US3824878A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for automatically controlling a gearbox
Assignee: Automobiles Citroen SA
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Filing: 1972-03-27
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Granted: 1974-07-23
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Expires: 1992-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A device comprising means capable of emitting an electrical signal and means responsive to said signal and adapted to command a change of gear. The means capable of emitting the signal include a light source which can be caused to communicate with a receiver element capable of triggering the electrical signal, and two rotatable shafts, the angular amplitudes of whose rotations depend respectively on engine operating parameters. The two shafts cooperate with means for causing the light emitter and receiver to communicate. Application to the control of an automobile gearbox.
Inventors
- 👤 A Grosseau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:30
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H59/00; F16H59/36; B; B60; B60W; B60W30/00; B60W30/18; B60W30/1819; B60K; B60K2702/00; B60K2702/08; B60K2702/18; F16H59/14; F16H59/18; F16H61/00; F16H61/02; F16H61/0202; F16H61/0204; F16H61/0206; F16H61/0211
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
286 words
For use in a vehicle having an engine equipped with a throttle valve, apparatus for automatically controlling changes in gear ratios in a multi-ratio gearbox coupled to said engine, comprising: a first rotatable shaft; means rotating said first shaft through an angle dependent upon the rotational speed of said engine; a second rotatable shaft having its axis of rotation disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said first shaft; an emitter element for emitting electromagnetic radiation signals; a receiver element for receiving electromagnetic radiation signals emitted from said emitter element; at least one of said emitter and receiver elements being coupled to one of said shafts for rotation therewith; a screen coupled with the other of said shafts for rotation therewith, said screen being disposed between said emitter and receiver elements to block radiation emitted by the former from being received by the latter; at least one window formed in said screen pervious to said electromagnetic radiation, said window being so located in said screen as to communicate said emitter and receiver elements when said shafts are rotatably disposed in predetermined positions relative to each other; drive means coupled to said engine throttle valve to continuously rotate said second shaft over a range of rotation of predetermined angular amplitude through an angle corresponding to the movement of said throttle valve; and control means coupled to said receiver element for generating an electrical signal when electromagnetic radiation signals from said emitter element impinge on said receiver element to produce an output signal therefrom, the output of said control means being coupled to said gearbox to actuate a change in the gear ratio thereof as a function of the output electrical signal generated by said control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
286 words
For use in a vehicle having an engine equipped with a throttle valve, apparatus for automatically controlling changes in gear ratios in a multi-ratio gearbox coupled to said engine, comprising: a first rotatable shaft; means rotating said first shaft through an angle dependent upon the rotational speed of said engine; a second rotatable shaft having its axis of rotation disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said first shaft; an emitter element for emitting electromagnetic radiation signals; a receiver element for receiving electromagnetic radiation signals emitted from said emitter element; at least one of said emitter and receiver elements being coupled to one of said shafts for rotation therewith; a screen coupled with the other of said shafts for rotation therewith, said screen being disposed between said emitter and receiver elements to block radiation emitted by the former from being received by the latter; at least one window formed in said screen pervious to said electromagnetic radiation, said window being so located in said screen as to communicate said emitter and receiver elements when said shafts are rotatably disposed in predetermined positions relative to each other; drive means coupled to said engine throttle valve to continuously rotate said second shaft over a range of rotation of predetermined angular amplitude through an angle corresponding to the movement of said throttle valve; and control means coupled to said receiver element for generating an electrical signal when electromagnetic radiation signals from said emitter element impinge on said receiver element to produce an output signal therefrom, the output of said control means being coupled to said gearbox to actuate a change in the gear ratio thereof as a function of the output electrical signal generated by said control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said screen comprises a cylinder of revolution, said at least one window being formed in the cylindrical surface of said screen, and wherein said emitter element is stationarily mounted at a position coincident with the axis of rotation of said cylinder; said apparatus further comprising a cylindrical jacket at least partially surrounding the cylindrical surface of said screen, said receiver element being mounted on the inner surface of said jacket.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said screen is fixed to said first shaft, a portion of said screen comprising graduation marks adapted to travel past a window fixedly positioned in relation to a dashboard of said vehicle, said window and graduated portion jointly forming the speedometer of said vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
139 words
The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises a multiplier mechanism for generating an angular rotational movement which is a multiple of the amount of angular rotational movement of said throttle valve, said multiplier mechanism being coupled to said second shaft to impart said multiplied angular rotational movement thereto; said apparatus further comprising a planar member mounted on said second shaft perpendicular to the axis of rotation thereof for rotation therewith, said planar member having an arcuate slot formed therein; a drive member coupled to said multiplier mechanism and mounted for movement in said arcuate slot of said planar member to transmit the multiplied angular rotational movement of said throttle valve to said second shaft above a minimum range of angular movement of said throttle valve determined by the arc subtended by said arcuate slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
159 words
The control apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a third shaft having its axis of rotation at least parallel to that of said second shaft; a second receiver element, the first and second receiver elements being fixedly coupled to said second and third shafts, respectively, for rotation therewith, said first and second receiver elements being angularly displaced frOm one another about said parallel axes of rotation; a further planar member mounted on said third shaft for rotation therewith and having a further arcuate slot formed therein; a further multiplier mechanism coupled to said third shaft; a further drive member coupled to said further multiplier mechanism and mounted for movement in said further arcuate slot formed in said further planar member to transmit the multiplied angular rotational movement of said second shaft to said third shaft above and below a minimum range of angular movement of said second shaft determined by the arc subtended by said further arcuate slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
208 words
The control apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a first pair of emitter and receiver elements rotatably coupled with one of said shafts, the angular amplitude of rotation of which is a function of a first range of movement of the throttle valve, said first pair of elements being adapted to command upward changes in gear ratio from a lower to a higher gear; a second pair of emitter and receiver elements; means rotatably coupling said second pair of elements to said one shaft for rotation therewith as a function of a second range of movement of said throttle valve, said second pair of elements being adapted to command downward changes in gear ratio from a higher to a lower gear; said first and second pairs of elements being mutually offset in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said one shaft; and wherein said screen is disposed in the respective paths between said emitter elements and said receiver elements and includes first and second windows pervious to said electromagnetic radiation, said windows being located in said screen at radial distances from the axis of rotation of the other of said shafts corresponding to the radial location of said first and second pairs of elements, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second receiver element mounted on the same shaft with the first receiver element for movement therewith and angularly displaced therefrom about an axis at least parallel to the axis of rotation of said one of said shafts, said second receiver element being electrically connected to said control means; wherein one of said receiver elements is adapted to produce an electrical signal for commanding an upward change in gear ratio from a lower gear to a higher gear and the other receiver element is adapted to produce a signal to command a downward change from a higher gear to a lower gear.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The control apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a second emitter element disposed to cooperate with said second receiver element, said emitter elements and said receiver elements being mounted for rotation with said one of said shafts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
The control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said second emitter and receiver elements are radially and angularly displaced from said first emitter and receiver elements, said emitter elements and said receiver elements being located in respective planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said one of said shafts, and wherein said screen is disposed in the respective paths between said first emitter and receiver elements and said second emitter and receiver elements and includes first and second windows pervious to said electromagnetic radiation, said windows being located in said screen at respective radial distances from the axis of rotation of said other of said shafts corresponding to the radial location of said first emitter and receiver elements and said second emitter and receiver elements, respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
155 words
The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said screen comprises a planar member mounted on said other shaft perpendicular to the axis of rotation thereof, and said first window has an arcuate shape subtending an arc substantially equal to one-half the difference between the amplitudes of angular rotation of said screen corresponding respectively to positions of maximum and minimum tHrottle valve openings, said first window being disposed in the path between said first emitter and receiver elements which command a downward change in said gear ratio from said higher to said lower gears; and said apparatus further comprises a fixed opaque sector radially displaced from the axis of rotation of said other shaft substantially the same distance as said first window, said opaque sector subtending an arc which is less than that subtended by said first window to at least partially mask said first window for a predetermined range of rotation of said screen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-22 | 1978-01-21 | 1978-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-22 | 1982-01-21 | 1982-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-22 | 1986-01-21 | 1986-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |