The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 01, 1991
Filed:
Mar. 17, 1988
Keith V Leigh-Monstevens, Troy, MI (US);
Leslie P Branum, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Brian D Mabee, Warren, MI (US);
Automotive Products plc, Warwickshire, GB;
Abstract
A control system for a motor vehicle of the type including a clutch and an manual gearbox. The control system includes an electric power module for shifting the gearbox, an electric power clutch assembly for engaging and disengaging the clutch, an electric throttle control assembly, and a control module arranged to control the gearbox power module, the clutch power module, the clutch power assembly, and the throttle control assembly in response to receipt of an operator instigated shift command signal. The control module initially operates to disable the throttle control system and disengage the clutch, thereafter operates to energize the gearbox power module in a sense to shift the gearbox to the selected position, and thereafter operates to reengage the clutch and restore operator control of the throttle control assembly. In one form of the power clutch assembly, an electric motor is positioned within the clutch housing in concentric relation to the clutch shaft and includes a screw drive assembly which is operative to move the clutch release bearing linearly to engage and disengage the clutch. In another form of power clutch assembly, an electric motor powers a hydraulic master cylinder and the output of the master cylinder is delivered to a slave cylinder associated with the clutch to engage an disengage the clutch in response to energization of the motor. In another form of power clutch assembly, an electric motor drives a pump which maintains a predetermined level of pressurized fluid in an accumulator and a solenoid valve delivers pressurized fluid from the accumulator to a slave cylinder in response to receipt of a shift command signal so as to disengage the clutch. Also disclosed are gear select lever assemblies designed to provide a two part shift command signal in which the initial signal is utilized to disengage the clutch and disable the throttle control system, and the second signal is utilized to shift the gearbox to the selected position.