U.S. patent application number 10/166809 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-11 for dual clutch planetary manual transmission with switched output.
Invention is credited to Haka, Raymond James.
Application Number | 20030228951 10/166809 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29710715 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030228951 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haka, Raymond James |
December 11, 2003 |
DUAL CLUTCH PLANETARY MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH SWITCHED OUTPUT
Abstract
A power transmission has two selectively engageable input
clutches, four selectively manipulatable synchronizer clutches, and
a planetary gearset. The input clutches and the synchronizer
clutches are manipulated to establish at least seven forward power
paths and a reverse power path between an input shaft and an output
shaft. Interchanges between adjacent speed ratios are controlled by
preselecting the synchronizer condition and then interchanging the
selectively engageable input clutches.
Inventors: |
Haka, Raymond James;
(Brighton, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LESLIE C. HODGES
General Motors Corporation
Legal Staff, Mail Code 482-C23-B21
P.O. Box 300
Detroit
MI
48265-3000
US
|
Family ID: |
29710715 |
Appl. No.: |
10/166809 |
Filed: |
June 11, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
475/303 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16H 2200/2012 20130101;
F16H 2200/0056 20130101; F16H 2200/2028 20130101; F16H 2200/2005
20130101; F16H 3/663 20130101; F16H 3/666 20130101; F16H 2200/2056
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
475/303 |
International
Class: |
F16H 003/78 |
Claims
1. A power transmission comprising; an input shaft; an output
shaft; a first selectively engageable input clutch; a second
selectively engageable input clutch; a planetary gear arrangement
comprising: at least six rotatable planetary members; a first
synchronizer clutch selectively engageable between said first
selectively engageable input clutch and a first and second of said
rotatable planetary members; a second synchronizer clutch
selectively engageable between said second selectively engageable
clutch, and a third and a fourth of said rotatable planetary
members; a third synchronizer clutch selectively connectible
between said output shaft and said fourth and a fifth of said
rotatable planetary members; a fourth synchronizer clutch
selectively connectible between a ground member and said second and
a sixth of said rotatably planetary members; and said first and
second selectively engageable input clutches and said four
synchronizer clutches being engaged in a plurality of combinations
to establish seven forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio
between said input shaft and said output shaft.
2. The power transmission defined in claim 1 further comprising:
said third synchronizer clutch being connected between said output
shaft and said fourth rotatable planetary member during at least
three of said forward speed ratios, and being connected between
said output shaft and said fifth of said rotatable planetary
member; and said fourth synchronizer clutch being connected between
said second rotatable planetary member and said ground member
during at least six of said forward speed ratios.
3. The power transmission defined in claim 1 further wherein said
planetary gear arrangement, and said selectively engageable input
clutches are represented by a five node lever diagram wherein said
first and fifth rotatable members are represented by one of said
five nodes.
4. The power transmission defined in claim 1 further comprising:
said first rotatable planetary member, said fifth rotatable
planetary member, and said sixth rotatable planetary member
including at least a sun gear member.
5. The power transmission defined in claim 1 further comprising:
said second rotatable planetary member including at least a planet
carrier member.
6. The power transmission defined in claim 1 further comprising:
said third rotatable planetary member and said fourth rotatable
planetary member including at least a ring gear member.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to power transmissions and, more
particularly, to power transmissions having two input clutches and
a plurality of synchronously engaged transmission ratios.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Dual clutch transmission arrangements are generally found
with countershaft-type transmissions. That is, these arrangements
have a main central shaft and a pair of parallel countershafts and
an output shaft. The main central shaft has two clutch arrangements
which are operable to selectively interconnect the main power shaft
through a head gear set with respective countershafts. The
countershafts support a plurality of rotating gear members, which
are disposed in continuous mesh with a series of gears and the
output shaft.
[0003] A ratio interconnection between the countershaft and the
output shaft are made by way of a synchronizer or mechanical
clutch. The mechanical clutches are arranged such that when the
first input clutch is transmitting power, the power path of the
second input clutch is free to permit synchronous selection of the
on-coming ratio. Then, by swapping the first input clutch for the
second input clutch, the power path is changed from the first
countershaft to the second countershaft. This permits the stepping
of ratios by pre-engaging the nonpower transmitting shaft with the
oncoming clutch prior to swapping the input clutches. These types
of transmissions have been published in many documents and are well
known in the art.
[0004] It is also well known that to provide multiple speeds, for
example, seven, a dual clutch countershaft-type transmission will
require nine and one-half pairs of external gears. This includes
two head gear set pairs, one pair each for each forward ratio
(other than the direct drive), and one and one-half pairs for a
reverse ratio. This transmission will also require four two-way
synchronizers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved dual input clutch power transmission incorporating
planetary gearsets.
[0006] In one aspect of the present invention, a plurality of
planetary gearsets are arranged for interconnection with each
other.
[0007] In another aspect of the present invention, the planetary
gear members are interconnectible with the input shaft through a
pair of synchronizers, a ground member through a synchronizer, and
the output shaft through a synchronizer.
[0008] In yet another aspect of the present invention, at least two
of the synchronizers are interconnected with respective ones of the
input clutches.
[0009] In still another aspect of the present invention, three
two-way synchronizers and one three-way synchronizer (engages A or
B or A and B) are employed to establish in cooperation with the
input clutches at least seven forward speed ratios and one reverse
speed ratio.
[0010] In a further aspect of the present invention, the three-way
synchronizer is arranged between two of the planetary members and
the output shaft of the transmission.
[0011] In a still further aspect of the present invention, two of
the synchronizers or mechanical clutches are arranged in series
with the input clutches to establish four input power paths to the
transmission.
[0012] In yet still a further aspect of the present invention, one
of the synchronizers is arranged to provide two torque paths
between the transmission members and a ground member.
[0013] In a yet still further aspect of the present invention, one
of the synchronizers is arranged to provide a torque-transmitting
connection between two of the planetary members and the output
shaft of the transmission.
[0014] In another aspect of the present invention, two of the
synchronizers are arranged to provide four input nodes to the power
transmission, one of the synchronizers is arranged to provide two
ground nodes for the power transmission, and one of the
synchronizers is arranged to provide two output nodes for the power
transmission.
[0015] With the present invention, there are seven speed ratios
found within the planetary portion of the transmission. There are
three underdrive ratios, a direct drive ratio, and three overdrive
ratios. The underdrive ratios are all established using the same
ground node and the same output node, while the input node is
changed. The overdrive ratios are established by using a common
ground node and input nodes similar to the underdrive ratios but
with a different output node. During the fourth or direct ratio,
the synchronizers undergo a plurality of swaps to establish the
proper output node for the overdrive ratios.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of
the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a lever diagram representing the schematic
representation of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment
of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a lever diagram representation of the embodiment
shown in FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Referring to the drawings, there is seen in FIG. 1 a power
transmission 10 having an input shaft 12, a planetary transmission
14, and an output shaft 16. The planetary transmission 14 includes
two selectively engageable input clutches 18 and 20, four
selectively switchable mechanical clutches or synchronizers 22, 24,
26 and 28, and a planetary arrangement 30. A planetary arrangement
30 includes a first sun gear member 32, a second sun gear member 34
and 34', a first ring gear member 36, a second ring gear member 38,
and a planet carrier assembly member 40.
[0021] The planet carrier assembly member 40 has a long pinion gear
member 42, a first short pinion gear member 44, a second short
pinion gear member 46, and a third short pinion gear member 48. The
long pinion gear member 42 meshingly engages the sun gear members
34 and 34', the short pinion gear member 44, and the short pinion
gear member 48. The short pinion gear member 44 also engages the
short pinion gear member 46, which in turn engages the ring gear
member 36. The short pinion gear member 48 also engages the ring
gear member 38. The pinion gear members 42, 44, 46, and 48 are
rotatably mounted on a planet carrier member 50 in a conventional
manner. Since the sun gear members 34 and 34' are interconnected by
the long pinion gear member 42, they rotate in unison.
[0022] The sun gear members, the ring gear members, and planet
carrier member are shown in the lever diagram of FIG. 2 utilizing
the same numerical designations with an "A" suffix. For example,
the sun gear member 32 is represented by the point 32A. The
synchronizers or mechanical clutch assemblies 22, 24, and 28 are
conventional two-way synchronizers, and the synchronizer assembly
is a conventional three-way synchronizer or mechanical clutch.
These devices are given the same numerical designation in FIG. 2
with an "A" suffix.
[0023] As seen in FIG. 1, the input clutch 18 is selectively
engageable between the input shaft 12 and the mechanical clutch 22.
The input clutch 20 is selectively engageable between the input
shaft 12 and the mechanical clutch 24. The mechanical clutch 22 is
selectively connectible with the sun gear member 34, and therefore
34', and the planet carrier member 50. The mechanical clutch 24 is
selectively connectible with the ring gear member 36 and the ring
gear member 38, individually. The mechanical clutch 26 is
selectively operable to connect the output shaft 16 selectively the
ring gear member 36 and the sun gear member 34'. Thus, the
mechanical clutch 26 is a three-way synchronizer. The synchronizer
or mechanical clutch 28 is selectively connectible between the sun
gear member 32 and a ground element or member 52, and between the
planet carrier member 50 and the ground element 52.
[0024] It should be evident now that the input shaft 12 is
selectively connectible through the input clutches 18 and 20 and
the synchronizers 22 and 24 with the sun gear member 34, the planet
carrier member 50, the ring gear member 36, and the ring gear
member 38. The output shaft 16 is selectively connectible with the
sun gear member 34' and ring gear member 36 individually and
simultaneously. It should also be evident that both the sun gear
member 32 and the planet carrier member 50 can be selectively
connected individually with the ground member 52. All of these
connections are represented in both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
[0025] The selective engagement of the input clutches 18 and 20 and
the synchronizers 22, 24, 26, and 28 will establish seven forward
speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio between the input shaft 12
and the output shaft 16. The reverse speed ratio is established
with the synchronizer 22 interconnecting the clutch 18 with the sun
gear member 34, the synchronizer 28 connecting the carrier 50 with
the ground element 52, and the synchronizer 26 connecting the
output shaft 16 with the ring gear member 36. As can be most easily
seen in the lever diagram of FIG. 2, the node 50A becomes the
fulcrum, the node 34A becomes the input, and the node 36A is the
output. If the node 34A is moved rightward about the fulcrum 50A,
the node 36A will move leftward or opposite to the input. This is a
reverse ratio. A neutral condition is established in the
transmission by releasing the input clutch 18.
[0026] A first forward ratio is established by connecting the sun
gear member 34 with the input clutch 18 through the synchronizer
clutch 22, connecting the ring gear member 36 with the output shaft
16 through the synchronizer clutch 26, and connecting the sun gear
member 32 with the ground element 52 through the synchronizer
clutch 28. When the input clutch 18 is engaged, the sun gear member
34 will be rotated in unison with the input shaft 12, and the
output shaft 16 will be rotated in the forward direction. This is
most easily seen in the lever diagram of FIG. 2, when it is
considered that the node 32A (sun gear member 32) is the ground
member, the node 34A (sun gear members 34 and 34') is the input
member, and the node 36A (ring gear member 36) is the output
member. If the input speed is imposed on the node 34A, the output
speed will be imposed on the node 36A in the same direction but at
a much-reduced value. While the transmission is operating in the
first ratio, the synchronizer clutch 24 can be shifted to engage
the ring gear member 38. This can be done with no torque load since
the input clutch 20 is disengaged.
[0027] To complete the engagement of the second ratio, the clutch
18 is disengaged while the clutch 20 is engaged. This moves the
input node from the sun gear member 34 to the ring gear member 38,
or as seen in the lever diagram, from the node 34A to the node 38A
(ring gear member 38). The ground member and output member remain
unchanged. Thus, it can be seen that the output speed represented
at node 36A will increase due to a change in the lever values.
During the second forward speed ratio, the synchronizers can be
conditioned for either first or third ratio, and since the first
ratio has been explained, the third ratio will be presented. During
the second ratio, the synchronizer 22 is manipulated to engage the
carrier 50 with the clutch 18.
[0028] To complete the interchange from second to third, the input
clutches 20 and 18 are swapped, thereby changing the input path
from the ring gear member 38 to the planet carrier member 50. The
output member (ring gear member 36) and the ground member (sun gear
member 32) remain the same. During the third forward speed ratio,
the node 50A (planet carrier 50) becomes the input node, the node
36A remains the output node, and the node 32A remains the grounding
node. As can be seen with the change in the lever relationships,
the output node will have a larger value in the third ratio than
was attained in the second ratio. The transmission can be changed
from the third speed ratio to either the second speed ratio or the
fourth speed ratio through manipulation of the synchronizers and
the input clutches. Since the second speed ratio has already been
explained, the fourth ratio will now be considered.
[0029] To initially establish the fourth ratio, the synchronizer 24
is manipulated to connect the input clutch 20 with the ring gear
member 36. Then, by swapping the input clutches 18 and 20, the
input shaft 12 will be connected directly through the ring gear
member 36 with the output shaft 16 establishing a 1:1 ratio. There
is no active ground member in the fourth ratio, thus preventing any
reaction within the planetary gearset. The fourth forward speed
ratio requires a relatively long engagement period compared with
the other speed ratios since a series of manipulations must be
undertaken in order to swap the output connection from the ring
gear member 36 to the sun gear members 34 and 34'.
[0030] During the fourth forward speed ratio, the synchronizer 28
is initially moved to an open condition, thereby relieving either
the sun gear member 32 or planet carrier member 50 from the ground
connection. The synchronizer 26 remains in the condition to connect
the ring gear member 36 with the input shaft 12, the synchronizer
clutch 22 is manipulated to connect the sun gear member 34 with the
input clutch 18, the synchronizer clutch 26 is manipulated to
connect the output shaft 16 with both the sun gear member 34' and
the ring gear member 32, thereby maintaining the transmission in a
1:1 ratio. The next occurrence within the transmission control is
to engage the input clutch 18 and disengage the clutch 20.
Therefore, the power path is from the input shaft 12 through the
input clutch 18, and the sun gear members 34 and 34' to the output
shaft 16. The next step during the fourth ratio is to set the
synchronizer clutch 26 so that only the sun gear members 34 and 34'
are connected with the output shaft 16.
[0031] Following this step, the synchronizer clutch 28 is
manipulated to connect the sun gear member 32 with the ground
element 52. Note, the power path remains through the input clutch
18, the synchronizer clutch 22, and the sun gear member 34' to the
output shaft 16. To then complete the interchange from fourth to
fifth forward speed ratios, synchronizer 24 is connected to ring
gear 38 and the input clutch 18 is disengaged while the input
clutch 20 is engaged, thereby changing the power path from the sun
gear member 34' to the ring gear member 38 while the sun gear
member 32 is grounded and the sun gear member 34' remains connected
with the output shaft 16. Looking at the lever diagram in FIG. 2,
it can be seen that when the node 38A (ring gear member 38)
represents the input node and the node 34A (sun gear member 34')
represents the output node with the node 32A (sun gear member 32)
representing the fulcrum, an overdrive ratio is established.
[0032] During the fifth forward speed ratio, a downshift to the
fourth ratio can be undertaken or an upshift to the sixth ratio can
be undertaken. To prepare for the sixth ratio to be established,
the synchronizer clutch 22 is manipulated to connect the input
clutch 18 with the planet carrier member 50. To complete the sixth
forward speed ratio, the input clutches 20 and 18 are interchanged
such that the input power path is taken from the ring gear member
38 and placed on the planet carrier member 50. As seen in the lever
diagram of FIG. 2, this results in a larger speed at the output
node 34A, as the input node is moved from node 38A to node 50A,
while the node 32A remains the fulcrum.
[0033] The transmission can then be manipulated to provide a
seventh forward speed ratio or back to the fifth forward speed
ratio. The elements of the seventh forward speed ratio are
preselected from manipulating the synchronizer clutch 24 to engage
with the ring gear member 36, while the output member (sun gear
member 34') remains connected with the output shaft 16, and the sun
gear member 32 remains connected with the ground element 52. When
the synchronizer interchange is completed, the input clutches 18
and 20 can be interchanged. This will change the input power path
from the planet carrier member 50 to the ring gear member 36 while
the ground member (sun gear member 32) remains constant. Again,
reviewing the lever diagram of FIG. 2, it can be seen that when the
input speed is represented as the node 36A, the output speed of the
node 34A will be much larger and therefore an even larger overdrive
speed is attained.
[0034] The downshifting from seventh to first is simply the
opposite of the interchanges, which occurred during the upshifting.
On reviewing these ratio interchanges, it should be evident that
the oncoming speed ratio can be preselected through the
synchronizer clutch assemblies prior to the input clutches 18 and
20 being interchanged. Thus, the interchange occurs without torque
interruption between the input shaft 12 and the output shaft 16.
This is one of the main purposes for using a dual input clutch-type
transmission. This provides a significant improvement over single
input clutch-type transmissions where the torque path between the
engine and the input clutch is disengaged to permit manipulation of
the oncoming speed ratio.
[0035] Referring to the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 3, there
is seen a power transmission 100 having an input shaft 102, a
planetary transmission 104, and an output shaft 106. The planetary
transmission 104 has two input clutches 108 and 110, four
synchronizer or mechanical clutches 112, 114, 116, and 118, and a
planetary arrangement 120. The planetary arrangement 120 includes
four planetary gearsets 122, 124, 126, and 128.
[0036] The planetary gearset 122 includes a sun gear member 130, a
ring gear member 132, and a planet carrier assembly member 134. The
planet carrier assembly member 134 includes a plurality of pinion
gears 136 rotatably mounted on a planet carrier member 138 and
disposed in meshing relationship with both the sun gear member 130
and the ring gear member 132.
[0037] The planetary gearset 124 includes a sun gear member 140, a
ring gear member 142, and a planet carrier assembly member 144. The
planet carrier assembly member 144 includes a plurality of pinion
gears 146 rotatably mounted on a planet carrier member 148 and
disposed in meshing relationship with both the sun gear member 140
and the ring gear member 142.
[0038] The planetary gearset 126 is a compound planetary gearset
including a sun gear member 150, a ring gear member 152, and a
planet carrier assembly member 154. The planet carrier assembly
member 154 includes a plurality of intermeshing pinion gears 155
and 156 that are rotatably mounted on a planet carrier member 158
and disposed in meshing relationship with the sun gear member 150
and the ring gear member 152, respectively.
[0039] The planetary gearset 128 is a compound planetary gearset
including a sun gear member 160, a ring gear member 162, and a
planet carrier assembly member 164. The planet carrier assembly
member 164 includes a plurality of intermeshing pinion gears 165
and 166 that are rotatably mounted on a planet carrier member 168
and disposed in meshing relationship with the sun gear member 160
and the ring gear member 162, respectively.
[0040] The planet carrier member 138, ring gear member 142, and
ring gear member 162 are continuously interconnected with each
other and drivingly connected with the synchronizer clutches 114
and 116. The sun gear member 130 and the planet carrier member 168
are continuously interconnected and are drivingly connected with
the synchronizer clutch 118. The ring gear member 132, the planet
carrier member 148, and planet carrier member 158 are continuously
interconnected and drivingly connected with the synchronizer
clutches 112 and 118. The sun gear members 140 and 150 are
continuously interconnected and drivingly connected with the
synchronizer clutch 112.
[0041] The sun gear member 160 is drivingly connected with the
synchronizer clutch 116. The input clutches 108 and 110 are
drivingly connected with the synchronizer clutches 112 and 114,
respectively. The output shaft 106 is drivingly connected with the
synchronizer clutch 116. The synchronizer clutch 118 is drivingly
connected with a grounding member 170.
[0042] It should be noted that the synchronizers 112 and 114
provide alternate inputs for the planetary arrangement 120. The
synchronizer clutch 112 provides an input path to the sun gear
members 140 and 150 in one position, and an input path to the
planet carrier members 148, 158, and ring gear member 132 in the
other position. The synchronizer clutch 114 provides an input path
to the ring gear member 152 in one position, and to the ring gear
members 142, 162 and planet carrier member 138 in the other
position. The synchronizer clutch 116 provides alternative
connections between the sun gear member 160 and the output shaft
106, and a connection between the ring gear members 162, 142 and
planet carrier member 138 in another position, and a connection
between all of the above-mentioned gear members in the third
position. The synchronizer 118 provides selective connections
between the ground member 170 and the planet carrier members 148,
158 and ring gear member 132, and in the other position with sun
gear member 130, planet carrier member 138, and ring gear members
152 and 142. The synchronizer clutches 112 and 114 are selectively
connectible with the input shaft 102 through the input clutches 108
and 110, respectively.
[0043] As with the planetary arrangement 30, shown in FIG. 1, the
planetary arrangement 120 can be collapsed into a five-node lever
diagram, which is shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, the input clutches
and the synchronizer clutches have been given the same numerical
designation as those elements shown in FIG. 3 with an "A" suffix.
The nodes of the lever diagram are designated as A, B, C, D, and E.
The node A represents the sun gear member 130, planet carrier
member 168, and sun gear member 160. The node B represents the ring
gear member 142, the planet carrier member 138, and the ring gear
member 162. The node C represents the planet carrier member 148,
the ring gear member 152, and the planet carrier member 158. The
node D represents the ring gear member 152, and the node E
represents the sun gear members 140 and 150 during the underdrive
ratios, and the sun gear member 160 during the overdrive
ratios.
[0044] During the reverse ratio, the sun gear member 140 (node E)
is connected with the input shaft 102 through the input clutch 108,
the planet carrier member 148 (node C) is connected with the ground
member 170, and the ring gear member 142 (node B) is connected with
the output shaft 106 through the synchronizer clutch 116. When at
least both of the input clutches 108 and 110 are disengaged, the
transmission is in a neutral condition.
[0045] The first forward speed ratio is established by connecting
the node A to ground, the node E to the input shaft, and the node B
to the output shaft. The second forward speed ratio is preselected
by connecting node D to clutch 110A and then swapping the clutches
110 and 108 to complete the shift or ratio interchange. The third
forward speed ratio is preselected by connecting the node C through
the synchronizer clutch 112A with the input clutch 108A and then
interchanging the clutches 108 and 110 to complete the shift. The
fourth forward speed ratio is preselected by interconnecting the
input clutch 110 through the synchronizer 114 with the output shaft
106 represented by node B. Then, the shift to initiate the fourth
forward speed ratio is established with the interchange of the
input clutches 108 and 110. As with the planetary arrangement 30
described above, the fourth forward speed ratio is a direct drive,
which undergoes a series of manipulations to arrange the
synchronizers in proper location for the upshift to fifth
ratio.
[0046] The final stage of the fourth forward speed ratio has the
input clutch 108 engaged; the synchronizer 112 connected with the
sun gear members 140 and 150 (node E); and the output shaft 106
connected through the synchronizer clutch 116 with the sun gear
member 160, which is also represented at node E. The fifth forward
speed ratio is established from this condition by interchanging the
input clutches 108 and 110 to establish node D as the input node
and node E as the output node, while the node A is the reaction
node. The sixth forward speed ratio is preselected by connecting
the node C with the input clutch 108. The nodes E and A remain as
connected previously. The fifth-to-sixth interchange is completed
by disengaging the clutch 110 while engaging the clutch 108. The
seventh forward speed ratio is preselected by connecting the node B
with the input clutch 110A. The nodes E and A remain, as selected
in the sixth ratio. The sixth-to-seventh interchange is completed
by swapping the clutches 108 and 110, thereby completing the input
interconnection with the node B.
[0047] From the above descriptions of the embodiments shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3, it should now be evident that seven forward speed
ratios and one reverse speed ratio can be provided in a dual input
clutch-type transmission having incorporated therein a planetary
gear arrangement, which has either three or four planes of meshing
gears. The planetary arrangement in FIG. 1 has three planes of
meshing gears while the planetary arrangement in FIG. 3 has four
planes of meshing gears. Each of the embodiments incorporates three
two-position synchronizers and one three-way synchronizer, as well
as two selectively engageable input clutches. The synchronizers and
input clutches are controlled in a conventional manner, which might
incorporate an electronic control unit having the components
thereof being a preprogrammable digital computer. These types of
controls are well known.
[0048] As an alternative, the synchronizer clutches can be manually
manipulated and the input clutches 110 and 108 will be
hydraulically manipulated. The manual manipulation is not
preferable since this requires considerable movement on the part of
the operator. Therefore, the automatic interchange of the
synchronizers is the preferred control method and this can be
accomplished with a conventional electro-hydraulic control
unit.
* * * * *