Transmission shifter with lever-position locking device

• US 20020029951A1
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dale A. Beattie, Robert A. Dejonge, Robert D. Brock
• Original Assignee: Dale A. Beattie, Robert A. Dejonge, Robert D. Brock
• Inventors: Beattie, Dale A., Brock, Robert D., DeJonge, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,431,339 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 192/220.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 20/04 floor mounted
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/0239 Up- and down-shift or range or mode selection by repeated movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/026 Details or special features of the selector casing or lever support
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/0273 Cardan or gimbal type joints for supporting the lever
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/223 Electrical gear shift lock, e.g. locking of lever in park or neutral position by electric means if brake is not applied; Key interlock, i.e. locking the key if lever is not in park position
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/0204 for automatic transmissions with means for range selection and manual shifting, e.g. range selector with tiptronic
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/22 Locking of the control input devices constructional features of locking or disabling mechanisms F16H63/34
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20067 Control convertible between automatic and manual operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2011 with detent, recess, notch, or groove

Abstract

A shifter is provided for shifting a vehicle transmission between a plurality of different gear positions. The shifter includes a base, and a shift lever pivoted to the base for movement between shift lever positions corresponding to the different gear positions. The shift lever includes a flange with an arcuate slot with a first enlarged pocket corresponding to a first one of the different gear positions and a second enlarged pocket corresponding to a second one of the different gear positions. An electromechanical device is provided having an extendable pin that is configured to engage the first enlarged pocket and lock the shift lever in the first one gear position until first predetermined vehicle conditions are met, and further that is configured to engage the second enlarged pocket and lock the shift lever in the second one gear position until second predetermined vehicle conditions are met.

Claims

1. A shifter for shifting a transmission between different gear positions including a plurality of different gear positions, comprising:

a base;

a shift lever pivoted to the base for movement between shift lever positions corresponding to the different gear positions, the shift lever including a flange with an elongated slot with a first enlarged pocket corresponding to a first one of the different gear positions and a second enlarged pocket corresponding to a second one of the different gear positions;

a control circuit adapted to sense at least one vehicle condition; and

an electromechanical device having an extendable pin that is continuously positioned in the slot in all positions of the shift lever, the extendable pin being configured to engage the first enlarged pocket and lock the shift lever in the first one gear position until first predetermined vehicle conditions are met, the extendable pin being configured to engage the second enlarged pocket and lock the shift lever in the second one gear position until second predetermined vehicle conditions are met.

2. The shifter defined in claim 1, wherein the extendable pin includes a shaft and an enlarged end section, and the slot further includes an enlarged hole at one end permitting the enlarged end section of the pin to be extended through the enlarged hole for assembly.

3. The shifter defined in claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to extend the pin of the solenoid to lock the shift lever in a neutral shift lever position, which neutral shift lever position corresponds to the first one gear position, and to retract the pin of the solenoid to lock the shift lever in a park shift lever position, which park shift lever position corresponds to the second one gear position.

4. The shifter defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second enlarged pockets extend only partially into the flange.

5. The shift lever defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second enlarged pockets include portions that extend into opposite sides of the flange.

6. The shift lever defined in claim 1, wherein the electromechanical device includes a solenoid, and wherein the base includes a wall having a supporting hole that aligns with the extendable pin for receiving and supporting an end section of the pin on a side of the flange opposite the solenoid.

7. A shifter for shifting a transmission between different gear positions including park, reverse, neutral, and drive gear positions, comprising:

a base;

a shift lever pivoted to the base for movement between shift lever positions corresponding to the different gear positions, the shift lever including a flange with an elongated slot with an enlarged neutral pocket;

a control circuit adapted to sense at least one vehicle condition; and

an electromechanical device having an extendable pin that is continuously positioned in the slot in all positions of the shift lever, the extendable pin being configured to engage the neutral pocket and lock the shift lever in the neutral shift lever position until first predetermined vehicle conditions are met.

8. A shifter for shifting a transmission between different gear positions including park, reverse, neutral, and drive gear positions, comprising:

a base;

a shift lever pivoted to the base for movement between shift lever positions corresponding to the different gear positions, the shift lever including a flange with a park-defining feature and a neutral-defining feature;

a control circuit adapted to sense at least one vehicle condition; and

an electromechanical device having an extendable pin that is configured to engage the neutral-defining feature and lock the shift lever in the neutral shift lever position until first predetermined vehicle conditions are met, the extendable pin being configured to engage the park-defining feature and lock the shift lever in the park shift lever position until second predetermined vehicle conditions are met.