Single Lever Shifter for Planetary Gear Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current Lenco transmission system's multi-lever mechanical shifter apparatus is cumbersome and prone to incorrect sequential actuation during rapid gear changes in high-performance racing, particularly for those unfamiliar with the arrangement.
Innovation Solution
A single-lever shifter apparatus with a housing featuring horizontal tracks and sliders connected to actuators via linkages, where a lever with a slider engaging portion moves sliders along tracks to sequentially actuate actuators, simplifying gear changes by eliminating the need for multiple levers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a multi-lever shifter apparatus is used to control planetary gear transmission, then each actuator can be controlled individually, but the arrangement becomes cumbersome and prone to incorrect sequential actuation during rapid gear changes
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual levers are merged into a single lever that controls all actuators sequentially. The single lever incorporates a driving member with multiple engaging portions that interact with sliders connected to different actuators, eliminating the need for separate levers while maintaining individual actuator control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The single lever is segmented into multiple functional zones with distinct engaging portions along its length. Each engaging portion corresponds to a specific actuator and can be selectively engaged by sliders, allowing the unified lever to perform the function of multiple separate levers through spatial segmentation
2Productivity
If multiple levers are used for rapid gear changes, then each gear can be controlled separately, but the reaction time increases and the risk of incorrect actuation sequence increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single lever implements periodic sequential engagement with different actuators through its length. As the lever moves back and forth, sliders sequentially engage different engaging portions in a predetermined order, creating a periodic actuation pattern that ensures correct sequencing while maintaining rapid response
Solution Approach 2:
Sliders act as intermediary elements between the single lever and multiple actuators. The sliders translate the single lever's motion into sequential actuator engagement by engaging different portions of the lever at different positions, mediating the control signal distribution while ensuring proper sequencing
Data Source
AI summary
A shifter apparatus for manually changing gear ratio in a planetary gear transmission, said planetary gear transmission being of the type which comprises a plurality of actuators, wherein the sequential actuation of said actuators progressively causes a change of gear ratio in said planetary gear transmission. The shifter apparatus advantageously provides a single lever which can be quickly and easily shifted by a user.