Gears on Demand™

"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
10/10/2017 at 17:51 • Filed to: Gears on Demand, Clutch on Demand

Recently Toyota showed a concept which seemed to have the best of both transmission worlds. An automatic with a H pattern manual gearchange as well.

Sadly, it’s just another manifestation of the Alfa Q System of the early 2000s which involved a perfectly conventional automatic fitted with a H pattern which allowed you change your automatic box manually. Just like Tiptronic and its imitators then.

That’s not good enough. What we want is a way of literally combining both. We want a clutch that you can control or not with a pedal and gears that can be engaged mechanically with linkages, or not. I’ve decided therefore to invent Gears on Demand™.

Fortunately some of the ground work has been done. Some folks may know nothing about them but Scania emblazon their name across the front of a high proportion of the heavy trucks here. Those clever Swedes have come up with Clutch on Demand which allows you to use two or three pedals just as you like. Scania’s Opticruise automated manual box (it’s fitted to most of their trucks) has up to now been sold as two or three pedal versions. The three pedals uses a manual clutch but only for starting - gearchanges are entirely automated. Clutch on Demand carries this a little further and allows you to use the clutch or not as desired to start, but once you’re on the move it’s strictly two pedal motoring.

Gears on Demand™ takes this several stages further with both completely manual and mechanical operation and complete automation as the mood takes you.

We can do this in two ways. One is to literally duplicate everything with a torque converter combined with a clutch (we could modify the lock up clutch for the purpose) followed by both an automatic and a manual gearbox. As the mood takes you the manual box is put in a high gear and the automatic engaged, or vice versa. Best of both worlds at hideous cost, weight and bulk.

Option 2, and the one I’m going for, is an automated manual which retains a mechanically operated clutch and gear linkage. Engage D and everything happens by itself. Alternatively, press the clutch - we’ve retained the cable so manual operation is always available - move the lever over to the manual side (with an exposed gate should the wont take us) and engage an appropriate gear. Naturally it’ll be up to the driver to select the correct gear because there won’t be any nanny overriding him or her. Completely manual you see.

So, all I need do now is patent it and count the royalties come in.

DISCUSSION (11)

For Sweden > Cé hé sin
10/10/2017 at 17:55

Or just a normal manual transmission. That would be neat to have.

Cé hé sin > For Sweden
10/10/2017 at 17:56

Kinja'd!!!

Bytemite > Cé hé sin
10/10/2017 at 17:57

Extra weight, parts to break, and expense. Just get the manual.

Urambo Tauro > Cé hé sin
10/10/2017 at 18:14

So is the position between the dog-legs not Neutral? I feel like this would be a poor setup for my muscle memory.

for Michigan > Cé hé sin
10/10/2017 at 18:37

I thought this was a Wobbles post until I backed out to the feed and saw your username on it.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Cé hé sin
10/10/2017 at 18:38

With this amount of pointless over-engineering I say we just cut our losses and go direct drive electric.

jasmits > Cé hé sin
10/10/2017 at 18:56

This seems like an awfully complicated solution to a problem I still don’t understand.

What’s so bad about driving stick in traffic? It’s not like I have anything better to be doing with my right hand and left foot

Cé hé sin > Urambo Tauro
10/10/2017 at 18:58

Seemingly not, on the Alfa at least. I’m guessing that it remained in the chosen gear until you engaged another and that holding the lever in the “neutral” position wouldn’t have any effect.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Cé hé sin
10/11/2017 at 09:57

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a-tale-of-two-porsche-seven-speeds-manual-and-pdk-tech-dept

Cé hé sin > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/12/2017 at 18:01

I was thinking of that, but the difficulty of using two clutches with one pedal would be quite a hurdle to overcome.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Cé hé sin
10/12/2017 at 18:02

Maybe we work one and let the computer handle the other?