Gear shift of a saddle vehicle and vehicle comprising this gear shift

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11719336-B2
Application number	US-202017441368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2020
Priority date	Mar 22, 2019
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

A gear shift (100) is described for a saddle vehicle (M) comprising a shift lever (110), a selecting element (130) actuated through the shift lever (110) and a selector drum (150) connected to the selecting element (130) and adapted to engage gears. The gear shift (100) further comprises a block device (140) functionally connected to the selector drum (150) and configured so as to be switched between: a first configuration, wherein the block device (140) allows engaging a first gear (I) from a neutral gear (N) in a first change direction (Up), a second configuration, wherein the block device (140) inhibits the subsequent engagement of the neutral gear (N) from the first gear (I) in a second change direction (Dwn). Control means (120) of the block device (140) are further provided, actuated by a rider (G) so as to define a third configuration, wherein the block device (140) is disabled in order to allow engaging the neutral gear (N) from the first gear (I) in the second change direction (Dwn).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gear shift of a saddle vehicle, the gear shift comprising:
a shift lever;
a selecting element actuated through the shift lever;
a selector drum connected to the selecting element and adapted to engage gears;
a block device functionally connected to the selector drum and configured to be switched between:
a first configuration, wherein the block device allows engaging a first gear from a neutral gear in a first change direction of the selector drum, and
a second configuration, wherein the block device inhibits subsequent engagement of the neutral gear from the first gear in a second change direction of the selector drum;

a control means of the block device capable of actuation by a rider so as to define a third configuration, wherein the block device is disabled in order to allow engaging the neutral gear from the first gear in the second change direction, wherein the block device comprises:
a stop element constituted by a bushing comprising a tooth-shaped portion, mounted integral with the selector drum; and
a block element co-acting with the stop element and adapted to switch between the first configuration, the second configuration and the third configuration, wherein the block element is mounted rotatable around a rotation axis and the block element comprises a first elastic element so as to take:
the first configuration, wherein the block element is fastened to the tooth-shaped portion, corresponding to the neutral gear, allowing the selector drum to rotate in the first change direction to engage the first gear and subsequent gears;
the second configuration, wherein the block element is adjacent to, and touching, the tooth-shaped portion, corresponding to the first gear, preventing the selector drum from rotating in the second change direction to engage again the neutral gear from the first gear;
the third configuration, wherein the block element is spaced from the tooth-shaped portion through the control means, allowing the selector drum to rotate in the second change direction to engage again the neutral gear from the first gear and to return to the first configuration.

2. The gear shift of claim 1 , wherein the selecting element is configured to provide for a changing up of gears starting from the neutral gear to a gear by actuating the shift lever in a single first change direction, and for a changing down of gears starting from the gear to the neutral gear in a single second change direction opposite to the first change direction.

3. The gear shift of claim 1 , wherein the control means comprises:
an actuating element controlled by a rider;
a connecting means for connecting the actuating element and the block element.

4. The gear shift of claim 3 , wherein the actuating element is a lever provided on a handlebar of the saddle vehicle and the connecting means comprises an actuation cable connecting the lever to the block element.

5. The gear shift of claim 4 , wherein a control element is provided, actuated by means of the connecting means and connected to the block element, the control element being configured as to move the block element between the second configuration and the third configuration in order to return to the first configuration.

6. The gear shift of claim 5 , wherein the control element is rotatably connected to the block element around a rotation axis, and wherein the first elastic element connects the control element to the block element, the first elastic element being adapted to generate an elastic force pushing the block element against the stop element, keeping the block element in position.

7. The gear shift of claim 6 , wherein the control element comprises an abutment portion, wherein the abutment portion is adapted to draw the block element to the third configuration when the control means is actuated, and wherein the control element comprises a second elastic element adapted to bring again the control element into position when the control means is disabled.

8. The gear shift of claim 7 , wherein the second elastic element is a torsional spring.

9. A saddle vehicle comprising:
a gear shift comprising:
a shift lever;
a selecting element actuated through the shift lever;
a selector drum connected to the selecting element and adapted to engage gears;
a block device functionally connected to the selector drum and configured to be switched between:
a first configuration, wherein the block device allows engaging a first gear from a neutral gear in a first change direction of the selector drum, and
a second configuration, wherein the block device inhibits subsequent engagement of the neutral gear from the first gear in a second change direction of the selector drum;

a control means of the block device capable of actuation by a rider so as to define a third configuration, wherein the block device is disabled in order to allow engaging the neutral gear from the first gear in the second change direction, wherein the block device comprises:
a stop element constituted by a bushing comprising a tooth-shaped portion, mounted integral with the selector drum; and
a block element co-acting with the stop element and adapted to switch between the first configuration, the second configuration and the third configuration, wherein the block element is mounted rotatable around a rotation axis and the block element comprises a first elastic element so as to take:

the first configuration, wherein the block element is fastened to the tooth-shaped portion, corresponding to the neutral gear, allowing the selector drum to rotate in the first change direction to engage the first gear and subsequent gears;
the second configuration, wherein the block element is adjacent to, and touching, the tooth-shaped portion, corresponding to the first gear, preventing the selector drum from rotating in the second change direction to engage again the neutral gear from the first gear;
the third configuration, wherein the block element is spaced from the tooth-shaped portion through the control means, allowing the selector drum to rotate in the second change direction to engage again the neutral gear from the first gear and to return to the first configuration.

Assignees

• Piaggio & C Spa

Inventors

• Albesiano Romano
• Scattolin Walter

Classifications

• F16H63/18 Primary

  the final actuating mechanism comprising cams · CPC title

• B62M25/06

  foot actuated · CPC title

• F16H59/70

  dependent on the ratio established · CPC title

• F16H61/18 Primary

  Preventing unintentional or unsafe shift {, e.g. preventing manual shift from highest gear to reverse gear} · CPC title

• F16H63/36

  Interlocking devices · CPC title