One-Piece Shift Fork with Integrated Magnet Recess

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transmission systems with shift units and sensor arrangements for detecting shift fork position are costly, require significant installation space, and face challenges in reliable and precise positioning of sensor components due to assembly tolerances.

Innovation Solution

A transmission system with a one-piece shift fork body made of non-ferritic material, featuring a recess for direct integration of a magnet signal transmitter, and a sensor holder on the transmission housing for precise positioning and protection from splashing oil, along with steel support rings for secure fastening, ensures cost-effectiveness, compact design, and reliable operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the signal transmitter is mounted on the shift fork using brackets or support components, then the signal transmitter can be positioned on the shift fork, but the manufacturing cost increases and assembly tolerances accumulate leading to positioning errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The signal transmitter is integrated directly into the shift fork body as a single-piece component. The shift fork body includes a recess that receives and positions the signal transmitter without requiring separate brackets or support components. This merging eliminates assembly tolerances and positioning errors while reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple components are assembled to form the shift fork, then the shift fork can be manufactured with specific functions, but assembly tolerances accumulate and hinder precise positioning of the signal transmitter

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal transmitter positioningVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The shift fork is manufactured as a one-piece body with the signal transmitter integrated directly into it. The recess in the shift fork body provides precise positioning for the signal transmitter without requiring multiple assembly steps. This eliminates tolerance accumulation and simplifies manufacturing while maintaining functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If the signal transmitter is placed directly adjacent to the shift fork without intermediate components, then manufacturing is simplified and installation space is reduced, but the signal transmitter may be exposed to harmful factors like iron sludge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidiron sludge deposition
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The signal transmitter is integrated into the shift fork body with the recess providing both positioning and protection. The recess structure shields the signal transmitter from direct exposure to iron sludge while maintaining compactness and manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 reduces manufacturing and assembly costs, eliminates assembly tolerances, and ensures precise and reliable detection of shift fork position with reduced risk of measurement errors from iron sludge deposition, while maintaining compactness and durability.

Implementation Method 1

The signal transmitter is a magnet arranged in a recess of the shift fork body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

The sensor arrangement is designed as a Hall sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHall effect: Hall Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3464958B1Transmission having a shifting unit
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • EP3464958B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3464958B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a transmission having a shifting unit (1), wherein the shifting unit (1) comprises a selector fork and a sensor arrangement (2) for detecting a selector fork position. The selector fork has two fork limbs (4, 5) and a fastening region (6) for fastening the selector fork on a selector rail (7), and the sensor arrangement (2) comprises a signal transmitter (8) on the selector fork and a signal pick-up (9) which is arranged fixedly on a transmission housing (10). It is provided that the fork limbs (4, 5) and the fastening region (6) are manufactured together as a single-piece selector fork body (3), and that the selector fork body (3) has a recess (11) for receiving the signal transmitter (8).