Integration of a Transmission Actuator

Abstract

A transmission actuator, a transfer mechanism, a system, a transmission, a drivetrain and a vehicle includes a transmission gear change arrangement in which the actuating direction of the transmission actuator is inclined in relative to a transmission shaft axis by an angle.

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20. A transmission actuator for setting at least one shifted position in a transmission which has at least one transmission shaft, wherein the transmission actuator is configured to perform an actuating movement in an actuating direction to set the at least one shifted position, and the actuating direction is not parallel to a transmission shaft axis of the at least one transmission shaft.

21. The transmission actuator as claimed in claim 20, wherein a longitudinal direction of the transmission actuator is aligned with the actuating direction.

22. The transmission actuator as claimed in claim 20, wherein the transmission actuator is activatable one or more of hydraulically, pneumatically, electrically, magnetically, and mechanically.

23. The transmission actuator as claimed in claim 22, wherein the actuating direction is essentially parallel to a tangent to an outer contour of two gear stages arranged on the at least one transmission shaft.

24. A transfer mechanism for transferring an actuating movement of a transmission actuator, the transmission actuator being configured to perform an actuating movement to set at least one shifted position of a transmission in an actuating direction which is not parallel to a transmission shaft axis of at least one transmission shaft, wherein the transfer mechanism includes a first coupling point at the transmission actuator configured to receive the actuating movement and a second coupling point at a shift element of the transmission configured to convert movement of the first coupling point to the a shifting movement of a shift element to set the at least one shifted position.

25. The transfer mechanism as claimed in claim 24, wherein the transfer mechanism includes a transfer element configured to couple the first coupling point to the second coupling point such that the actuating movement is converted into the shifting movement.

26. The transfer mechanism as claimed in claim 24, wherein the transfer element translates the actuating movement into a shifting movement of a shift element.

27. The transfer mechanism as claimed in claim 25, wherein the transfer element is mounted rotatably to generate the shifting movement by m rotation about a pivot point response to the actuating movement.

28. The transfer mechanism as claimed in claim 25, wherein the transfer element is displaceable in translation parallel to the transmission shaft axis to convert the actuating movement into the shifting movement.

29. The transfer mechanism as claimed in claim 25, wherein the transfer element includes a length adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a length between the first and second coupling points during the actuating movement.

30. The transfer mechanism as claimed in claim 29, wherein the length adjustment mechanism is elastic pretensioned between the first and second coupling points.

31. A system, comprising: a transfer mechanism as claimed in claim 27, wherein the pivot point of the transfer mechanism is formed on or in the transmission actuator.

32. The system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the connection between the transmission actuator and the transfer mechanism in the first coupling point is non-rotatable and/or integral.

33. The system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the connection between the transmission actuator and the transfer mechanism in the first coupling point is rotatable or has a contact surface pairing.

34. A transmission, comprising: a system as claimed in 31, wherein the shift element is a shift collar configured to carry out the shifting movement to set the at least one shifted position in the transmission, and the transmission is an electric- or hybrid-drive vehicle transmission and/or a commercial vehicle transmission.

35. The transmission as claimed in claim 34, wherein the connection between the shift collar and the transfer mechanism in the second coupling point is non-rotatable and/or integral.

36. The transmission as claimed in claim 34, wherein the connection between the shift collar and the transfer mechanism in the second coupling point is rotatable or has a contact surface pairing.

37. A drive train for a vehicle, having a transmission as claimed in claim 34, wherein the drive train is an electric- or hybrid-drive vehicle drive train and/or a commercial vehicle drive train.

38. A vehicle having a transmission as claimed in claim 34, wherein the drive train is an electric- or hybrid-drive vehicle drive train and/or a commercial vehicle drive train.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention; and

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention. An arrangement in principle of a transmission actuator 1, a transfer mechanism 8, and a transmission shaft 2 is shown in a view in section.

[0040] The transmission actuator 1 is designed to carry out an actuating movement 1a which is illustrated in the drawings by the double-headed arrow as a translational movement. The actuating movement 1a can thus be performed parallel to an actuating direction 1b which is indicated in the drawings by a dashed line. The actuating direction 1b is inclined relative to the transmission shaft axis 2 by an angle of inclination 7 such that the actuating direction 1b and the transmission shaft axis 2a are oriented non-parallel to each other. In the embodiment shown, the actuating direction 1b corresponds to the characteristic direction of orientation of the transmission actuator 1, as described above.

[0041] The transmission shaft 2, the transmission shaft axis 2a of which is oriented horizontally from left to right, has a first gear wheel 3 and a second gear wheel 4 which are provided rotatably on the transmission shaft 2. Both gear wheels 3, 4 have different radii and thus form different gear stages. A shift element 5 in the form of a shift collar is furthermore provided between the gear wheels 3, 4 on the transmission shaft 2. This shift element 5 is designed so as to be displaceable in a shifting movement 5a which is here oriented parallel to the transmission shaft axis 2a as a translational movement. The shift element 5 is provided to be non-rotatable about the transmission shaft axis 2a on the transmission shaft 2.

[0042] The arrangement shown here of the transmission shaft 2, gear wheels 3, 4, and shift element 5 corresponds to an arrangement that is known in transmission engineering. In order to set a shifted position, for example via the gear stage which is represented by the first gear wheel 3, the shift element 5 is moved to the right in accordance with a shifting movement 5a. The shift element 5 here comes into contact with the first gear wheel 3 and forms a non-rotatable connection about the transmission shaft axis 2a such that the first gear wheel 3 is then connected non-rotatably to the transmission shaft 2 via the shift element 5. The shifted position which is represented by the second gear wheel 4 is similarly set by a shifting movement 5a of the shift element to the left.

[0043] In the arrangement shown, the actuating direction 1b is oriented according to the outer contour of the gear stages of the transmission shaft 2. Specifically, this means that the actuating direction 1b is oriented parallel to a tangent to the gear wheels 3, 4. In general, such an orientation can also be parallel to a three-dimensional envelope of the gear stages.

[0044] A transfer mechanism 8 is furthermore provided to transfer the actuating movement 1a to the shift element 5 such that the shift element 5 can perform the shifting movement 5a. The transfer mechanism 8 has a first coupling point 8a via which the transmission actuator 1 is coupled to the transfer mechanism 8. The transfer mechanism 8 has a further second coupling point via which the shift element 5 is coupled to the transfer mechanism 8.

[0045] The transfer mechanism 8 moreover has a transfer element 8c which is provided rotatably about a pivot point 8d and is designed so as to translate the actuating movement 1a which is imparted to the first coupling point 8a into the shifting movement 5a.

[0046] The connection of the transmission actuator 1 and the shift element 5 can be configured differently in the coupling points 8a, 8b.

[0047] In an embodiment, at least one connection can be designed to be articulated in one of the two coupling points 8a, 8b such that the transfer element 8c can rotate about the first coupling point 8a relative to the transmission actuator 1 and/or about the second coupling point 8b relative to the shift element 5. It can, for example, be provided here that a bearing, in particular a plain or rolling bearing, is provided in the corresponding coupling point 8a, 8b. In the case of such a connection, that part of the transfer element 8c which is connected to the corresponding coupling point 8a, 8b does not need to constantly follow the bearing. Therefore, because of the non-parallel orientation of the transmission shaft axis 2a relative to the movement direction 1b by the angle 7, when the transfer mechanism 8 moves in rotation about the pivot point 8d, a length adjustment must be carried out in order to reposition the first coupling point 8a to be parallel to the actuating direction 1b and the second coupling point 8b to be parallel to the transmission shaft axis 2a. To do this, the transfer mechanism 8 has a length adjustment mechanism (not shown) which is designed to carry out the length adjustment between the two coupling points 8a, 8b.

[0048] The length adjustment mechanism can take the form, for example, of a transfer element 8c which is designed such that its extent can be modified between the coupling points 8a, 8b. When the transfer element 8c is moved in rotation, it is thus ensured that the transfer element 8c can follow the changing gap between the coupling points 8a, 8b.

[0049] The length adjustment mechanism can furthermore have an elastic pretensioning force which can be applied, for example, by a spring. The elastic pretensioning force is here oriented such that it acts between the coupling points 8a, 8b and is oriented such that it acts constantly in the direction of extent of the transfer element 8c. In this way, a change in the length of the rod can be assisted by the elastic pretensioning force such that the length adjustment can take place reliably.

[0050] In a specific embodiment, a length adjustment mechanism can have a transfer element 8c in the form of a rod which is attached rotatably by means of plain or rolling bearings to the transmission actuator 1 or the shift element 5 with its ends in the coupling points 8a, 8b. The rod thus extends between the coupling points 8a, 8b. A spring is furthermore provided, the elastic pretensioning force of which acts between the coupling points 8a, 8b and causes the rod to constantly maximize its extent between the coupling points 8a, 8b.

[0051] The connection of the transfer element 8c in at least one of the coupling points 8a, 8b can, however, also be designed as a rolling and/or sliding coupling. For this purpose, a contact surface pairing (not shown), via which the transfer element 8c is in contact with the transmission actuator 1 and/or with the shift element 5, is formed in at least one of the coupling points 8a, 8b. The actuating movement 1b of the transmission actuator 1 can then be transferred via the contact surface pairing in the first coupling point 8a to the transfer element 8c, wherein one contact surface is formed on the transmission actuator 1 and the other contact surface is formed on the transfer element 8c. In the same way, a rotational movement of the transfer element 8c can also be transferred to the shift element 5. A contact surface pairing can be provided here too in the second coupling point 8b, wherein one contact surface is formed on the shift element 5 and the other contact surface is formed on the transfer element 8c. The respective contact surfaces in the contact surface pairings are designed in order to roll and/or slide on each other. For this purpose, at least one contact surface can be designed to be curved. When the transfer element 8c rotates about the pivot point 8d, the contact surfaces roll and/or slide in the corresponding contact surface pairings. By virtue of the rolling and/or sliding action, the contact point between the contact surfaces can here move around within the contact surface pairing. It is therefore not absolutely essential here for length adjustment to be provided because this is implemented by the moving contact point.

[0052] The connection of the transfer element 8c in at least one of the coupling points 8a, 8b to the transmission actuator 1 and/or to the shift element 5 can also be designed as integral, i.e. an element of the transmission actuator 1 which performs the actuating movement 1a is designed to be integral with the transfer element 8c in the first coupling point 8a. Alternatively or additionally, the shift element 5 can also be designed to be integral with the transfer element 8c in the second coupling point 8b.

[0053] The transmission actuator 1 can, depending on the embodiment, be activated in particular hydraulically, pneumatically, electrically, magnetically, and/or mechanically.

[0054] The functioning of the arrangement shown is as follows:

[0055] First, the arrangement is arranged as illustrated. The shift element 5 is situated between the gear wheels 3, 4. The arrangement is thus situated in the neutral position. In order to set a shifted position which is represented by the first gear wheel 3, the transmission actuator 1 performs an actuating movement 1a in the actuating direction 1b in the drawings to the left and upward. As a result, the first coupling point 8a is moved in the actuating direction 1b to the left and upward, as a result of which the transfer element 8c is rotated about the pivot point 8d in a counterclockwise direction. As a result, the second coupling point 8b and hence the shift element 5 are furthermore moved in a shifting movement 5a to the right and parallel to the transmission shaft axis 2a. This continues until the shift element 5 abuts the first gear wheel 3, as a result of which, as described above, the desired shifted position is set. A different shifted position, namely the one represented by the second gear wheel 4, or the neutral position, is set in a similar fashion by a corresponding actuating movement 1a of the transmission actuator 1 to the right and downward or back into the position shown in FIG. 1.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention. Here too, an arrangement of a transmission actuator 1, a transfer mechanism 8, and a transmission shaft 2 is shown in a view in section. The embodiment shown here differs from that in FIG. 1 in a different design of the transfer mechanism 8. The transmission actuator 1 and the transmission shaft 2 are identical to those in FIG. 1. Reference should therefore be made to the embodiment in FIG. 1 for an explanation thereof.

[0057] Here too, the actuating direction 1b of the transmission actuator 1 corresponds to the characteristic direction of orientation of the transmission actuator 1.

[0058] The transfer mechanism 8 here has a transfer element 8c which is connected to the transmission actuator 1 in a first coupling point 8a and to the shift element 5 in a second coupling point 8b. In contrast to the embodiment which is shown in FIG. 1, the transfer element 8c is here not mounted rotatably. Instead, it is provided so that it can be displaced relative to the transmission shaft axis 2a. This can be implemented, for example, by a guide (not shown) which guides the transfer element 8c parallel to the transmission shaft axis 2a. The guide can furthermore be designed so as to guide the transfer element 8c in such a way that rotation thereof, with an axis of orientation oriented perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, is prevented.

[0059] The connection in the coupling points 8a, 8b between the transfer element 8c and the transmission actuator 1 or the shift element 5 can here be designed in the same way as in the embodiment in FIG. 1. Rotatable, non-rotatable, integral designs and/or contact surface pairings can thus be provided, as were described above with reference to FIG. 1.

[0060] When an actuating movement is carried out by the transmission actuator 1, here too a length adjustment mechanism (not shown) must be provided between the coupling points 8a, 8b in order to carry out a length adjustment. This too can be designed as described with reference to FIG. 1.

[0061] The functioning of the arrangement shown is as follows:

[0062] First, the arrangement is arranged as illustrated. The shift element 5 is situated between the gear wheels 3, 4. The arrangement is thus situated in the neutral position. In order to set a shifted position which is represented by the first gear wheel 3, the transmission actuator 1 performs an actuating movement 1a in the actuating direction 1b in the drawings to the right and downward. As a result, the first coupling point 8a is moved in the actuating direction 1b to the right and downward, as a result of which the transfer element 8c is displaced to the right. As a result, the second coupling point 8b and hence the shift element 5 are furthermore moved in a shifting movement 5a to the right and parallel to the transmission shaft axis 2a. The two coupling points 8a, 8b here move toward each other because the length adjustment mechanism permits a shortening of the transfer element 8c. The shifting movement 5a to the right continues until the shift element 5 abuts the first gear wheel 3, as a result of which, as described above, the desired shifted position is set. A different shifted position, namely the one represented by the second gear wheel 4, or the neutral position, is set in a similar fashion by a corresponding actuating movement 1a of the transmission actuator 1 to the left and upward or back into the position shown.

[0063] In addition to the embodiments shown here, further embodiments are conceivable in which the actuating direction 1b of the transmission actuator 1 is not oriented parallel to a tangent to the gear wheels 3, 4, and the actuating direction 1b can rather be oriented arbitrarily. Instead, a main direction of extent of the transmission actuator 1 can be oriented parallel to the tangent to the gear wheels 3, 4 as the characteristic direction of orientation. It is thus ensured that the transmission actuator 1 is adapted with its largest direction of extent to the outer contour of the gear stages which are represented by the gear wheels 3, 4.

[0064] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0065] 1 transmission actuator [0066] 1a actuating movement [0067] 1b actuating direction [0068] 2 transmission shaft [0069] 2a transmission shaft axis [0070] 3 first gear wheel [0071] 4 second gear wheel [0072] 5 shift element [0073] 5a shifting movement [0074] 7 angle of inclination [0075] 8 transfer mechanism [0076] 8a first coupling point [0077] 8b second coupling point [0078] 8c transfer element [0079] 8d pivot point