Transmission selector lever assembly

• US 4,660,443 A
• Filed: 01/31/1986
• Issued: 04/28/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Simancik, Carl D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Application Number:
  US06/824,636
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 74/473 R, 74/475, 74/538, 74/850, 74/878, 192/1, 192/2, 192/4 A, 70/248
• US Class Current: 477/99
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/746 Engine running state, e.g. on-off of ignition switch
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/08 Range selector apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/10 comprising levers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5938 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20085 Restriction of shift, gear selection, or gear engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20702 Slidable

Abstract

A transmission shift tower selector lever assembly has a base member slidably supporting a bracket. A shift lever is pivotally mounted on the bracket and linearly movable therewith to the Drive, Neutral and Reverse transmission operation positions. A lock-out lever pivotally mounted on the bracket is connectible with the shift lever to prevent pivoting thereof relative to the bracket during linear movement of the bracket between the Drive and Reverse transmission positions. The lock-out lever pivots during movement of the bracket between the Reverse and Park positions to free the shift lever for pivotal movement relative to the bracket and base member to establish the Park position. A Park/Lock lever is pivotally mounted on the base member and is engaged by the bracket when the bracket and shift lever are moved between the Drive and Reverse positions. The Park/Lock lever is disengaged therefrom during movement between the Reverse and Park positions to permit pivoting of the Park/Lock lever on the base member. A flexible cable connects the Park/Lock to an ignition lock to prevent attainment of ignition locking prior to the transmission shift lever being place in the Park position. A flexible cable also connects the shift lever to a power transmission for shifting thereof between the transmissions positions. A detent mechanism on the shift lever cooperates with the Park/Lock lever and a detent lever on the base member to prevent movement of the shift lever from the Park position when the ignition is locked. The detent mechanism is operated linearly by a rotary operator knob disposed on the shift lever.

Claims

1. A shift tower for a vehicle having an automatic transmission shiftable to Park, Neutral, Reverse and Drive transmission positions, and an ignition key movable to Run, Off and Lock positions;

said shift tower comprising;

a base member;

a support bracket;

a pair of bushings secured to said bracket and slidably supporting said bracket in said base member, said bracket being linearly movable in said base member to said transmission positions;

shift lever means pivotally mounted on said bracket and being linearly movable therewith to at least the Drive, Reverse and Neutral transmission positions;

a lock-out lever pivotally connected to said bracket and including an abutment protuberance and a slot which is operatively connected with said shift lever means, said base member having a wall contacted by said abutment protuberance to position said lock-out lever to maintain said shift lever means and prevent pivoting of said shift lever means relative to said bracket during linear movement of said bracket between Drive and Reverse, said abutment being out of contact with said wall during movement of said bracket between Reverse and Park to permit pivoting of said shift lever means relative to said bracket and base member to attain said Park position;

a park lock lever pivotally mounted on said base member and being operatively engaged with said bracket when said bracket and shift lever means are moved between said Drive and Reverse and being disengaged therefrom during movement between said Reverse and Park positions to permit pivoting thereof on said base member;

means for connecting said park lock to said ignition to prevent attainment of the Lock position prior to the transmission shift lever being placed in the Park position;

means for connecting said shift lever means to the transmission for shifting thereof between the transmission positions; and

means on said shift lever means cooperating with said park lock lever and said base member for preventing movement of said shift lever means from said Park position when said ignition key is in said Lock position.

2. A shift tower for a vehicle having an automatic transmission shiftable to Park, Neutral, Reverse and Drive transmission positions, and an ignition key movable to Run, Off and Lock positions;

said shift tower comprising;

a base member;

a support bracket;

a pair of bushings secured to said bracket and slidably supporting said bracket in said base member, said bracket being linearly movable in said base member to said transmission positions;

shift lever means pivotally mounted on said bracket and being linearly movable therewith to at least the Drive, Reverse and Neutral transmission positions;

a lock-out lever pivotally connected to said bracket and including an abutment protuberance and a slot which is operatively connected with said shift lever means, said base member having a wall contacted by said abutment protuberance to position said lock-out lever to maintain said shift lever means and prevent pivoting of said shift lever means relative to said bracket during linear movement of said bracket between Drive and Reverse, said abutment being out of contact with said wall during movement of said bracket between Reverse and Park to permit pivoting of said shift lever means relative to said bracket and base member to attain said Park position;

a park lock lever pivotally mounted on said base member and being operatively engaged with said bracket when said bracket and shift lever means are moved between said Drive and Reverse and being disengaged therefrom during movement between said Reverse and Park positions to permit pivoting thereof on said base member;

means for connecting said park lock to said ignition to prevent attainment of the Lock position prior to the transmission shift lever being placed in the Park position;

means for connecting said shift lever means to the transmission for shifting thereof between the transmission positions;

detent means on said shift lever means cooperating with said park lock lever and said base member for preventing movement of said shift lever means from said Park position when said ignition key is in said Lock position; and

knob means disposed on said shift lever for operating said detent means and including an inner knob and an outer knob, said inner knob having cam track means, said outer knob having follower means engaging said cam track means, said outer knob means being rotatable by an operator from a rest position, said cam track means and follower means causing said outer knob and said detent means to move linearly relative to said shift lever means, and return spring means operatively connected between said inner knob and outer knob to return said outer knob to the rest position after operation.

3. A shift tower for a vehicle having an automatic transmission shiftable to Park, Neutral, Reverse and Drive transmission positions, and an ignition key movable to Run, Off and Lock positions;

said shift tower comprising;

a base member;

a support bracket;

a pair of bushings secured to said bracket and slidably supporting said bracket in said base member, said bracket being linearly movable in said base member to said transmission positions;

shift lever means pivotally mounted on said bracket and being linearly movable therewith to at least the Drive, Reverse and Neutral transmission positions;

a lock-out lever pivotally connected to said bracket and including an abutment protuberance and a slot which is operatively connected with said shift lever means, said base member having a wall contacted by said abutment protuberance to position said lock-out lever to maintain said shift lever means and prevent pivoting of said shift lever means relative to said bracket during linear movement of said bracket between Drive and Reverse;

means for connecting said shift lever means to the transmission for shifting thereof between the transmission positions;

detent means on said base and on said shift lever means cooperating to position said shift lever means in said transmission positions; and

knob means disposed on said shift lever for operating said detent means on said shift lever means relative to said detent means on said base to permit shifting by the operator from Neutral to Reverse and from Reverse to Park, said knob means including an inner knob and an outer knob, said inner knob having cam track means, said outer knob having follower means engaging said cam track means, said outer knob means being rotatable by an operator from a rest position, said cam track means and follower means causing said outer knob and said detent means to move linearly relative to said shift lever means, and return spring means operatively connected between said inner knob and outer knob to return said outer knob to the rest position after operation.