Force transmission device for a transmission

Abstract

The invention pertains to a force transmitting device (100) for a transmission (200), particularly of a motorcycle, with a shift assist system, featuring a shift input shaft (30) with a shift lever connection (20) for receiving a shifting motion of a shift lever (300) and a transmission connection (40) for transmitting the shifting motion to a gear shifting gate (110) of the transmission (100), wherein the shift input shaft (30) features an energy accumulator (32) for the intermediate storage of at least part of the shifting force such that the relative motion between the shift lever connection (20) and the transmission connection (40) can be realized by changing the shifting force stored in the energy accumulator (32), and wherein the shift input shaft (30) features a sensor device (60) for detecting the relative motion between the shift lever connection (20) and the transmission connection (40).

Claims

1. A force transmitting device for a transmission with a shift assist system, the force transmitting device comprising: a shift input shaft including a shift lever connection for receiving a shifting motion of a shift lever and a transmission connection for transmitting the shifting motion to a gear shifting gate of the transmission, wherein the shift input shaft includes an energy accumulator for intermediate storage of at least part of a shifting force such that relative motion between the shift lever connection and the transmission connection is realized by changing the shifting force stored in the energy accumulator, wherein the shift input shaft further includes a sensor device for detecting the relative motion between the shift lever connection and the transmission connection, wherein the energy accumulator includes a torque rod comprising (i) a shifting end that includes a shift stop and (ii) a transmission end that includes a transmission stop, wherein the shift lever connection includes a first shift lever connection guide for the shift stop and a second shift lever connection guide for the transmission stop, wherein the transmission connection includes a first transmission connection guide for the shift stop and a second transmission connection guide for the transmission stop, wherein the shift input shaft includes an outer tube and the outer tube of the shift input shaft surrounds the torque rod, wherein a movement of the shift stop is guided and limited by the first shift lever connection guide and the first transmission connection guide, wherein a movement of the transmission stop is guided and limited by the second shift lever connection guide and the second transmission connection guide, wherein the shift stop comprises a pin that is separately and independently guided and limited by the first shift lever connection guide having an oblong shaped hole and the first transmission connection guide having an oblong shaped hole, and wherein the transmission stop is another pin that is separately and independently guided and limited by the second shift lever connection guide having an oblong shaped hole and the second transmission connection guide having an oblong shaped hole.

2. The force transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein the energy accumulator is a rotatory energy accumulator, and wherein the shift lever connection is designed for carrying out a rotational motion relative to the transmission connection.

3. The force transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein the relative motion of the shift lever connection is a rotational motion, and wherein a shifting angle between a neutral position of the shift lever connection and a shifting position of the shift lever connection results between these two positions.

4. The force transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein the shift lever connection is designed for carrying out a motion relative to the transmission connection from a neutral position into at least one shifting position, and wherein the energy accumulator exerts a prestressing force upon the shift lever connection in the neutral position.

5. The force transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device includes at least one detection means, which is stationary relative to the shift lever connection, as well as a sensor means, which is stationary relative to the transmission connection.

6. The force transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device is designed for transmitting the detected relative motion via wireless communication.

7. The force transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein the torque rod includes an installation interface for introducing torsion into the torque rod on the shifting end or on the transmission end.

8. The force transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein an angular position of the shift stop relative to the transmission stop is variable.

9. The force transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device has a principal axis that is parallel to a shifting axis of the shift input shaft.

10. The force transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein the shift input shaft includes an outer tube, and wherein the energy accumulator is arranged within the outer tube.

11. The force transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device is arranged on the shift lever connection or on the transmission connection.

12. The force transmitting device of claim 1, wherein the shift stop, the transmission stop, the first shift lever connection guide, the second shift lever connection guide, the first transmission connection guide and the second transmission connection guide define and limit the relative motion between the shift lever connection and the transmission connection.

13. A method for installation of a force transmitting device, wherein the force transmitting device comprises: a shift input shaft including a shift lever connection for receiving a shifting motion of a shift lever and a transmission connection for transmitting the shifting motion to a gear shifting gate of the transmission, wherein the shift input shaft includes an energy accumulator for intermediate storage of at least part of a shifting force such that relative motion between the shift lever connection and the transmission connection is realized by changing the shifting force stored in the energy accumulator, wherein the shift input shaft further includes a sensor device for detecting the relative motion between the shift lever connection and the transmission connection, wherein the energy accumulator includes a torque rod comprising (i) a shifting end that includes a shift stop and (ii) a transmission end that includes a transmission stop, wherein the shift lever connection includes a first shift lever connection guide for the shift stop and a second shift lever connection guide for the transmission stop, wherein the transmission connection includes a first transmission connection guide for the shift stop and a second transmission connection guide for the transmission stop, wherein the shift input shaft includes an outer tube and the outer tube of the shift input shaft surrounds the torque rod, wherein a movement of the shift stop is guided and limited by the first shift lever connection guide and the first transmission connection guide, wherein a movement of the transmission stop is guided and limited by the second shift lever connection guide and the second transmission connection guide, wherein the shift stop comprises a pin that is separately and independently guided and limited by the first shift lever connection guide having an oblong shaped hole and the first transmission connection guide having an oblong shaped hole, and wherein the transmission stop is another pin that is separately and independently guided and limited by the second shift lever connection guide having an oblong shaped hole and the second transmission connection guide having an oblong shaped hole, and wherein the method comprises: providing the shift lever connection, the shift lever and the transmission connection; mounting the energy accumulator on the transmission connection; acting upon the energy accumulator with a prestressing force; and mounting the prestressed energy accumulator with the shift lever connection.

Description

(1) Other advantages, characteristics and details of the invention can be gathered from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are elucidated in greater detail with reference to the drawings. In this respect, the characteristics disclosed in the claims and in the description may respectively be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. In the schematic drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an inventive force transmitting device,

(3) FIG. 2 shows another embodiment in the form of a lateral section,

(4) FIG. 3 shows another embodiment in the form of a lateral section,

(5) FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the force transmitting device in the neutral position,

(6) FIG. 5 shows the embodiment according to FIG. 4 in a first shifting position,

(7) FIG. 6 shows the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5 in a second shifting position,

(8) FIG. 7 shows the embodiment in the form of a cross-sectional top view,

(9) FIG. 8 shows three separate illustrations of the embodiment in the neutral position,

(10) FIG. 9 shows the embodiment according to FIG. 8 in a first shifting position,

(11) FIG. 10 shows the embodiment according to FIGS. 8 and 9 in a second shifting position,

(12) FIG. 11 shows a first installation state of an inventive force transmitting device,

(13) FIG. 12 shows the next installation state after FIG. 11, and

(14) FIG. 13 shows the next installation state after FIG. 12.

(15) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a force transmitting device 100. A gear shifting gate 110 forms part of a not-shown transmission 200. A shifting motion is carried out in order to rotate this gear shifting gate for a shifting operation. For this purpose, the shift lever 300 is acted upon with a shifting motion by the driver of the vehicle. In FIG. 1, this concerns an upward motion or downward motion of the shift lever 300.

(16) This shifting motion can subsequently be transmitted to the shift lever connection 20 of the force transmitting device via a linkage. Consequently, the shifting motion and therefore also the shifting force are introduced into the inventive force transmitting device 100 at this point. During this process, a relative motion takes place between the shift lever connection 20 and the transmission connection 40 such that a shifting force is intermediately stored in an energy accumulator 32 as described in greater detail further below.

(17) FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross section through a transmission 200, in which the correlation between the shift input shaft 30 of the force transmitting device 100 and the gear shifting gate 110 is clearly illustrated. The two ends of the force transmitting device 100, i.e. the shift lever connection 20 and the transmission connection 40, are also clearly illustrated in this figure.

(18) FIG. 3 likewise shows a schematic cross section through another embodiment of a force transmitting device 100. This figure shows a design that features a hollow shift input shaft 30 with an outer tube. The energy accumulator 32 is located within this outer tube 36. The extending design of the sensor device 60, which axially forms one end of the force transmitting device 100, is also clearly illustrated in this figure.

(19) FIGS. 4-6 show an embodiment without an external case and, in particular, without the sensor device 60. In this case, the three FIGS. 4-6 show three different positions of the shift lever connection 20. However, no shifting operation has taken place yet in any of these three positions, but all three positions rather show the situation shortly before the shifting operation is actually carried out.

(20) FIG. 4 shows the neutral position NP of the shift lever connection 20. In this neutral position, corresponding shift stop 72a and transmission stop 74a located in associated guides 46a and 46b are likewise in a prestressed neutral position. The detection means 62 indicates this neutral position NP. If the driver of the motorcycle now steps on the shift lever connection 20, a rotation of the shift lever connection 20 relative to the transmission connection 40 takes place as illustrated in FIG. 6. The shift lever connection 20 moves downward, wherein a force has to be exerted for this relative motion in order to twist the torque rod 70 within the shift lever 30. This motion can be gathered based on the changed correlation of the stops 72a and 74a in the guides 46a and 46b. The detection means 62 has now moved into a position for the shifting position SP.

(21) The above-described process takes place analogously when the shift lever connection 20 is pressed upward from below. The shift lever connection 20 is also moved from the neutral position NP into a shifting position SP in this case. In both instances, a shifting angle α is adjusted in order to define the corresponding shifting position SP.

(22) Based on the positions according to FIGS. 5 and 6, an equilibrium of forces exists between the shifting force in the energy accumulator 32 and the required shifting counterforce of the transmission 200. At this point, the shifting operation takes place such that the counterforce in the transmission 200 is reduced and at least part of the shifting force stored in the energy accumulator 32 is released. According to FIG. 5, the shift lever 30 now moves downward and the shifting angle α is once again reduced to 0° such that the entire shift lever device 10 is based on FIG. 6 moved into the neutral position.

(23) The design of the energy accumulator 32 in the form of a torque rod 70 is clearly illustrated in the schematic cross-sectional top view according to FIG. 7. The corresponding stops in the form of the shift stop 72a and the transmission stop 74a are arranged on the corresponding shifting end 72 and the transmission end 74. An installation interface 76 with a cross section that deviates from the circular shape likewise forms part of the shifting end 72 in order to carry out the installation described further below. Both stops 72a and 74a consist of inserted pins for engaging with the associated guides 46a, 46b, 26a and 26b.

(24) The correlation of the energy accumulator 32 in the form of the torque rod 70 with the other components is described below with reference to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. Each of these FIGS. 8-10 once again shows the positions according to FIGS. 4-6, as well as the correlation between the shifting end 72 and the transmission end 74 of the torque rod 70 within the shift lever 30 in the form of two details. The corresponding guides consist of oblong holes that overlap one another. FIG. 8 shows the neutral position NP of the shift lever connection 20. The shift stop 72a located on the shifting end 72 of the torque rod 70 is in a position, in which the two guides 26a and 46a have an upward clearance. The transmission stop 74a located on the opposite transmission end 74 of the torque rod 70 is in a position, in which the two guides 26b and 46b have a downward clearance. Since these guides 46a, 46b, 26a and 26b have clearances in opposite directions, it is ensured that this neutral position NP forms a defined zero position, particularly in a prestressed fashion.

(25) If a motion of the type described in the form of a relative motion with reference to FIGS. 4-6 now takes place, the relations between the guides 26a, 26b, 46a and 46b and the corresponding stops 72a and 74a change as follows. In the shifting position SP according to FIG. 9, the shift lever connection 20 has moved downward. The clearance of the respective guides 26a, 46a and 26b, 46b has now jointly shifted due to the fact that they were partially carried along by a motion of the respective stop 74a or 72a. This on the one hand leads to the detection means 62 being carried along in order to indicate the shifting position SP, and on the other hand to an increase of the torsion, namely of the relative angle between the two pins in the form of the stops 72a and 74a. The same processes also take place during a contrary motion into an opposite shifting position SP as illustrated in FIG. 10. This figure shows how easily and cost-effectively zero positions NP can be defined by means of a corresponding geometric correlation between the guides 26a, 26b, 46a and 46b and how even corresponding limit stops can be defined by means of the shifting positions SP.

(26) FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 show an installation option for an inventive force transmitting device 100. Based on FIG. 10, the installation takes place by inserting the torque rod 70 into the shift lever connection 20. In these figures, two angularly offset bores are respectively illustrated on the shifting end 72 and on the transmission end 74 of the torque rod 70. After the insertion, the transmission connection 40 and therefore the shift lever 30 are attached such that a transmission stop 74a in the form of a pin can ultimately be inserted in order to complete this step. An installed variation is illustrated in this position in FIG. 12. A prestressing force in the form of torsion is now introduced into the torque rod 70 at the installation interface 76. The corresponding shift stop 72a in the form of a pin is inserted as soon as the bore on the shifting end 72 correspondingly overlaps with the associated guides 46a and 26a. According to FIG. 12, a cover 80 is finally attached in order to ensure water tightness and a detection means 62 in the form of a magnet is attached. The force transmitting device 100 is finished by attaching the watertight encapsulated housing of the sensor device 60.

(27) In the preceding explanation of embodiments, the present invention was described with reference to examples only. If technically feasible, individual characteristics of the embodiments naturally may be freely combined with one another without deviating from the scope of the present invention.

REFERENCE LIST

(28) 20 Shift lever connection 24 Axis 26a First shift lever connection guide 26b Second shift lever connection guide 30 Shift input shaft 32 Energy accumulator 34 Shifting axis 36 Outer tube 40 Transmission connection 44 Axis 46a First transmission connection guide 46b Second transmission connection guide 60 Sensor device 62 Detection means 64 Sensor means 66 Principal axis of sensor device 70 Torque rod 72 Shifting end 72a Shift stop 74 Transmission end 74a Transmission stop 76 Installation interface 100 Force transmitting device 110 Gear shifting gate 200 Transmission 300 Shift lever NP Neutral position SP Shifting position α Shifting angle