New Venture Gear, Inc.

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

George A Parsons

Wayne E Mueller

Glenn W Fraley

A manual transmission for use in motor vehicles is disclosed. The transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, and a plurality of constant-mesh gearsets that can be selectively engaged for establishing corresponding forward gears therebetween. In addition, a reverse gear assembly is provided for establishing the reverse gear. The reverse gear assembly includes an idler shaft, a first idler gear rotatably supported on the idler shaft and which is driven by the input shaft, a second idler gear fixed to the idler shaft and meshed with a reverse output gear fixed for rotation with the output shaft, and a synchronizer clutch operable for selectively coupling the first idler gear to the idler shaft to establish the reverse gear.

Manual transmission with synchronized reverse gear

The present invention relates to a strut-type synchronizer. The conventional multi-component strut assembly is replaced with a one-piece strut component having a base segment and a key segment interconnected by a cantilevered biasing segment. The base segment is adapted to be mounted for sliding movement in a guide slot formed in the clutch hub while the key segment is adapted to engage the internal splines of the axially movable clutch sleeve. The biasing segment is adapted to resiliently bias the key segment into engagement with internal splines of clutch sleeve. The one-piece strut component reduces the number of parts associated with the strut-type synchronizer and results in simple and more cost effectively assembling operations.

Strut-type synchronizer

A spring biased shifter assembly is disclosed for use with a manually operated multi-speed transmission. The shifter assembly includes a shift tower to which a shift lever of a shift mechanism is pivotally mounted. A pair of spaced apart single leaf flat springs continuously downwardly bias a portion of the shift mechanism, thereby biasing the shift lever to a neutral position. The springs are located within slots defined by the shift tower and are further held in place by a cover that is fastened to the shift tower. The particular configuration of the single leaf flat springs provides improved shifter feel, substantially eliminates play in the shifter assembly, and automatically self-centers the shift lever to a neutral position while maintaining a constant downward biasing force thereon. The single leaf flat springs are preferably constructed of a fiber reinforced composite material, thereby providing excellent noise attenuation properties.

Self-centering shifter assembly

The present invention gearshift assembly for a motorized vehicle manual transmission comprises a gearshift lever having an upper ball which determines a crossover pivot ratio and a lower ball which determines a different linear pivot ratio. Also, a uniquely shaped socket transfers the upper ball's crossover movement and the lower ball's linear movement to the attached shift rail. The socket has a pair of lateral walls, a short forward facing wall, a short rearward facing wall, and a cavity therewithin.

Gearshift assembly for manual transmissions

A shifter assembly is disclosed for use with a manually-operated multiple-speed ratio transmission. The shifter assembly includes a tower housing fixed to the transmission casing, and a shift lever operably coupled to the gearshift mechanism housed within the transmission casing and which is supported for movement within the housing under the control of a vehicle operator. A shift inhibitor device is located within the housing and is operable for inhibiting movement of the shift lever from the highest forward gear position into the reverse gear position. In addition, the shift inhibitor device is also adapted to guide the shift lever into a 'Neutral' position.

Manual transmission shifter assembly with reverse inhibitor

An inhibitor for a manual transmission shift control which aids in preventing unintended downshifts into first gear. The inhibitor blocks shifting from second gear to first gear following a first gear to second gear shift. No other shift sequence is affected.

Growing community of inventors

Grosse Pointe, MI, United States of America

George A Parsons