Electrical actuator

Details Electrical actuator Electrical actuator

1999-09-16

2001-01-16

Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2832)

Electricity: magnetically operated switches, magnets, and electr

Magnets and electromagnets

With magneto-mechanical motive device

C335S266000, C335S268000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06175292

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electrical park latch actuator for the automatic transmission selector lever of a road vehicle.
It is usual for the selector lever of a vehicle automatic transmission system to incorporate a manually operable release button or the like which must be operated by the vehicle driver in order to release a latch mechanism permitting the selector lever to be moved between certain operating positions. For example, it is usual for the lever to be latched in the “Park” position so that the release button must be operated to permit the lever to be moved from the park position.
For safety reasons it is usual for there to be a requirement that both the ignition switch of the vehicle is in the “on” position and the brake pedal of the vehicle is depressed before the release button can be operated to release the latch mechanism freeing the selector lever for movement from the park position.
Conventionally, as illustrated in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,246, the ability to operate the release button, to free the selector level for movement from its park position, is controlled by a first solenoid responsive to energization of the ignition circuits of the vehicle, and a second solenoid responsive to the position of the brake pedal of the vehicle. The first and second solenoids include plungers which cooperate independently of one another with respective cam/abutment regions of a pushrod moving with the release button.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric park latch actuator which can be responsive to the energization of the ignition circuit of the vehicle and the depression of the brake pedal of the vehicle in a simple and convenient form.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided an electrical park latch actuator including support member, first and second electromagnet windings carried by the support member, and first and second plungers moveable relative to the support member and responsive to energization of the first and second electromagnet windings respectively, said first and second plungers being positioned with their movement axes parallel, and part of said second plunger being slidably received within said first plunger.
Preferably said first and second plungers have their movement axes coextensive.
Desirably said first and second plungers are urged by respective return springs into the path of movement of an element moveable with the release button of the associated transmission selector lever in use, and said first plunger includes a cam surface cooperable with said element.
Preferably said support member includes an electromagnet core common to both electromagnet windings.
Conveniently said first plunger is hollow, and said support member is received therein.
Conveniently said first plunger is hollow, and said second plunger is received therein.
Desirably said first plunger includes a manually operable interlock selectively engageable with said second plunger, whereby movement of said first plunger against the action of its return spring carries the second plunger with it against the action of its return spring.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3821673 (1974-06-01), Daugherty et al.
patent: 4546955 (1985-10-01), Beyer et al.
patent: 5422617 (1995-06-01), Brown

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