Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-19
2001-03-20
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Elements
C074S473340, C074S524000, C074S548000, C403S004000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202503
ABSTRACT:
The present invention concerns an arrangement for manually altering the mutual position setting of a first part and a second part of a two-part gear lever mounted articulatedly in a vehicle, where the first part is an upper lever element and the second part is a lower lever element articulatedly connected to the upper lever element by means of a link which incorporates a first articulating device fastened in the lower end of the upper lever element and articulatedly connected to a second articulating device fitted at the upper end of the lower lever element, while a locking mechanism operative between the lever elements normally prevents mutual movement of the lever elements. On a two-part gear lever provided with such an arrangement it is possible to alter the mutual angular position between the lever elements which together constitute the gear lever.
STATE OF THE ART
A known practice is to provide, for example, trucks with two-part gear levers consisting of an upper gear lever element which has its lower end articulatedly connected to the upper end of a lower gear lever element. This means that during the use of a vehicle fitted with the two-part gear lever the two lever elements have fixed mutual positioning (i.e. are locked in position relative to one another) by means of a locking mechanism or locking arrangement situated between them which, in its activated locking position, prevents mutual movement between the gear lever elements. The whole gear lever consisting of two lever elements is usually mounted movably in the vehicle either in a special lever stand under the floor of the driving cab or in an element connected to the engine/gearbox. The point on the two-part gear lever at which the latter is supported in the vehicle is usually situated in the region of the lower gear lever element and allows resetting (pivoting) of the gear lever about two mutually perpendicular geometrical axes so that the driver can operate the gear lever both in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and in its transverse direction in order to select desired changes of gear in the gearbox.
Such a two-part gear lever design is previously known from, for example, Swedish patent specification 8103461-3. However, the latter concerns a gear lever arrangement particularly intended for cab-over-engine trucks in which it has to be possible for the driving cab to be tilted forwards so that the engine and gearbox (which are situated under the driving cab) become accessible for servicing/repair. This entails the problem that the gear lever constitutes an obstacle to tilting the driving cab forwards, a problem which has to be solved by resorting to special constructional solutions. According to that patent specification, the gear lever therefore takes the form of a two-part lever with the two lever elements fixed mutually in position by means of a releasable locking mechanism operative between them.
The locking function of this locking mechanism can nevertheless be neutralized when tilting the cab forwards, whereby the upper lever element can be tilted forwards. To this end, the locking mechanism is provided with a disengaging device which, when the cab is tilted forwards, is acted upon, by a special element fastened to the cab, so that the locking function of the locking mechanism is neutralized.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The design of the working environment in which the driver of a motor vehicle is when driving the vehicle has been the subject of increased interest over recent years. This applies especially to the environment in the driving cab of a utility vehicle such as a truck, since the environment in such a driving cab constitutes the workplace in which the vehicle driver often spends many hours of his working day.
There are numerous reasons for attaching ever increasing importance to trying to achieve as good a working environment as possible in utility vehicles. One very important reason is of course the constant endeavour to increase traffic safety. It is in particular a well-known fact that a driver working in a good driving cab environment is a significantly better driver from the traffic safety point of view than a driver in a bad cab environment. It is therefore important, for example, that the driving cab be properly sound-insulated and that the air temperature in the driving cab can be maintained at a pleasant level. It is also very important that the driver sits comfortably in the driving seat so that he does not suffer from “body fatigue” even during long periods of driving. A great deal of effort has therefore been devoted to making driving seats in trucks as comfortable as possible. Modern vehicle seats therefore afford many degrees of freedom with regard to setting the seat and its various parts. Ergonomic thinking applies, however, not only to driving seat design but also to, for example, the design and location of instruments and controls in the driving cab and relative to the driving seat.
The present invention is primarily focused on problems pertaining to the placing and location of the gear lever in the longitudinal direction in the driving cab, i.e. longitudinally relative to the driver/driving seat, and, in this context, particularly the location of the gripping part of the gear lever (the gear lever knob) in the initial situation before gear engagement, i.e. the basic setting position (neutral position) of the gear lever. Drivers who differ in physique, arm length, shoulder width etc. have the right to expect the gear lever to be nevertheless located in an optimum manner relative to the driving seat, and this demand for optimum setting cannot be met merely by altering the setting of the driving seat, since a change in the position of the seat relative to the gear lever may conflict with the setting of the seat relative to, for example, the pedals.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In an arrangement of the kind indicated in the introduction, the abovementioned problems can be solved by the arrangement exhibiting the features characterized in that the first articulating device is a guide sleeve mounted for rotation on the second articulating device consisting of a supporting spindle fitted in a hole which is fastened in the upper end of the lower lever element and which has sidewalls and a reference wall which not only connects these sidewalls but also has a position fixing portion, and that the locking mechanism includes a setting sleeve which is supported for rotation and longitudinal movement on the upper lever element, can be gripped by the driver and has fastened in its lower portion a setting crown with at least two position fixing protrusions which are separate in the circumferential direction of the crown, are placed at different radial distances from the centerline of the upper lever element and are intended to be able, through resetting of the crown, to be brought into position-fixing locking engagement as desired with the position fixing position of the holder.
A distinguishing feature of such an arrangement is that the first articulating device is a guide sleeve mounted for rotation on the second articulating device which takes the form of a supporting spindle fitted in a holder which is fastened in the upper end of the lower gear element and has sidewalls and a reference wall which not only connects these sidewalls but also has a position fixing portion. At the same time, the locking mechanism includes a setting sleeve which is supported for rotation and longitudinal movement on the upper lever element, can be gripped by the driver and has fastened in its lower portion a setting crown with at least two position fixing protrusions which are separate in the circumferential direction of the crown. These protrusions are situated at different radial distances from the centreline of the upper lever element and are intended to be able, by resetting of the crown, to be brought into desired position-fixing locking engagement with position fixing portions of the holder. On a two-part gear lever provided with an arrangement according to the invention, the position of the gripp
Bucci David A.
Kim Chang H.
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
Scania CV Aktiebolag
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