Description:FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a power shuttle transmission (PST) used for shuttling of an agricultural/farm machinery or a construction equipment. In particular, the present invention relates to an electrical/electronic power shuttle transmission. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electronic power shuttle transmission to enable the driver/user to switch the forward and reverse gears without disengaging the clutch in applications like backhoe and loader in farm machinery and construction equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The repeated forward and reverse movement of a machine is called “Shuttling”. In power shuttle transmission (PST) technology, it is prohibited to shift the direction of movement (forward/reverse) without pressing the clutch pedal of the machine. However, while shifting gears, it is necessary to disengage the mechanical clutch by pressing the clutch pedal to disrupt the power flow during the gear change.

While using the PST technology, it is often observed that the machine operator forgets to use the clutch pedal during the gear shifting operation. As a result of this, during the operation of agricultural/farm machinery or construction equipment, e.g. tractors, the gearbox gets damaged due to gear shifting without disengaging the power (flow) transmission from the engine.

In addition, the aforesaid prohibition of the machine operator to keep his/her leg on the clutch pedal could be changed when the clutch pedal is required only for inching operation.

Currently, the mechanical clutch is used to engage or disengage the transmission for transferring the power to the gear shifting lever.
However, it is also possible to achieve the disengagement of the power transfer by using Power Shuttle Transmission (PST) clutches in place of mechanical clutches.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventors of the present invention have studied the change in the behavior of the machine operator while using the Power Shuttle Transmission (PST) technology and due to the failures occurring because of the machine operator’s ignorance of mechanical clutch usage during gear shifting.

In accordance with the present invention, a hydraulic gear shift-button is added on the gear shifting lever, which can be easily accessed by the machine operator/user and pressed by him/her during the gear shifting operation to overrule the clutch pedal pressing.

This does not require the pressing of the clutch pedal while shifting gears in accordance with the present invention. Here, the operator only needs to press aforesaid hydraulic gear shift-button made available on the gear shifting lever.

This hydraulic gear shift-button sends a signal to the controller and the controller takes care of disengaging the clutch with the help of a hydraulic valve. On releasing this hydraulic gear shift-button, the clutch gets engaged again.

Accordingly, the gear shifting operation of the agricultural/farm machinery or construction equipment, e.g. tractors is converted into a clutch-free operation by placing an auto-return type of hydraulic gear shift-button on the gear shifting lever, which uses a sliding-mesh type gearbox. This electrical/electronic or hydraulic-shift button is easy to press during gear shifting to operate hydraulic circuit.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Some of the objects of the present invention - satisfied by at least one embodiment of the present invention - are as follows:

An object of the present invention is to provide a power shuttle transmission (PST) having a hydraulic gear shifting system for agricultural/farm machinery or construction equipment, e.g. tractors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a power shuttle transmission (PST) having a hydraulic gear shifting system for tractors to enable the driver/user thereof to switch the reverse and forward gear without disengaging the clutch in its applications such as Backhoe and Loader.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a power shuttle transmission (PST) having a hydraulic gear shifting system for tractors, which prevents the damage to the gearbox when the machine operator forgets to press the clutch pedal while disengaging the power transmission from the engine.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a power shuttle transmission (PST) having a hydraulic gear shifting system for tractors having a hydraulic gear shift-button on the gear shifting lever, easily accessible by the machine operator/user to be pressed by during the gear shifting operation in order to overrule the clutch pedal pressing for disengaging the power transmission from the engine.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, when read with the accompanying figures of drawing, which are however not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an electronic power shuttle transmission (EPST) assembly with a hydraulic gear shifting system for agricultural machinery and construction equipment, the EPST assembly comprises:

• a forward-reverse lever;

• a gear shifting lever;

• a control unit housing a controller;

• an Electronic Power Shifting Transmission (EPST) with a proportional valve to provide hydraulic oil flow based on the processed signals received from the control unit;

• a power take-off clutch operated by the proportional valve;

• a forward clutch for a forward movement of the agricultural machinery and construction equipment; and

• a reverse clutch for a reverse movement of the agricultural machinery and construction equipment;

wherein a hydraulic gear-shift button is provided on the gear shifting lever to be pressed during the gear-shifting operation by overruling the clutch pedal operation for engaging or disengaging the power transmission from the engine of the for agricultural machinery and construction equipment.

Typically, the forward-reverse lever comprises three operational positions and configured with electrical switch to issue control signals to control unit.

Typically, the control unit comprises a controller for processing the signals issued by the forward-reverse lever and the signals processed therein are passed on to the EPST assembly.

Typically, the forward clutch is operated by changing the hydraulic oil-pressure by means of the proportional valve.

Typically, the reverse clutch is operated by changing the hydraulic oil-pressure by means of the proportional valve.

Typically, the proportional valve is configured with three solenoid valves, one each for operating the PTO clutch, forward clutch, and reverse clutch respectively.

Typically, the neutral condition of the forward-reverse lever, the forward clutch, and reverse clutch are brought in a disengaged condition to prevent the power transfer in the transmission-line for stopping the movement of the agricultural machinery and construction equipment.

Typically, the agricultural machinery and construction equipment is a tractor.

Typically, the EPST assembly is configured to enable the operator thereof to switch the forward and reverse gears without disengaging the forward clutch or reverse clutch for facilitating the backhoe and/or loader application.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the EPST assembly comprises:

• a forward-reverse lever with three operational positions to issue the control signals to the control unit;

• a gear shifting lever is configured with the hydraulic gear-shift button thereon;
• a control unit includes a controller for processing the signals issued by the forward-reverse lever and the signals processed therein are passed on to the EPST assembly;

• the proportional valve is configured to change the pressure of the oil flow supplied to the forward clutch or reverse clutch according to the processed signals received from the control unit;

• the proportional valve is configured with three solenoid valves, one each for operating the PTO clutch, forward clutch, and reverse clutch respectively; and

• the forward-reverse lever brought in forward position activates the forward clutch; in reverse position activates the reverse clutch; and in neutral position disengages the forward and reverse clutches to prevent the power transfer for stopping the movement of the tractor;

wherein the hydraulic gear-shift button is pressed for EPST assembly to overrule the clutch pedal operation for engaging or disengaging the power transmission from the engine of the for agricultural machinery and construction equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The present invention will be briefly described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary power shuttle transmission (PST) assembly with a hydraulic gear shifting system configured in accordance with the present invention, which includes a hydraulic gear-shift-button added on the gear shifting lever.

Figure 2 shows a typical arrangement of the power shuttle transmission (PST) with a hydraulic gear shifting system of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following, the electronic power shuttle transmission (EPST) having a hydraulic gear shifting system configured in accordance with the present invention will be described in more details with reference to the accompanying drawings without limiting the scope and ambit of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary power shuttle transmission (PST) assembly 20 with a hydraulic gear shifting system configured in accordance with the present invention for agricultural machinery or farm equipment, e.g. tractors. This system has a forward-reverse lever 02 with three positions, Forward (F), Reverse (R), and Neutral (N) positions respectively, a gear shifting lever 04, a control unit 06 configured as a freedom of movement control unit (FMCU), an Electronic Power Shuttle Transmission (EPST) assembly with proportional valve 08, a Power Takeoff (PTO) clutch 10, a forward clutch 12, a reverse clutch 14, and a hydraulic gear-shift-button 16 provided on the gear shifting lever 04.

Figure 2 shows a typical arrangement of the electric power shuttle transmission (PST) assembly 20 with a hydraulic gear shifting system of Fig. 1. Here, the forward-reverse lever 02 has a respective Forward (F), Reverse (R), and Neutral (N) positions. The forward-reverse lever 02 is configured with an electrical switch to provide control signal to the control unit 06, which is read and processed by the controller housed in the control unit 06 and the processed signal is then passed on to the EPST assembly with proportional valve 08. Based on the processed signal received from the control unit 06, the EPST assembly with a proportional valve or hydraulic control valve 08 provides a hydraulic oil flow to the forward clutch 12 or a reverse clutch 14. The shift/change in the hydraulic oil pressure causes the respective forward 12 or reverse 14 clutch to engage and the power transfer takes place either with the forward clutch 12 for a forward movement or with the reverse clutch 14 for a reverse movement for performing the shuttling operation. In the event of a neutral condition of the forward-reverse lever 02, both the clutches 12, 14 remain in disengaged condition and no power transfer takes place in the transmission-line, and thus there is no further vehicle movement. The EPST assembly 20 with a proportional valve 08 includes three (3) solenoids, out of which one solenoid valve each is provided for operating the PTO Clutch 10, the forward clutch 12 and the reverse clutch 14.

Accordingly, the hydraulic gear shift-button 16 placed on the gear shifting lever 04 helps the tractor operator obtaining an easy access to press it during the gear-shifting operation and to overrule the clutch pedal pressing, i.e. s/he is not required to the press clutch pedal (not shown) during the gear-shifting operation by the EPST with the hydraulic gear shifting system configured according to the present invention.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The electric power shuttle transmission (EPST) assembly with a hydraulic gear shifting system configured in accordance with the present invention offers the following advantages:

• Easy access to the operator to press hydraulic gear shift-button placed on the gear-shifting lever itself.

• Facilitates the PTO clutch operation by a Solenoid valve provided on it.

• Eliminates the need for pressing of clutch-pedal during gear-shifting.

• Improves operation by EPST over the conventional mechanical clutch.

• Eliminates any damage to the gearbox due to failure of the operator to disengage the clutch during gear-shifting/shuttling operation.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments.

It is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation. The exemplary embodiments described in this specification are intended merely to provide an understanding of various manners in which this embodiment may be used and to further enable the skilled person in the relevant art to practice this invention. The description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description.

Although, the embodiments presented in this disclosure have been described in terms of its preferred embodiments, the skilled person in the art would readily recognize that these embodiments can be applied with modifications possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in this specification by making innumerable changes, variations, modifications, alterations and/or integrations in terms of materials and method used to configure, manufacture and assemble various constituents, components, subassemblies and assemblies, in terms of their size, shapes, orientations and interrelationships without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

The numerical values given of various physical parameters, dimensions and quantities are only approximate values and it is envisaged that the values higher or lower than the numerical value assigned to the physical parameters, dimensions and quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure unless there is a statement in the specification to the contrary.

Throughout this specification, the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, shall be understood to imply including a described element, integer or method step, or group of elements, integers or method steps, however, does not imply excluding any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or method steps.

The use of the expression “a”, “at least” or “at least one” shall imply using one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as used in the embodiment of the disclosure in order to achieve one or more of the intended objects or results of the present invention.

In the description, relative terms such as “lower”, “upper”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “above”, “below”, “up”, “down”, “top”, and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g. “horizontally”, “inwardly”, “outwardly”; “downwardly”, “upwardly” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the corresponding apparatus or device be constructed or operated in a particular orientation.

Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected”, refer to a relationship, wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

20 Electronic power shuttle transmission (EPST) assembly 20
02 Forward-reverse lever
04 Gear shifting lever
06 Control unit 06
08 Proportional valve
10 Power Takeoff (PTO) clutch
12 Forward clutch
14 Reverse clutch
16 Hydraulic gear-shift-button
F Forward position on gear shifting lever o4
R Reverse position on gear shifting lever o4
N Neutral positions on gear shifting lever o4 , Claims:We claim:

1. An electric power shuttle transmission (EPST) assembly (20) with a hydraulic gear shifting system for agricultural machinery and construction equipment, said ESPT assembly (20) comprises:

• a forward-reverse lever (02);

• a gear shifting lever (04);

• a control unit (06) housing a controller;

• an Electronic Power Shifting Transmission (EPST) with a proportional valve (08) to provide hydraulic oil flow based on the processed signals received from said control unit (06);

• a power take-off clutch (10) operated by said proportional valve (08);

• a forward clutch (12) for a forward movement of said agricultural machinery and construction equipment; and

• a reverse clutch (14) for a reverse movement of said agricultural machinery and construction equipment;

wherein a hydraulic gear-shift button (16) is provided on said gear shifting lever (04) to be pressed during the gear-shifting operation by overruling the clutch pedal operation for engaging or disengaging the power transmission from the engine of said for agricultural machinery and construction equipment.

2. The EPST assembly (20) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said forward-reverse lever (02) comprises three operational positions (F, N, R) and configured with electrical switch to issue control signals to control unit (06).

3. The EPST assembly (20) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said control unit (06) comprises a controller for processing the signals issued by said forward-reverse lever (02) and the signals processed therein are passed on to said EPST assembly (20).

4. The EPST assembly (20) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said forward clutch (12) is operated by changing the hydraulic oil-pressure by means of said proportional valve (08).

5. The EPST assembly (20) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said reverse clutch (14) is operated by on changing the hydraulic oil-pressure by means of said proportional valve (08).

6. The EPST assembly (20) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said proportional valve (08) is configured with three solenoid valves, one each for operating said PTO clutch (10), forward clutch (12), and reverse clutch (14) respectively.

7. The EPST assembly (20) as claimed in claim 2, wherein in said neutral condition (N) of said forward-reverse lever (02), said forward clutch (12), and reverse clutch (14) are brought in a disengaged condition to prevent the power transfer in the transmission-line for stopping the movement of said agricultural machinery and construction equipment.

8. The EPST assembly (20) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said agricultural machinery and construction equipment is a tractor.

9. The EPST assembly (20) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said EPST assembly (20) is configured to enable the operator thereof to switch the forward and reverse gears without disengaging said forward clutch (12) or reverse clutch (14) for facilitating the backhoe and/or loader application.
10. The EPST assembly (20) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said EPST assembly (20) comprises:
• a forward-reverse lever (02) with three operational positions (F, N, R) to issue the control signals to said control unit (06);

• a gear shifting lever (04) is configured with said hydraulic gear-shift button (16) thereon;

• a control unit (06) includes a controller for processing the signals issued by said forward-reverse lever (02) and the signals processed therein are passed on to said EPST assembly (20);

• said proportional valve (08) is configured to change the pressure of said oil flow supplied to said forward clutch (12) or reverse clutch (14) according to the processed signals received from said control unit (06);

• said proportional valve (08) is configured with three solenoid valves, one each for operating said PTO clutch (10), forward clutch (12), and reverse clutch (14) respectively; and

• said forward-reverse lever (02) brought in (F) position activates said forward clutch (12); in (R) position activates said reverse clutch (14); and in neutral position (N) disengages said forward and reverse clutches (12; 14) to prevent the power transfer for stopping the movement of said tractor;

wherein said hydraulic gear-shift button (16) is pressed for EPST assembly (20) to overrule the clutch pedal operation for engaging or disengaging the power transmission from the engine of said for agricultural machinery and construction equipment.

Dated this 11th day of September 2023.

Digitally / e-Signed by:

(SANJAY KESHARWANI)
APPLICANT’S PATENT AGENT
REGN. NO. IN/PA-2043.