Machine element or mechanism – Gearing – Interchangeably locked
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-15
2001-01-16
Herrmann, Allan D. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Gearing
Interchangeably locked
C029S401100, C074S473120, C074S473180, C074S473300, C074S4830PB, C180S336000, C439S034000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173622
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a control tower for a gear select transmission shifter and, more particularly, to a control tower that can be used for either a lever selector or a push button selector. The control tower of this invention has been developed for use with a transmission (part number HD-4560P) and gear selectors (part numbers AS07-113 & AS07-114) manufactured by Allison Transmissions, of XXXX. However, it could be used for other transmissions and gear selectors of comparable size and design. Either the lever selector (part number AS07-114) or the push button selector (part number AS07-114) can shift the same transmission, for example, part number HD-4560P manufactured by Allison Transmissions. In the past, Allison Transmissions offered a lever type gear selector with an integral electronic control unit and a push button type gear selector with an integral electronic control unit. Control towers to accommodate those combined units required additional mounting parts to receive one or the other selectors. Also, when the control tower was used for the push button selector, it was mounted such that it extended from the cab floor at an angle, which resulted in locating the selector at an uncomfortable position for the operator of the vehicle. The special mounting parts increased the complexity and cost of assembly as well as the number of repair parts that must be inventoried. Also, a defective selector unit required replacing the entire selector-electronic control unit combination, which increased considerably the cost of repairing a gear selector, as well as requiring very expensive units to be carried in the replacement parts inventory.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The control tower of this invention can be used for either the lever selector or the push button selector, and only a single additional part is needed for either the lever selector or the push button selector. The shift tower has a generally rectangular cross section, the longitudinal axis of which extends parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis. The front side of the shift tower faces the forward direction of the vehicle and the rear side of the shift tower faces the reverse direction of the vehicle. The vehicle operator is seated to the rear of the vehicle relative to the location of the shift tower such that the operator sees the rear side of the shift tower. The vehicle operator is also located to the left side of the shift tower. The eye level of the vehicle operator is above the top of the shift tower. The top edge of the shift tower is formed by the top edge of a three-sided vertically extending housing and a top brace member that, together, define a gear selector receiving opening. Both the lever selector and the push button selector are sized to be received in the gear selector-receiving opening. The top edge of the shift tower lies in a plane that is elevated from the back side to the front side of the shift tower at an angle of about fifteen degree to the horizontal. This orientates the top surfaces of the lever selector and the push button selector at an inclined angle to the operator's line of vision which facilitates the operator's view of the indicia and read-outs contained on the top surfaces of the selectors. As a result to this orientation, the shift tower is located relative to the vehicle operator such that it is comfortable and ergonomic for the operator to reach the lever or push button selectors and to view the indicators on the top surfaces.
This invention allows the push button selector to be orientated at an angle of fifteen degrees to the horizontal without the need for additional mounting parts and provides an ergonomically comfortable and desirable design for the operator of the vehicle. In addition, as a result of anchoring the control tower of this invention to a structural floor support, the control tower vibrations have been significantly reduced from that present in the prior design. Furthermore, the control tower of this invention is lighter and costs less to manufacture. For these reasons, the control tower of this invention is a significant improvement over past control towers.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3800924 (1974-04-01), Hansen
patent: 4297914 (1981-11-01), Klem et al.
patent: 4546664 (1985-10-01), Mylander
patent: 4790204 (1988-12-01), Tury et al.
patent: 4930366 (1990-06-01), Boucher et al.
patent: 5042314 (1991-08-01), Rytter et al.
patent: 5768942 (1998-06-01), Gruber et al.
patent: 5833578 (1998-11-01), Potis
Carnevale Gregory S.
Terpstra Joe
Wilford Stephen J.
Calfa Jeffrey P.
Herrmann Allan D.
Navistar International Transportation
Sullivan Dennis K.
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