Zf Meritor, LLC

Arvin Meritor Technology, LLC

Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems Limited

Kenneth T Picone

Patrick L Scheib

Peggy Marie Garrett

Jonathan S Rose

Thomas G Ore

Christopher B Ross

Michael K Humphrey

Kevin Michael Allen

Randy P Kruse

William G Nash

Teisuolis C Mikulskis

A vehicle transmission includes a plurality of shift shafts that cooperate with a common neutral switch to control when range shifts occur. In one example, the plurality of shift shafts includes a first shift shaft, a second shift shaft, and a third shift shaft that is positioned between the first and second shift shafts. A plunger actuates the neutral switch in response to movement of the third shift shaft along an axis. A first switch pin is positioned between the first shift shaft and the plunger and a second switch pin is positioned between the second shift shaft and the plunger. The first and second switch pins move the plunger to actuate the neutral switch in response to axial movement of a respective one of the first and second shift shafts. Thus, each of the first, second, and third shifts shafts can actuate a single neutral switch by cooperating with a common plunger.

Neutral switch system for transmission

A transmission includes an input shaft having an internal bore at one shaft end and a main shaft having an extension formed at one shaft end that is received within the internal bore. The internal bore is defined by an inner peripheral surface and the extension is defined by an outer peripheral surface that is spaced apart from the inner peripheral surface. A resilient member is positioned within the internal bore and reacts between the inner and the outer peripheral surfaces to center the main shaft and the input shaft relative to each other.

Transmission with main shaft centering device

A transmission gear position sensing assembly includes a transmission housing with a bore having a shift shaft disposed therein. The shift shaft has an axis about which the shaft translates as the transmission is shifted between gear positions. The housing includes a hole with a switch assembly received in the hole transverse to the shift shaft axis. The shift shaft includes a profile aligned with the switch assembly. The profile has first, second, and third surfaces respectively spaced radially from the axis a first, second and third distance. The third surface is arranged between the first and second surfaces. The third distance is larger than the first and the second distances, and the third surface corresponds to a neutral gear position. The switch assembly includes a member biased to engagement with the profile by a spring. The switch assembly senses the gear precision by the corresponding location along the profile. Since the third surface, which corresponds to the neutral position, is raised from the other surfaces the shift effort is reduced as the vehicle operator shifts from the neutral position to one of the other gear positions. In this manner, the switch assembly and switch shaft configuration does not adversely effect the shift effort or shift feel.

Fall away transmission shift shaft switch profile

A plurality of pins couple the cones and the shift collar of a transmission auxiliary section together so that they rotate as a group. When the shift collar is moved laterally from neutral, the shift collar engages blocking surfaces on the pins and moves the corresponding cone to match the speeds of the input shaft and the corresponding gear. The invention shortens the pin lengths of the synchronizer and therefore the length of the transmission, by eliminating contact between the shift collar and the small diameters of the pins in the neutral position.

Transmission synchronizer pin arrangement

The detent and neutral switch mechanism includes a roller detent pin attached to a roller spring. The detent pin engages contoured shift fork extensions and resists movement of the shift fork extensions when gears are shifted and creates a &ldquo;shift feel.&rdquo; A neutral switch positioned above the roller spring indicates when the transmission is in neutral. When the transmission is in neutral, the deep neutral detent notches on the shift fork extensions are aligned, lowering the detent pin and disengaging the roller spring from the position switch, indicating the transmission is in neutral and that it is safe to make a shift. When the transmission is in gear or in the process of making a shift, the detent pin engages raised in-gear notches or detent peaks, respectively, engaging the roller spring with the position switch indicating that the transmission is not in neutral.

Combined detent and neutral switch mechanism

A manually controlled transmission includes a combined detent and interlock pin mechanism. The elongated interlock pin prevents surrounding shift fork extensions from being engaged when a desired shift fork extension is selected. A recess in the interlock pin allows engagement of a shift lever with a desired shift fork extension, and opposing sides of the interlock pin engage shift finger notches in the other shift fork extensions to prevent their movement. Detent springs attached to the manually controlled transmission substantially contact opposing ends of the sliding interlock pin to provide resistance as an end of the interlock pin substantially contacts the detent spring. An anti-rotate pin positioned proximate to the interlock pin prevents rotation, but not translation, of interlock pin.

Combined detent and interlock mechanism

A vehicle transmission is provided having a housing that includes a support with an opening. The transmission also has a shaft with an axis of rotation and an end portion disposed within the support opening. A floating bearing assembly is arranged between the housing and the end portion so that the bearing assembly supports the end portion within the support opening thereby permitting the shaft to rotate about it axis within the support opening. The bearing assembly is movable along the axis of rotation relative to the housing to permit the shaft to move along the axis of rotation. An expansion member is arranged between the end portion and the housing to expand and contract with changing temperatures and maintain a desired end play tolerance between the end portion and the housing.

Temperature compensating carrier bearing assembly

A transmission has an integral lubrication system for delivering lubricating fluid to transmission components. The central portion of the lubrication system is conveniently located within the intermediate wall of the housing. The housing has an opening and inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with the opening. A pumping assembly having inner and outer rotors is disposed within the opening for moving the fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port. A pump cover is attached to the intermediate wall over the opening and the rotors. An inlet and outlet chamber is defined within the opening by the pump cover and space between the inner and outer rotors. The inlet and outlet chambers are in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports, respectively, so the pump may draw the fluid from the inlet port into the inlet chamber and then expel the fluid into the outlet chamber and to the outlet port. The intermediate wall also contains integrally formed inlet and main feed passageways. The inlet passageway interconnects the inlet chamber and a sump that stores the fluid and provides fluid communication between them. The main feed passageway interconnects the outlet chamber and a distribution system that delivers the fluid to a plurality of transmission components within the housing.

Transmission housing with integral pump assembly

A transmission for use in a vehicle has a housing with a center support and an opening. The transmission further comprises first and second shafts that extend coaxially along an axis and have adjacent ends disposed within the opening. A bearing assembly supports the adjacent ends within the opening while being movable along the axis relative to the center support. This permits the second shaft to be adjusted along the axis relative to the first shaft upon assembly thereby eliminating the need for an additional shimming operation.

Transmission floating bearing carrier

A transmission having an integral lubrication (stem for delivering lubrication fluid to transmission components is provided. The lubrication system has a housing with a sump portion for holding the fluid. The lubrication system also includes a pump assembly with inlet and outlet chambers wherein the pump assembly moves the fluid from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber. The housing has a collection system with an inlet passageway which interconnects the inlet chamber and the sump to provide fluid communication between them. The housing has a distribution system with a plurality of fluid distribution ports for delivering the fluid to the transmission components. The distribution system interconnects said distribution ports and said outlet chamber to provide fluid communication between them. First, second, and third passageways are integrally formed within various portions of the housing and deliver the fluid to bearing portions of the shafts and to the transmission gears.

Transmission housing with integral lubrication system

A vehicle transmission assembly includes a main gear box that supports an auxiliary gear box assembly, such as a range gear box. The main gear box has a shaft that is coupled to a shaft of the range gear box assembly. The range gear box assembly includes selectively engageable range gears, a shifting assembly, and a range piston assembly. The range piston assembly includes a single piece housing, an air filter regulator, and a range position sensor. The sensor monitors range selection of the range gears and produces a range position signal that is sent to an electronic control unit. The air regulator is threadably attached to the single piece housing and provides air to a pneumatic piston that resides in the housing. The pneumatic piston is used to control the positioning of the range gears.

Small envelope range piston housing for electrical transmission range

An input shaft bearing retainer for use in a vehicle transmission assembly maintains an input bearing in a desired position without the use of external fasteners such as bolts. The bearing retainer includes an exterior portion having a radially extending flange that is engaged between a transmission case outer wall and a clutch housing outer wall. Since the clutch housing outer wall remains fixed relative to the outer wall of the transmission case, the input bearing retainer is also maintained in place. The interface between an opening through the transmission case and the bearing retainer includes a seal member in the form of an O-ring to maintain a fluid tight seal at the opening of the transmission case.

Transmission input bearing retainer

A multispeed transmission includes a range section having a plural cone synchronizer. The plural cone synchronizer is utilized to assist in transmitting the high torque load typically found in low range. The inventive synchronizer includes a unique structure for selectively connecting the outer and inner cones.

Growing community of inventors

Pinehurst, NC, United States of America

Kenneth T Picone