Dana Corporation

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Rick D Watson

John M Loeffler

Norman Szalony

James Paul McCarthy

Terry L Jester

George F Schetter

Ernest F Deutschman

A multiple-function mechanical coupling having inner and outer races, the outer race having an internal surface with peripherally spaced pockets defining ramp surfaces, the inner race having an outer surface with peripherally spaced pockets defining ramps that are situated adjacent corresponding ramp surfaces of the outer race. The inner race surrounds a circular torque transfer shaft. The inner race is split to permit radial expansion of the effective diameter of the inner race. A hydrostatic pressure actuator exerts a tangentially directed force on the adjacent ends of the inner race. A plurality of clutch rollers is received in the recesses in the inner surface of the outer race and the outer surface of the inner race whereby the races are locked together and the inner race establishes frictional engagement of the torque delivery.

Multiple-function controllable overrunning coupling

A compound shift lever mechanism employs a noise and vibration damper assembly for isolating an upper shift lever from a lower shift lever of a transmission. In a preferred form, the levers are held in spaced, coaxial alignment for unitary movement in a plurality of planes by a damper which comprises two parts. The first part is a cylindrical elastomeric sleeve defining axially spaced female end portions comprising bores which frictionally overlie and snugly encase the two lever end portions which extend thereinto. The second part is a cylindrical metallic shell which circumferentially encapsulates the elastomeric sleeve which contains the respective ends of the upper and lower levers. The shell thus radially encapsulates both of the end portions, as well as the sleeve, which incorporates a midportion containing a radial internal barrier to prevent direct physical contact between the extremities of the levers. Finally, spaced female ends of the shell are crimped radially inwardly against the female end portions of the sleeve and, in turn, against both lever end portions, to frictionally retain the end portions in spaced, coaxial alignment.

Damper assembly for shift lever mechanism

A transmission shift lever biasing assembly includes a plunger pin having a shoulder, the pin containing a plurality of reduced diameter detent grooves along its longitudinal axis at an end opposite the shoulder. Each groove defines a pair of opposed ramps, and an end cap is adapted to receive and contain a portion of the plunger containing the grooves and ramps. An annular pusher element surrounds the plunger pin, and includes angled cam surfaces adapted to engage a plurality of balls interposed between the pusher element and an end face of the housing. The pusher element bears against the balls by means of a spring contained within the housing. The spring is seated on the shoulder of the plunger pin and bears against the pusher element to urge the balls into one of the detent grooves corresponding to a selected shift rail.

Transmission shift lever biasing assembly

A shift tower housing and the outer housing of a vehicle transmission are both formed with a bolt pattern that permits mounting of the shift tower and associated shift lever in both a forward control position and a center control position. Each of the shift bars in the transmission is formed with a pair of notches, a forward notch and a center notch for engaging the lower end of the shift lever in the forward control and center control positions respectively. An interlock bracket is trapped and retained by a mounting plate prior to the installation of the shift tower and is adjustable between the center and the forward positions. The interlock bracket includes a pair of arms for engaging the notches in the shift bars not being engaged by the shift lever to prevent movement of the non-selected shift bars during actuation of the transmission.

Forward/center control shifting apparatus for a vehicle transmission

A four way two position interlock air valve adapted to selectively provide air pressure to a servomotor to shift the range section of a transmission. The valve spool is moved by applying pressure to one end thereof while exhausting pressure from the other. The upper side of the spool has a recessed portion within which a valve slide is positioned. The slide is operative to provide communication between a pressurized inlet port and the one of two outlet ports connected to the servomotor depending on the position of the valve spool. The slide is urged upwardly against the inner surface of the valve body by a wave spring. The area of the upper side of the slide is smaller than the area of the lower side thereof and an aperture connects the two sides such that air pressure controlled thereby also urges the slide upwardly against the valve body. The bottom side of the spool has four shoulders formed thereon to interlock with transmission shift rail actuated locking pins at such time as any of said rails is out of its neutral position. When so interlocked, the valve spool cannot be moved.

Growing community of inventors

Lambertville, MI, United States of America

Rick D Watson