Vehicular Shift Operation Apparatus Gear Stage Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual transmissions in heavy trucks with sub-transmissions face challenges in preventing over-rotation and underrun due to erroneous shift operations, as existing techniques are not applicable to manual transmissions and can lead to engine or drive-system component damage or stall.

Innovation Solution

A vehicular shift operation apparatus with a manual transmission, including a main shaft rotation speed sensor, clutch pedal position sensors, and a controller that detects the gear stage and determines if it is correct, activating a warning device if over-rotation or underrun is detected, thereby preventing engine or drive-system damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a manual transmission with sub-transmissions is used in heavy trucks, then the transmission capability and versatility are improved, but the operation complexity increases and the risk of erroneous shift operation worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission capabilityVSAvoidoperation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the actual gear stage through sensors detecting main shaft rotation speed, clutch pedal position, and sub-transmission states, compares it with the intended gear stage from shift operation signals, and provides feedback to the controller to detect erroneous operations and alert the driver

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary between the driver's shift operation and the transmission system, automatically detecting the actual gear stage and comparing it with the intended gear stage to identify erroneous operations before they cause damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If gear position switches are used to detect all gear stages, then over-rotation can be prevented in automatic transmissions, but the technique cannot be applied to manual transmissions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveover-rotation preventionVSAvoidapplicability to manual transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses multiple sensors (main shaft rotation speed sensor, clutch pedal position sensors, splitter position sensor, range rotation speed sensor) that serve multiple functions: detecting current gear stage, determining clutch engagement state, and enabling erroneous shift detection applicable to both automatic and manual transmissions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces traditional mechanical gear position switches with a sensor-based detection system that measures rotation speeds and positions, providing a universal solution that works for both automatic and manual transmissions including those with sub-transmissions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If the clutch pedal position is monitored to detect gear stage, then the current gear stage can be accurately detected, but additional sensors and measurement devices are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegear stage detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensors are designed to serve multiple detection purposes: the main shaft rotation speed sensor detects both rotation speed and gear stage information, the clutch pedal position sensors determine both pedal state and clutch engagement status, and the range rotation speed sensor provides both speed measurement and gear stage verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system combines multiple detection functions into a unified control system that processes signals from various sensors simultaneously to determine gear stage, clutch state, and detect erroneous operations, reducing the need for separate dedicated sensors for each function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9890854B2Vehicular shift operation apparatus

Publication Date: 2018.02.13 UD TRUCKS CORP

AI summary

A vehicular shift operation apparatus that includes a manual transmission including an input-side sub-transmission and an output-side sub-transmission, and that is capable of preventing overrun or underrun due to erroneous shift operation, is provided. The vehicular shift operation apparatus includes a manual transmission including an input-side sub-transmission and an output-side sub-transmission, and includes: a main shaft rotation speed sensor that detects a main shaft rotation speed, a sensor that detects a position of a clutch pedal, and a controller. The controller has a function of detecting a gear stage at a control cycle (current gear stage) and a function of determining whether the detected gear stage is correct or not.