+7 speed manual gearbox coming?

[Zafiro]

A patent filed by BMW last year which shows that the company is exploring a manual transmission with 7 or more gears which solves these issues. Porsche by the way, also recently released a 7 speed manual in the new 911 (991).

 

[Human]

BMW 7-speed manual transmission patent designs uncovered​

With lower demand for manual transmissions in recent years, an increasing number of models are being offered without it. Double-clutch automatic transmissions have grown in popularity since they often match or surpass the fuel economy and performance levels of manuals transmissions while adding to overall driving comfort. Despite this, there are strongholds of consumers, particularly driving enthusiasts, who prefer the stick shift. Although purely subjective, the manual transmission allows drivers to feel more connected to their vehicle giving an enhanced sense of control and performance.
In recognizing this, the first seven-speed manual transmission was revealed on the 2012 Porsche 911 late last year, and now reports of other auto manufacturers also incorporating the techology have emerged. The operating principle of Porsche's 7-speed has gears 1 through 6 as normal ratios while the 7th gear comes with a long ratio for improved fuel economy. However, these uncovered patent office design sketches from BMW build upon Porsche's principle by adding a few new ideas.
BMW's design proposal acknowledges that automated transmissions have a clear advantage in terms of efficiency due to their wider range of gear ratios. However, BMW is looking to bring the manual transmission up to par by adding 7, 8 or even 9 gears. In doing so, safety problems have emergeg such as incorrect gear selection which causes the engine to over-rev or stall. BMW's solution is to use a gear shift mechanism that only allows shifts that are within an allowed range to be executed. Technically speaking, this would be implemented by having the shifter gates surrounded by a magnetorheologic or electrorheologic fluid. Monitored by various sensors, a magnetic field or electric voltage applied to the fluid would change its viscosity, physically preventing or allowing certain gears to be engaged.
"The technology can be used on a traditional manual transmission with up to 8 gears. The driver rows his own gears as usual (and uses a clutch pedal), but the computerized shifting module described above allows the driver to shift into proper gears while blocking dangerous gears, thus avoiding mechanical over-revs (the "money shift") for a manual transmission with so many gears," according to the design proposal.
BMW also envisions this technology for a second application called "Shift by Wire." Combining the best of both worlds, Shift by Wire completely omits the clutch pedal. Think of it as an SMG sequential gear box but with the traditionally gated manual gear shift lever possibly up to 9 speeds.
Whether this technology will come to fruition remains to be seen, but it's encouraging to see BMW hasn't given up on the good old stick shift, yet.

Source: Worldcarfans

Read more: http://www.worldcarfans.com/112060745099/bmw-7-speed-manual-transmission-patent-designs-uncovered#ixzz1xBlV4TRf​

 

[Centurion]

Hmm more gears than I can count on one hand. I wonder if gear boxes are now approaching the bleeding edge of over-engineering.

 

[Deckhook]

I wonder what's the limit for gears on a manual and whether there really enough demand to pursue such a development what with manual sales in the decline.

 

[Makini]

Ah.... just fit a switch like a truck to go from low 6 to high 12. 200 kph @ 1200rpm

 

[speed_kills]

Anyone read the article? It's like the Porsche 7speed. Just a 6 speed with a 7 for cruising. It's more of a 6+overdrive.

 

[Mr Robert]

Like on 80's Volvos...

 

[Centurion]

Anyone read the article? It's like the Porsche 7speed. Just a 6 speed with a 7 for cruising. It's more of a 6+overdrive.

Isn't the 6th gear already serving the overdrive role?

 

[Deckhook]

^Its BMW feel that they need to compete directly with Porsche on every level.

 

[SCOTT27]

^Its BMW feel that they need to compete directly with Porsche on every level.

It is not really Porsche they are thinking about...

Think about it.... The BMW City Compactive will be one of the most technological and economically advanced BMW's ever.
It is a very important car for BMW not only will it make MINI more profitable it will also hope to being 600,000 combined BMW/MINI sales by 2020.

The First BMW FWD Concept Car will be shown in September.

 

[Sunny]

Anyone read the article? It's like the Porsche 7speed. Just a 6 speed with a 7 for cruising. It's more of a 6+overdrive.

That is not really how it works - just cause the the 7th gear is overdrive doesn't make it a 'just a 6 speed'. Most 6 speeds in use today, the 6th ratio is already a overdrive, but that doesn't make them a 5 speed gearbox either.

 

[330CIZHP]

Isn't the 6th gear already serving the overdrive role?

6th gear will be liberated of its double-duty of serving as an overdrive as well top speed gear.

A tall 7th gear will serve as the overdriver gear giving the freedom to shorten the ratio of 1 - 6 gears (using a shorter overall final drive) in order to enhance torque multiplication without sacrificing the ability to cruise on the highway.