved control, especially in racing conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A system using a single Hall-effect sensor on the gearbox drum to detect gear shifts, generating voltage signals that are interpreted by an ECU
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for quickly shifting the gear of an engine of a motorcycle having a gear assembly (2) provided with a rotary member (7) for selecting the gear, provides for detecting the position of such rotary member (7) during the gear shift and with the gear engaged, identify the electrical signals detected by a special sensor (11) functionally associated with such rotary member (7) and relating to such position, detecting a predefined electrical signal value between said identified electrical signals and shifting the gear when such predefined signal value is achieved following an action of the rider on a gear lever. Furthermore, herein claimed is the system for implementing such method.