Shifter with actuator incorporating magnetic unlock mechanism
First Claim
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1. In an apparatus including a blocking member for movement between a locked first position and an unlocked second position, comprising:
- at least two permanent magnets, a first one of the magnets being coupled to the blocking member for movement therewith, a second one of the magnets being movably supported for selective magnetic interaction with the first magnet;
an actuator coupled to move the second magnet;
a circuit for motivating the actuator so that the actuator selectively causes the second magnet to move from a magnetic attracting position to a magnetic repelling position relative to the first magnet, thereby repelling the first magnet in a manner causing the blocking member to move from the first position toward the second position at least in part from forces of the magnetic interaction.
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Abstract
A shifter includes an actuator, such as a shape memory alloy wire, to control movement of a set of strategically placed magnets on lever-position-controlling components of a vehicle transmission shift lever. In one arrangement, the actuator controls movement of a carrier carrying one or more of the magnets, the magnets controlling a position of a blocking member to prevent moving a pawl out of park position until predetermined vehicle conditions are met. Alternatively, the magnets can be carried by a cam, or slide, or wheel.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. In an apparatus including a blocking member for movement between a locked first position and an unlocked second position, comprising:
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at least two permanent magnets, a first one of the magnets being coupled to the blocking member for movement therewith, a second one of the magnets being movably supported for selective magnetic interaction with the first magnet; an actuator coupled to move the second magnet; a circuit for motivating the actuator so that the actuator selectively causes the second magnet to move from a magnetic attracting position to a magnetic repelling position relative to the first magnet, thereby repelling the first magnet in a manner causing the blocking member to move from the first position toward the second position at least in part from forces of the magnetic interaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An improved actuator for an apparatus including a blocking member for blocking movement of another component and a mechanism for moving the blocking member between a locked first position and an unlocked second position, comprising:
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at least three permanent magnets, a first one of the magnets being affixed to the blocking member; a mechanism including a movable carrier and an actuator for moving the carrier, second and third ones of the magnets being supported by the mechanism for movement and being offset from each other on the movable carrier, the actuator being operatively coupled to the movable carrier; and a circuit for controlling the actuator when predetermined conditions are met, such that the circuit motivates the actuator, resulting in movement of the movable carrier, which in turn places a selected one of the second and third magnets into magnetic communication with the first magnet on the blocking member in a manner causing the blocking member to selectively move between the first position and the second position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A vehicle transmission shifter comprising:
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a base; a shift lever pivoted to the base for movement between different gear positions; at least one shift-lever-controlling component on one of the base and the shift lever; a blocking member arranged to block movement of the at least one shift-lever-controlling component; at least two permanent magnets, a first one of the magnets being coupled to the blocking member for movement therewith, a second one of the magnets being movably supported for selective magnetic interaction with the first permanent magnet; an actuator coupled to move the second permanent magnet; and a circuit for motivating the actuator so that the actuator causes the second permanent magnet to move, thereby causing the second permanent magnet to change a magnetic bias on the first permanent magnet which in turn causes the blocking member to move between the first position and the second position. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification