Gear shifting system and gear shifting element for a gear shifting system

Abstract

A gear shifting device is provided, by which an axial shift movement of a shift element into a shift position through interaction of a shift pin with an associated groove-like shift gate that is changeable in an axial direction. The shift element features, on an inner diameter and/or an outer diameter, the associated shift gate, while the respective shift pin is arranged in a radially opposite and displaceable manner on a transmission component adjacent to the shift element. As an alternative, the shift element, on an inner diameter and/or an outer diameter, accommodates the respective shift pin in a radially displaceable manner, whereas the associated shift gate for the respective shift gate is arranged to be radially opposite on a transmission component located adjacent to the shift element. The shift pin is movable through an associated actuator in a radial manner between an initial position and a mesh position in which each shift pin is introduced into the associated shift gate.

Claims

1. A gear shifting device, comprising: a first rotatably drivable transmission component (1); a shift element (7) arranged in a torque-proof and axially displaceable manner on the first transmission component, the shift element axially movable into a shift position in which the first transmission component (1) is coupled in a torque-proof manner with a connectable transmission component (4) that is arranged adjacent and connectable to the first transmission component; a first shift gate (14) and a second shift gate (15) defined on an outer diameter of the shift element (7), the shift gates having an axially changing course and located axially apart from the connectable transmission component; a first radially displaceable shift pin (16) and a second radially displaceable shift pin (17) connectable to the transmission component radially opposite to the shift gates, the shift pins displaced by an associated actuator (20) in a radial manner between an initial position and a mesh position in which the first shift pin is introduced into the first shift gate or in which the second shift pin is introduced into the second shift gate; and wherein the shift element (7) is provided on an axial front side thereof with an axially protruding and revolving claw toothing (10) oriented towards the connectable transmission component (4).

2. The gear shifting device according to claim 1, wherein the shift pins (16,17) and the associated actuator (20) are provided on a housing (19) that radially surrounds the shift element (7).

3. The gear shifting device according to claim 2, wherein the shift pins (16,17) are provided on the actuator (20), and the two shift gates (14,15) are provided in the outer diameter of the shift element (7) and are arranged to run opposite to each other and with respective changing axial courses, wherein through introduction of the first shift pin (16) in the first shift gate (14), a shift movement of the shift element (7) from a neutral position into the shift position is brought about, and through introduction of the second shift pin (17) in the second shift gate (15), a return movement of the shift element (7) from the shift position into the neutral position is brought about.

4. The gear shifting device according to claim 1, wherein the shifting device further comprises a coupling body (11) guided in a torque-proof manner on the connectable transmission component (4) axially between the connectable transmission component and the shift element (7), the coupling body is provided with a toothing (12) corresponding to the claw toothing (10) of the shift element (7), and wherein the coupling body is coupled in an axially displaceable manner with the transmission component (4) through an intermediate spring element (13).

5. The gear shifting device according to claim 1, further comprising a locking device (21) provided radially between the shift element (7) and the first transmission component (1), the locking device preventing unintended axial movements of the shift element (7) between a neutral position and the shift position.

6. The gear shifting device according to claim 5, wherein the locking device (21) comprises a bail (23) guided in a radially movable manner, the ball preloaded against a locking contour (22) radially opposite to the ball by a spring element (25), the locking contour (22) designed as a locking recess (26) in the shift position of the shift element and a separate locking recess (27) in the neutral position of the shift element.

7. The gear shifting device according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission component (1) is a transmission shaft (2), and the connectable transmission component (4) is a different transmission shaft (5).

8. A shift element (7) for a gear shifting device according to claim 1, comprising: a ring-shaped body (8) provided on an inner circumference thereof with toothing (9) by which the body (8) is guided in a torque-proof and axially displaceable manner by engagement with corresponding toothing (6) of the radial inner transmission component (1); the first shifting gate (14) and the second shifting gate (15) each having axially changing courses provided on an inner diameter or an outer diameter of the body; and wherein the respective assigned shift pins (16, 17) of an additional adjacent transmission component (18) are radially displaceable into the shift gates to axially shift the shift element between a neutral position and a shift position.

9. The shift element (7) according to claim 8, wherein the body (8) further comprises the axially protruding and revolving claw toothing (10) at the axial front side thereof.

10. The shift element (7) according to claim 8, wherein the two shift gates (14, 15) are in the outer diameter of the body (8) and run opposite to each other, the shift gates (14, 15) having a transition area with the outer diameter of the body at respective ends thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Additional measures that improve the invention are shown in more detail below, together with the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which makes reference to the drawings shown in the FIGURES. The following is shown:

(2) FIGS. 1A to 1F are schematic views of a gear shifting device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in different shifting states of the gear shifting device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) Reference will now be made to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are shown in the drawings. Each embodiment is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not as a limitation of the invention. For example features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be combined with another embodiment to yield still another embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations to the embodiments described herein.

(4) Each of FIGS. 1A to 1F shows a schematic view of a gear shifting device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, whereas, through FIGS. 1A to 1F, individual shifting states of this gear shifting device are thereby presented. In the following, the structure of the gear shifting device is to be initially described on the basis of FIG. 1A:

(5) The gear shifting device shown in FIG. 1A comprises a shifting device of a stage transmission, for example in the form of an automated car transmission. Thereby, this gear shifting device comprises a first transmission component 1, which in the present case is designed as a transmission shaft 2 of the manual transmission and can be set in rotation around the axis of rotation 3. Furthermore, an additional transmission component 4 that is located adjacent to the first transmission component 1 is provided in a manner coaxial to the transmission shaft 2 and likewise rotatable around the axis of rotation 3; in the present case, this is likewise arranged in the form of a transmission shaft 5. Through the gear shifting device in accordance with the invention, the transmission shaft 2 and the transmission shaft 5 can now be coupled with each other in a torque-proof manner.

(6) As can also be seen in FIG. 1A, the transmission shaft 2 features, on a radial outer side, a synchronization toothing 6, through which the transmission shaft 2 guides a shift element 7 set radially on the outside of the transmission shaft 2 in a torque-proof and axially displaceable manner. Thereby, such shift element 7 is designed with a ring-shaped body 8, which in the present case is arranged in one piece and, on an inner circumference, is provided with a toothing 9 corresponding to the synchronization toothing 6. If there is a simultaneous axial displacement capability, the torque-proof arrangement of the shift element 7 on the transmission shaft 2 is thereby realized by the course of the teeth of the synchronization toothing 6 and the toothing 9 that is oriented in an axial direction.

(7) Moreover, on a front side turned towards the transmission shaft 5, the shift element 7 is provided with a claw toothing 10, the teeth of which thereby protrude in an axial manner in the direction of the transmission shaft 5 and is formed in a revolving manner on the shift element 7. A toothing 12 is arranged axially opposite to this claw toothing 10, on a coupling body 11, whereas this toothing 12 protrudes in an axial manner in the direction of the shift element 7 and is designed in a corresponding manner to the claw toothing 10 of the shift element 7. The coupling body 11 is thereby formed as a separate component that also rotates around the axis of rotation 3, which is thereby coupled with the transmission shaft 5 in a torque-proof and axially displaceable manner. Thereby, in an axial manner between the coupling body 11 and the transmission shaft 5, a spring element 13 is provided, which is formed in a rigid manner in a circumferential direction and radial direction. The spring element 13 allows for relative movements between the coupling body 11 and the transmission shaft 5 in an axial direction, and thereby preloads the coupling body 11 in respect of the transmission shaft 5 in the direction of the shift element 7.

(8) In order to now selectively present an axial movement of the shift element 7 from the neutral position shown in FIG. 1A into a shift position, in which the claw toothing is in tooth meshing with the toothing 12, and back, the shift element 7 is provided, on an outer diameter of its body 8, with two shift gates 14 and 15, which, in the interaction with an associated shift pin 16 or 17, may in a targeted manner initiate the respective axial displacement of the shift element 7. The shift pins 16 and 17 are thereby provided on the sides of a transmission component 18 that is radially adjacent to the shift element 7, and in the present case, comprises a radially enclosing housing 19 of the transmission. Thereby, each of the shift pins 16 and 17 can be displaced from an initial position shown in FIG. 1A into a respective mesh position, in which the respective shift pin 16 or 17 may be radially enclosed in the associated shift gate 14 or 15. For this purpose, the two shift pins 16 and 17 are accommodated in an actuator 20 in a radially displaceable manner, which is likewise provided on the housing 19. In addition, the actuator 20 is designed as an electrical actuator, through which, upon a corresponding power supply, the respective desired radial movement of the respective shift pin 16 or 17 may be selectively initiated.

(9) As can also be seen in FIG. 1A, the shift gates 14 and 15 have a changeable course in an axial direction, whereas each of the courses of these sections of the shift gate 14 and 15 thereby has a spiral-shaped character. In addition, such courses, as can be seen based on the dashed continuation of the shift gates 14 and 15, are designed to be opposite to each other, such that, in the interaction with the shift pins 16 and 17, the differently oriented axial shift movements of the shift element 7 can be realized.

(10) Furthermore, each shift gate 14 or 15 is equipped on the input side with a transition area (which is not shown in the present case), through which the outer diameter of the ring-shaped body 8 passes into the respective groove-like shift gate 14 or 15. In addition, at an end of the respective shift gate 14 or 15 opposing this, a transition area is likewise provided; this is likewise not shown in the present case and, through this, the respective shift gate 14 or 15 tapers off back to the outer diameter of the ring-shaped body 8. Thereby, in the neutral position of the shift element 7, the transition area on the input side of the shift gate 15 is located in an axial manner at the level of the shift pin 17 and the transition area of the output side of the shift gate 14 in an axial manner at the level of the shift pin 16, while, conversely to this, in the shift position of the shift element 7, the transition area on the output side of the shift gate 15 is axially overlapped with the shift pin 17, and the transition area on the input side of the shift gate 14 is axially overlapped with the shift pin 16.

(11) Furthermore, in a radial manner between the transmission shaft 2 and the shift element 7, a locking device 21 is provided, which is composed of a locking contour 22 and a ball 23 running on it. The ball 23 is guided on the sides of the transmission shaft 2 in a radially movable manner into a boring 24, and is preloaded against the locking contour 22 by means of a spring element 25, which is provided on the radial inner side of the ring-shaped body 8 of the shift element 7 and defines two locking recesses 26 and 27. Thereby, the locking recess 27 arrives in the neutral position of the shift element 7 with the ball 23 in an axial manner in the overlap, whereas the ball 23 is pressed in the shift position of the shift element 7 through the spring element 25 into the locking recess 26. Thereby, the locking device 21 prevents the shift element 7 from remaining in the neutral position or in the shift position, apart from the axial movements of the shift element 7 brought about by the shift pins 16 and 17 and the shift gates 14 and 15.

(12) In the following, with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1F, a shift movement of the shift element 7 from the neutral position to be seen in FIG. 1A into the shift position and back into the neutral position is to now be described:

(13) In order to initially move the shift element 7 from the neutral position shown in FIG. 1A into the shift position, in which the claw toothing 10 is in tooth meshing with the toothing 12, initially in a first step, the shift pin 17 moves by means of the actuator 20 radially from the initial position shown in FIG. 1A into a mesh position emerging from FIG. 1B, in which the shift pin 17 is enclosed in the associated shift gate 15. If the shift gate 15 and the shift pin 17 do not overlap in a circumferential direction when actuating the shift pin 17, the shift pin 17 initially makes contact on the outer diameter of the shift element 7, until ultimately it can be slid into this through the transition area of the second shift gate 15. In the following, the course of the shift gate 15 changeable in an axial direction brings about the fact that, based on the fixed position of the shift gate 17, an axial displacement of the shift element 7 is forced. Thereby, in the course of this axial displacement, the ball 23 also slides out of the locking recess 27.

(14) Subsequently, the shift element 7 is displaced from the axial position shown in FIG. 1B into the position shown in FIG. 1C, which corresponds to the shift position of the shift element 7. Along this path, in this shift element, the claw toothing 10 of the shift element 7 meshes with the toothing 12 of the coupling body 11, whereas any shock that thereby arises is compensated by the spring element 13. Upon reaching the shift position of the shift element 7, the shift pin 17 is then moved back through the respective transition area from the shift gate 15 into the initial position seen in FIG. 1D.

(15) In FIG. 1C and FIG. 1D, the ball 23 also arrives in the overlap with the locking recess 26, which prevents the shift element 7 from unintentionally exiting the shift position. In the shift position of the shift element 7, the transmission shaft 2 and the transmission shaft 5 are now coupled in a torque-proof manner with each other through the shift element 7 and the coupling body 11.

(16) For the return movement of the shift element 7 into its neutral position, upon a step following this, as shown in FIG. 1E, the shift pin 16 exits through the actuator 20 from its initial position into its mesh position, and thereby can enter the associated shift gate 14 with the assistance of the associated transition area. If once again the entry area of the shift gate 14 and the shift pin 16 in a circumferential direction do not overlap, the shift pin 16 initially makes contact on the outer diameter of the ring-shaped body 8 and, after a defined turning of the ring-shaped body 8, then overlaps with the transition area, such that it can slide into the shift gate 14.

(17) Since the shift gate 14 is thereby designed to run opposite to the shift gate 15, in the interaction with the fixed position of the shift pin 16, an axial displacement of the shift element 7 is forced in the direction of its neutral position, whereas the ball 23 thereby also slides out of the locking recess 26. Thereby, in the course of the axial displacement, the claw toothing 10 is separated axially from the toothing 12, by which, in turn, the shift element 7 can in turn rotate relative to the coupling body 11, and the transmission shaft 2 and the transmission shaft 5 are accordingly no longer coupled with each other.

(18) Finally, the shift element 7 thereby in turn reaches its neutral position, whereas the shift pin 16 is again pushed back through the respective transition area of the shift gate 14 into its initial position. At the same time, the ball 23 overlaps with the locking recess 27. Thus, in turn, the state shown in FIG. 1A is reached.

(19) By means of the arrangement of a gear shifting device in accordance with the invention, shift movements of a shift element 7 may be controlled compactly, accurately and independently.

(20) Modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments illustrated or described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.