TVS Motors has received the patents for new gearshift assembly for semi-automated manual transmission (AMT). The company had filed patents for the same in February 2009 but received it in May this year.
With the invention which received patent now, the rider can operate a switch provided on a handle bar of the SMT vehicle for upshifting or downshifting a gear, instead of using a conventional gearshift lever of a motorcycle.
As per the specification, with its invention, an electromechanical actuator replaces gearshift lever of a conventional SMT vehicle.
The Company said in a statement,
“In operation, when a rider wants to shift a gear, the rider can operate a switch provided on a handlebar of the SMT vehicle. The switch may be electronically coupled to the motor, thereby activating the motor when the switch is operated. In one implementation, there may be two switches coupled to the motor to select a direction of rotation of the motor.”
“The gearshift assembly as described herein provides convenience in gear shifting as the rider does not have to apply much force nor make foot movements. Further, due to the absence of a foot operated gearshift lever, accidental incidents of partial disengagement of clutch leading to clutch slips are avoided. Hence, there would be no fuel wastage resulting due to clutch slips. This can provide 2-5% of fuel efficiency in city driving conditions as now there is uniformity in gear shifting”.
TVS also said that this Semi AMT technology can also be extended to three-wheelers as well. Since the basic working principle is identical to that of the manual transmission of a motorcycle
