Locking apparatus for shift lever of automatic transmission

• US 5,309,744 A
• Filed: 09/17/1992
• Issued: 05/10/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Harada, Shoichi, Kito, Shozo, Morikawa, Minoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US07/946,165
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 70/247, 70/248, 180/271, 192/4 A, 74/483 R
• US Class Current: 70/247
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/02144 interlocked with gear box or gear lever
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/746 Engine running state, e.g. on-off of ignition switch
• 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 59/10 comprising levers
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/54 dependent on signals from the brakes, e.g. parking brakes
• 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 70/5934 Selective-type shift rod, fork or block
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5938 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20238 Interlocked

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a shift locking apparatus for blocking a shifting movement unless a special operation is conducted such as the depression of a foot brake by an operator, when a shift lever of an automatic transmission is moved from a specified shift position of a parking "P" and the like to another shift position, wherein when releasing of the shift lock is conducted by an electrically operated actuator such as a solenoid, the shift lock can be released by use of a key for a vehicle even in a condition where the electrically operated actuator is not used. The operation of a key cylinder by use of the key of the vehicle by the operator causes the shift lock to be released, ensuring that the operator can move the shift lever to any other shift position, thereby permitting the vehicle to be moved even if there is some trouble such as electrical trouble.

Claims

1. A locking apparatus for an electrically operated shift lever of an automatic transmission, in which shifting of the shift lever is locked in a specified shift position, and the locking of the shift lever is released by a predetermined operation of an operator, comprising:

(a) a detent pin adapted to be moved to a lock releasing position from a lock position by the operator when the shift lever is shifted from said specified shift position to another shift position;

(b) an electrically operated actuator for retaining said detent pin in said lock position and for withdrawing said detent pin to said lock releasing position upon said predetermined operation of said operator; and

(c) a shift lock releasing means including a key for withdrawing said detent pin from said lock position by said electrically operated actuator, when said key is operated in a specified position by the operator, such that said detent pin can be moved to said lock releasing position even when electric power is not available to operate said actuator, thereby permitting the shifting of the shift lever, wherein said shift lock releasing means includes a manual operating means for releasing said detent pin from the lock position by the operation of the operator and a key cylinder interlocking means which permits movement of said manual operating means by inserting key and operating it to a specified position, said key cylinder interlocking means adapted to permit the movement of said manual operation means by pushing-in the key after operation thereof to said specified position.

2. A locking apparatus for a shift lever according to claim 1, wherein said electrically operated actuator includes an electrical driving means for moving said lock retaining means during energization, and said electrically operated actuator is operatively connected to said lock retaining means.

3. A locking apparatus for a shift lever according to claim 1, wherein said shift lock releasing means includes a cable connected to said key and said lock retaining means to release said detent pin from said lock position by forcefully moving said lock retaining means.

4. A locking apparatus for a shift lever according to claim 2, wherein said shift lock releasing means is adapted to release said detent pin from said lock position by rotation of the key by the operator, while maintaining a connected state of said lock retaining means and said electrical driving means.