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Title:
DIGITAL LINEAR POTENTIOMETER CONTROLLED CLOSED LOOP QUICKSHIFTER/THROTTLE BLIPPER DEVICE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2014/044996
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A Digital Linear Potentiometer Controlled Closed Loop Quickshifter/Throttle Blipper Device having a spherical bearing for gearlever attachment (Fig 1.1). A spherical bearing for mounting bracket attachment (Fig 1.2). A linear potentiometer outer housing (Fig 1.3). A linear potentiometer shift rod (Fig 1.4). An electronic power and ground connection to linear potentiometer (Fig 1.5). A waterproof cable connector (Fig 1.6). A length of military specification cabling (Fig 1.7). This device is designed for sequentially geared racing and road vehicles for both on and off road use. It connects to the gearlever and eliminates gearbox wear/damage whilst also providing the fastest gearshifts currently available in the Quickshifter marketplace.

Inventors:
TANSLEY JAMES ROYSTON (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB2013/000389
Publication Date:
March 27, 2014
Filing Date:
September 19, 2013
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
TANSLEY JAMES ROYSTON (GB)
International Classes:
F16H61/04; B60K20/02; F16H59/70; F16H63/50
Foreign References:
DE8506532U11985-05-30
GB2387629A2003-10-22
Other References:
None
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
GAMBLE, Lynda (Unit 3 Heyes Industrial EstateAnglers Lane,Spondon, Derby DE21 7NT, GB)
Download PDF:
Claims:
DIGITAL LINEAR POTENTIOMETER CONTROLLED CLOSED LOOP

QUICKSHIFTER/THROTTLE BLIPPER DEVICE

Claims

1. A Digital Linear Potentiometer Controlled Closed Loop Qmckshifter/Throttle Blipper Device comprising of: a linear potentiometer shift rod complete with two spherical bearings for gearlever and mounting bracket attachment a linear potentiometer with attached electronic power and ground connections a military specification cable with waterproof connection that is operably connected to the gearshift control unit a digital programmable gearshift control unit (GCU)

A Digital Linear Potentiometer Controlled Closed Loop Quickshifter/Throttle Blipper Device is attached to a sequentially geared vehicle's gearlever via a spherical bearing at one end of the linear potentiometer, the other spherical bearing is attached to a fixed mounting bracket placed in a suitable position to utilise the linear potentiometer's travel, said device is then operably connected to a gearshift control unit (GCU) with outputs suitable for operating said device from linear potentiometer signals received indicating the gearlever position in both upshift and downshifting directions in both wet and dry modes, along with output capacity to cut the ignition, fuel or retard the ignition in upshifting direction and operably control a Remote Cable Operated Downshift Throttle Blipping Device or Telescopic Throttle Blipping Device in downshift direction

2. A Digital Linear Potentiometer Controlled Closed Loop Quickshifter/Throttle Blipper Device according to claim 1, in which said device is operably connected to a high specification Electronic Control Unit (ECU) with outputs suitable for operating said device along with the output capacity to cut the ignition, fuel and operably control ignition retardation in upshift direction and operably blip the throttle in downshift direction when using electronic drive by wire (DBW) throttle bodies

3. A Digital Linear Potentiometer Controlled Closed Loop Quickshifter/Throttle Blipper Device according to claim 1, in which said device is operably connected to a drive by wire (DBW) electronic throttle which is signalled by the gearshift control unit (GCU) to operably blip the throttle in downshift direction

4. A Digital Linear Potentiometer Controlled Closed Loop Quickshifter/Throttle Blipper Device according to claim 1, in which the travel of the linear potentiometer shift rod can be varied to accommodate any sequentially geared vehicle requirements

Description:
DIGITAL LINEAR POTENTIOMETER CONTROLLED CLOSED LOOP

OUICKSHIFTERTHROTTLE BLD7PER DEVICE

Althovigh very common in racing and for road use, conventional "Quickshifters" are designed to cut the ignition, fuel feeds or retard the ignition to create an interruption in drive allowing for clutchless upshifts on sequentially geared vehicles. These are set to interrupt drive for pre-set time(s), this can cause gearbox wear problems as many car and motorcycle racers plus road users have discovered to their cost. For this reason allied to adding a far higher degree of gearshifting control than methods currently available, the Digital Linear Potentiometer Controlled Closed Loop Qmckshifter/Throttle Blipper Device hereafter referred to as the device has been developed.

Currently other conventional Quickshifters use load cells or strain gauges to effect the interruption in drive (generally only for upshifts), because of their mode of operation these systems physically load the gearbox before the drive interruption can take place and this inevitably causes wear/damage over a period of use.

Specifically designed as an alternative to the aforementioned methods the device is unique in that it utilises a linear potentiometer to give gearshift feedback instead, which allows the drive to be interrupted and reinstated on upshifts at adjustable pre-programmed gearlever positions without loading the gearbox, this eliminates gearbox wear and also has the added advantage of being far faster than any other Quickshifter currently available. Because the device utilises Closed Loop Gearshifting Technology the period of drive interruption and thus gearshift times will vary according to conditions, loading and gearbox ratios used, the device monitors gearlever and thus gearshift position at all times and will not reinstate drive (on upshifts) until it sees the pre-programmed gearshift engagement position has been safely made thus adding gearbox protection. That said it can easily be set so accurately that documented evidence of clutchless upshifts taking under 25mS (milliseconds) are available to substantiate this fact.

The device's linear potentiometer is specifically designed to attach directly to the vehicle's gearlever. It is light weight, and small in size thus making installation relatively simple, this is then operably connected to a Gearshift Control Unit (GCU) which features an integral digital readout screen with set up buttons for ease of prograniming and adjustment. The device provides the ideal solution for eliminating gearbox wear and the associated reliability issues that load cells and strain gauges can cause, the device is suitable for any size of sequentially gearboxed vehicle application.

As some drivers/riders requirements may vary such that they only require the

Quickshifter element of the device for upshifting (Digital Linear Potentiometer

Controlled Closed Loop Quickshifter function of the device) or similarly some drivers/riders may only require the Throttle Blipper element of the device for clutchless downshifting (Digital Linear Potentiometer Controlled Closed Loop Throttle Blipper function of the device), the device has been designed to be equally suited to single use for either of these functions. For clutchless downs fting the device can be used in conjunction with a Remote Cable Operated Throttle Blipping Device or a Telescopic

l DIGITAL LINEAR POTENTIOMETER CONTROLLED CLOSED LOOP

OUICKSHIFTER/THRQTTLE BLD?PER DEVICE

Throttle Blipping Device, (both of which have Patent applications on-going), it can also operate electronically powered Drive By Wire (DBW) throttles for this function.

Clutchless upshifting with integrated Closed Loop linear potentiometer control provides self-adjusting seamless drive interruption which allows safe and flawless upshifting in all weather conditions. The linear potentiometer feedback senses gearshift position at all times and provides over a 1000 feedback signals through the length of its travel (travel and size of the linear potentiometer can vary according to installation requirements). The device thus provides extremely accurate gearshift control. Additional features of the device are smooth power restoration via ramped ignition/fuel restoration after drive interruption on upshifts, this can be separately programmed for each individual gearshift, it features two modes (wet and dry) activated via a dual mode switch which again allows individually differing ramped ignition/fuel restoration for each individual upshift in both modes, the reason for this is that often accelerative traction is reduced in wet or slippery conditions and longer ramped ignition/fuel restoration can be desirable. The device also features RPM recognition allowing an RPM ceiling to be set where the device will no longer interrupt the drive on upshifts and will not blip the throttle on downshifts to effect what is known as "downshift lock out", this has the benefit of protecting the engine and gearbox from accidental damage, these RPM ceilings are individually programmable for all gearshifts in Wet or Dry modes. Equally using RPM recognition the device can be set to any desirable lower RPM limit where up or downshifting functions are disabled, thus making low speed/RPM vehicle manoeuvrability easier.

The device is designed for use on racing and road sequentially geared vehicles for both on and off road use.

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the two accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows the complete Digital Linear Potentiometer Controlled Closed Loop Qmckshifter/Throttle Blipper Device's linear potentiometer and its means of connecting with the vehicle's gearlever.

Fig 1.1 shows the spherical bearing for attaching to the vehicle's gearlever

Fig 1.2 shows the spherical bearing for attaching to the mounting bracket

Fig 1.3 shows the linear potentiometer outer housing

Fig 1.4 shows the linear potentiometer shift rod which travels freely in and out of the outer housing (Fig 1.3)

Fig 1.5 shows the electronic power and ground connections to the linear potentiometer Fig 1.6 shows the waterproof cable connector which attaches directly to the gearshift control unit (GCU)

Fig 1.7 shows the military specification cable which runs from the electronic power and ground connections to the linear potentiometer (Fig 1.5) to the waterproof connector (Fig 1.6) DIGITAL LINEAR POTENTIOMETER CONTROLLED CLOSED LOOP

OUICKSHIFTER/THROTTLE BLD7PER DEVICE

Figure 2 shows the installation of the Digital Linear Potentiometer Controlled Closed Loop Quickshifter Throttle Blipper Device

Fig. 2.1 shows the linear potentiometer

Fig 2.2 shows the spherical bearing for attaching to the mounting bracket

Fig 2.3 shows the vehicle's gearlever

Fig. 2.4 shows the vehicle's gearbox

Fig 2.5 shows the gearshift control unit (GCU)

Fog 2.6 shows the military specification cabling from the linear potentiometer to the gearshift control unit (GCU)

Fig 2.7 shows the vehicle's 12 volt battery

Fig 2.8 shows the positive connection from the battery to the (GCU)

Fig 2.9 shows the negative connection from the battery to the (GCU)

Fig 2.10 shows the wiring harness from the (GCU) to the wet dry mode switch

Fig 2.11 shows the wet dry mode switch

Fig 2.12 shows the (GCU) output to either the Telescopic Blipper, The Cable Blipper OR to the drive by wire (DBW) throttle as it is compatible with all three throttle blipping methods

Fig 2.13 shows the vehicle's throttle bodies which may be either conventional or DBW