Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Multiple controlled elements
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-10
2003-04-29
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Multiple controlled elements
C074S473280, C074S527000, C074S473330
Reexamination Certificate
active
06553858
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a). Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dual mode shift lever unit for an automatic transmission, and in particular, to a detent mechanism for a dual mode shift lever unit having automatic and manual modes capable of enhancing detent quality while in mode conversion.
(b). Description of the Related Art
Recently, high class automobiles have tended to be equipped with a dual mode transmission shift mechanism for satisfying driver's whimsical tastes to sometimes take the pleasure of manually shifting the transmission like a sports car, and sometimes to enjoy ride quality of an automatic operation of a high class sedan.
This kind of dual mode shift mechanism provides two shift modes, i.e., an automatic mode and a manual mode, such that an indicator panel is formed having a guide groove separating respective mode portions.
FIG. 1
is a top plane view showing a presently used indicator panel. FIG.
2
and
FIG. 3
are respective side elevation and internal perspective views of a dual mode shift lever unit which is presently used, and
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of a shift lever of the dual mode shift lever unit as presently used.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, the dual mode shift lever unit comprises a shift lever
2
inserted into a housing
1
through a guide groove formed on an indicator panel at an upper part of the housing
1
, and a cable bracket
3
which is pivotally supported by the housing
1
and connected to a transmission manual valve (not shown) by a cable (not shown) such that the transmission manual valve is responsively operated by shift lever manipulation.
In terms of mode conversion, the shift lever
2
moves in widthwise directions in relation to the vehicle's direction of travel at a D range. Normally, the shift lever
2
is located in automatic mode in which the shift lever is connected to the cable bracket
3
by engaging a pin
4
formed on the shift lever
2
with a pinhole
5
formed on the cable bracket
3
such that the shift lever can move to and fro along an automatic mode groove by driver's manipulation.
To convert the mode to the manual mode, the shift lever
2
moves in an opposite side direction at the range D in order for the pin of the shift lever to be disengaged from the pinhole of the cable bracket
3
.
FIG. 3
shows that under the indicator panel a guide rail
6
is fixedly mounted along the automatic mode portion and has a guide groove
7
such that a guide projection
9
having an L-shape, downwardly bent on one side of the shift lever
2
, is guided along the guide groove
7
of the guide rail
6
during range shifting in automatic mode.
Also, the shift lever
2
is provided with a detent mechanism (see
FIG. 4
) at it lower end portion so as to provide detent quality when changing the mode from automatic mode to the manual mode or vice versa.
As shown in
FIG. 4
, the detent mechanism comprises a bracket
240
having a pair of parallel arms
251
formed in a middle portion thereof and fixedly mounted to the lower end of the shift lever
2
at its upper end and pivotally connected to a rotation member
250
, which also pivots on a pivot shaft
245
such that the shift lever can pivot in front, rear, left, and right directions; and a detent block
253
pivotally connected to the bracket
240
at it's lower portions by a pin
254
crossing between two opposite walls of the bracket
240
and biased to a bar
252
installed between the parallel arms
251
of the bracket
240
by a coil spring
256
which is supported by a support
260
integrally formed with the rotation member
250
such that the detent block
253
is hooked to the bar
252
at one of two recesses
255
formed on the detent block vertically arranged with respect to the pivot shaft
245
.
Practically, while the shift mode is converted from the automatic mode to the manual mode, i.e., the bracket
240
pivots to push the detent block
253
, the detent block
253
moves to overcome a biasing force of the coil spring
256
such that the bar
252
slides down to engage with a lower recess.
However, this dual mode shift lever unit has drawbacks in that the coil spring for elastically biasing the detent block is unstable so as to be easily deviated from its place resulting in degraded detent quality.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above problems of the prior art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a dual mode shift lever unit capable of providing a reliable detent quality during a mode conversion operation, and to provide durability by simplifying the structure of a detent mechanism.
To achieve the above object, the detent mechanism for a dual mode shift lever unit comprises a bracket fixedly connected to a lower end of the shift lever and pivotally connected to a rotational member which is rotationally mounted on a pivot shaft supported by a shift lever housing, a support member integrally formed on one end portion of the rotational member and extended in an upward direction, and a turnover spring installed onto one open side of the bracket for contacting the support member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4513847 (1985-04-01), Hansen
patent: 4926172 (1990-05-01), Gorsek
patent: 5406860 (1995-04-01), Easton et al.
patent: 6029537 (2000-02-01), Nagao
patent: 6125714 (2000-10-01), Woeste et al.
Bucci David A.
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Hyundai Motor Company
Johnson Vicky A.
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