DESC:GEAR SHIFTER ASSEMBLY FOR MOTORCYCLES
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICTIONS
The present application claims priority from Indian Provisional Patent Application No. 202421030467 filed on 16/04/2024, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by a reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure generally relates to a gear shifter assembly. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a gear shifter assembly for a two-wheeler vehicle.
BACKGROUND
The two-wheel vehicles contain a propulsion system that propels the vehicle from one position to another by generating power and transferring the generated power to the wheels of the vehicle. The vehicle propulsion system comprises gearbox assembly and a gear shifting mechanism to change gears for optimum power delivery to the wheels of the vehicle.
The gear shifting mechanism includes multiple components such as gear shift lever, shifter rod and so on. Generally, the gear shifter lever is positioned near the footpegs of the vehicle. The two-wheel vehicles are prone to falling on the ground. In case a vehicle falls on the ground, the gear shifter lever is the first point of contact of the vehicle with the ground. In such scenario, the weight of the vehicle exerts mechanical load on the gear shift lever which in turn is applied on the shifter road and thus reaches the gearbox assembly. Such heavy load may damage the components of the gearbox assembly. Furthermore, it may cause permanent failure of the gearbox assembly leaving the vehicle immobile.
To overcome this issue, protective accessories are installed on the vehicle. However, such external accessories fail to protect the gearbox assembly when the vehicle falls on uneven terrain.
Thus, there exists a need for a mechanism that overcomes one or more problems associated as set forth above.
SUMMARY
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a gear shifter assembly for a two-wheeler vehicle.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a gear shifter assembly for a two-wheeler vehicle. The gear shifter assembly comprises a shifter lever hinged on a frame of the vehicle, a shifter rod connected to the shifter lever and a gearbox, and a safety stopper connected to the shifter lever and the frame of the vehicle, wherein the safety stopper is configured to restrict movement of the shifter lever beyond a predetermined limit.
The present disclosure beneficially provides a gear shifter assembly. The gear shifter assembly of the present disclosure is advantageous in terms of preventing any damage to gearbox in case the vehicle falls on the ground. Beneficially, the gear shifter assembly of the present disclosure transfer the mechanical load safely to the frame of the vehicle preventing any load transfer to the gearbox which may damage the gearbox. Beneficially, the gear shifter assembly of the present disclosure prevents any unintended excess movement of the shifter lever.
Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the present disclosure would be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments constructed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow.
It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a gear shifter assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed to represent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the present disclosure and ways in which they can be implemented. Although some modes of carrying out the present disclosure have been disclosed, those skilled in the art would recognise that other embodiments for carrying out or practising the present disclosure are also possible.
The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of certain embodiments of a gear shifter assembly and is not intended to represent the only forms that may be developed or utilised. The description sets forth the various structures and/or functions in connection with the illustrated embodiments; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimised to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.
The terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “include(s)”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a setup, system that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or system. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises... a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.
In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
The present disclosure will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the description with unnecessary detail.
As used herein, the term “vehicle”, “motorcycle” and “two-wheeler vehicle” are used interchangeably and refer to a mobile machine designed for the transportation of people, goods, or materials. It includes, but is not limited to, two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles and scooters. Vehicles may be powered by internal combustion engines, electric motors, or human effort, and are commonly used for domestic, commercial, or industrial purposes.
As used herein, the terms “assembly”, “shifter assembly”, and “gear shifter assembly” are used interchangeably and refer to a mechanical system or arrangement of components designed to enable the rider to manually change gears in the vehicle's transmission system. It typically connects the rider's input (via a lever or pedal) to the gearbox, allowing the selection of different gear ratios to control the vehicle's speed and torque. The gear shifter assembly is a critical interface between the rider and the transmission, ensuring smooth and reliable gear shifting during operation.
As used herein, the term “shifter lever” refers to pedal or lever operated by the rider’s foot (or sometimes hand, depending on the vehicle design), which initiates the gear-shifting process. The shifter lever is typically hinged or pivotally mounted on the vehicle’s frame
As used herein, the term “shifter rod” refers to a connecting element (e.g., a rod or linkage) that transmits the motion or force from the shifter lever to the gearbox or transmission mechanism.
As used herein, the term “frame” refers to a primary structural component or chassis of the vehicle that provides support, rigidity, and a mounting foundation for various mechanical systems and components. The frame serves as the backbone of the vehicle, integrating and holding together essential parts like the engine, transmission, wheels, suspension, and gear shifter assembly.
As used herein, the term “safety stopper” refers to a specialized mechanical component designed to enhance the durability and safety of the gear shifter system by preventing damage to the gearbox during adverse events, such as a fall-down incident. It is integrated into the gear shifter assembly to limit the movement of the shifter lever and redirect excessive mechanical forces away from sensitive transmission components to the vehicle’s frame.
As used herein, the term “mechanical load” refers to a physical force, stress, or pressure applied to a mechanical system or component, resulting from external actions or interactions.
As used herein, the term “gearbox” refers to mechanical component or assembly within the vehicle’s transmission system that houses and manages a set of gears. It is responsible for transmitting power from the engine or motor to the wheels by allowing the rider to select different gear ratios, thereby controlling the vehicle’s speed and torque.
As used herein, the term “load transfer path” refers to a sequence of structural elements, connections, or components through which a mechanical load such as force, stress, or impact energy travels from its point of application to a designated destination where it is absorbed, dissipated, or managed. The load transfer path is intentionally designed to distribute forces efficiently, protect vulnerable parts, or enhance the overall stability and durability of a system.
As used herein, the term “notch” refers to small, intentional cut, groove, indentation, or recess made into the surface or edge of a mechanical component or material. Particularly, the notch houses one end of the safety stopper and prevent excess movement of the shifter lever.
As used herein, the term “load member” refers to a structural component of the frame configured to carry various mechanical loads.
Figure 1, illustrates a perspective view of a gear shifter assembly 100 for a two-wheeler vehicle. The gear shifter assembly 100 comprises a shifter lever 102 hinged on a frame 108 of the vehicle, a shifter rod 104 connected to the shifter lever 102 and a gearbox, and a safety stopper 106 connected to the shifter lever 102 and the frame 108 of the vehicle, wherein the safety stopper 106 is configured to restrict movement of the shifter lever 102 beyond a predetermined limit.
In an embodiment, the predetermined limit of movement of the shifter lever 102 is defined by the gear shifting movement.
In an embodiment, the safety stopper 106 is configured to transfer a mechanical load to the frame 108 of the vehicle, thereby preventing the mechanical load from being transmitted to the gearbox of the vehicle, in an event of vehicle fall. Beneficially, the safety stopper 106 protects the gearbox from any unintended load and/or force that may damage the gearbox.
In an embodiment, the safety stopper 106 is configured to provide an additional load transfer path directly from the shifter lever 102 to the frame 108, bypassing the gearbox. Beneficially, the additional load transfer path protects gearbox from any excessive load that may damage the gearbox.
In an embodiment, the safety stopper 106 is secured inside a notch 110 at the frame 108, wherein the notch 110 allows sliding movement of the safety stopper 106 during a normal operation of the shifter lever 102. Beneficially, the notch 110 allows restricted and selective movement of the safety stopper 106, thus, preventing any excessive movement of the shifter lever 102.
In an embodiment, the safety stopper 106 is rigidly attached to the shifter lever 102 and engages with lateral ends of the notch 110 under excessive mechanical load. Beneficially, the lateral ends of the notch 110 stops the movement of the safety stopper 106 and act as the load transfer path under excessive mechanical load. Furthermore, in an embodiment, the lateral ends of the notch 110 act as a dead stop zone nominal to limit an angular displacement of the shifter lever 102 in the event of vehicle fall.
In an embodiment, the frame 108 comprises at least one load member 112 configured to carry the mechanical load. Beneficially, the at least one load member 112 bears the excessive load to prevent any damage to the gearbox.
In an embodiment, the safety stopper 106 is adjustable to accommodate a normal operational angular displacement of the shifter lever 102. Beneficially, the safety stopper 106 may be adjusted in different vehicles to accommodate a normal operational angular displacement of the shifter lever 102 of different vehicles. It is to be understood that the gear shifter assembly 100 may be implemented in different vehicles with different gearbox and accordingly the safety stopper 106 is adjusted to enable unhindered gear shifting by the shifter lever 102.
In an embodiment, the safety stopper 106 is integrated with the shifter lever 102. Beneficially, the safety stopper 106 is manufactured as single part with the shifter lever 102.
In an alternative embodiment, the safety stopper 106 is assembled with the shifter lever 102. Beneficially, the safety stopper 106 is secured with the shifter lever 102 using at least one fastener.
In an embodiment, the gear shifter assembly 100 comprises a shifter lever 102 hinged on a frame 108 of the vehicle, a shifter rod 104 connected to the shifter lever 102 and a gearbox, and a safety stopper 106 connected to the shifter lever 102 and the frame 108 of the vehicle, wherein the safety stopper 106 is configured to restrict movement of the shifter lever 102 beyond a predetermined limit. Furthermore, the safety stopper 106 is configured to transfer a mechanical load to the frame 108 of the vehicle, thereby preventing the mechanical load from being transmitted to the gearbox of the vehicle, in an event of vehicle fall. Furthermore, the safety stopper 106 is configured to provide an additional load transfer path directly from the shifter lever 102 to the frame 108, bypassing the gearbox. Furthermore, the safety stopper 106 is secured inside a notch 110 at the frame 108, wherein the notch 110 allows sliding movement of the safety stopper 106 during a normal operation of the shifter lever 102. Furthermore, the safety stopper 106 is rigidly attached to the shifter lever 102 and engages with lateral ends of the notch 110 under excessive mechanical load. Furthermore, the lateral ends of the notch 110 act as a dead stop zone nominal to limit an angular displacement of the shifter lever 102 in the event of vehicle fall. Furthermore, the frame 108 comprises at least one load member 112 configured to carry the mechanical load. Furthermore, the safety stopper 106 is adjustable to accommodate a normal operational angular displacement of the shifter lever 102. Furthermore, the safety stopper 106 is integrated with the shifter lever 102. Alternatively, the safety stopper 106 is assembled with the shifter lever 102.
In the description of the present invention, it is also to be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited, the terms “disposed,” “mounted,” and “connected” are to be construed broadly, and may for example be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected, either mechanically or electrically. They may be connected directly or indirectly through intervening media, or they may be interconnected between two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention can be understood in specific cases to those skilled in the art.
Modifications to embodiments and combination of different embodiments of the present disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “have”, “is” used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in a non- exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural where appropriate.
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the present disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A gear shifter assembly (100) for a two-wheeler vehicle, wherein the gear shifter assembly (100) comprises:
- a shifter lever (102) hinged on a frame (108) of the vehicle;
- a shifter rod (104) connected to the shifter lever (102) and a gearbox; and
- a safety stopper (106), connected to the shifter lever (102) and the frame (108) of the vehicle,
wherein the safety stopper (106) is configured to restrict movement of the shifter lever (102) beyond a predetermined limit.
2. The gear shifter assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety stopper (106) is configured to transfer a mechanical load to the frame (108) of the vehicle, thereby preventing the mechanical load from being transmitted to the gearbox of the vehicle, in an event of vehicle fall.
3. The gear shifter assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety stopper (106) is configured to provide an additional load transfer path directly from the shifter lever (102) to the frame (108), bypassing the gearbox.
4. The gear shifter assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety stopper (106) is secured inside a notch (110) at the frame (108), wherein the notch (110) allows sliding movement of the safety stopper (106) during a normal operation of the shifter lever (102).
5. The gear shifter assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the safety stopper (106) is rigidly attached to the shifter lever (102) and engages with lateral ends of the notch (110) under excessive mechanical load.
6. The gear shifter assembly (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lateral ends of the notch (110) act as a dead stop zone nominal to limit an angular displacement of the shifter lever (102) in the event of vehicle fall.
7. The gear shifter assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame (108) comprises at least one load member (112) configured to carry the mechanical load.
8. The gear shifter assembly (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the safety stopper (106) is adjustable to accommodate a normal operational angular displacement of the shifter lever (102).
9. The gear shifter assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety stopper (106) is integrated with the shifter lever (102).
10. The gear shifter assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety stopper (106) is assembled with the shifter lever (102).