Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Multiple controlled elements
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-09
2002-04-30
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Multiple controlled elements
C074S473280
Reexamination Certificate
active
06378394
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an operating apparatus for an automatic transmission capable of selecting a predetermined position such as a parking position and a drive position and the like by moving an operating lever.
2. Description of the Related Art
An operating apparatus for an automatic transmission of this kind is structured such that, for example, in the case that the operating apparatus is mounted on an automotive vehicle, a select lever and an operating lever are integrally rotated around a pin and the pin extends between two detent plates disposed in parallel. A detent gate is formed in the detent plate and a detent having unevenness is formed on this detent gate.
The operating lever has a compression rod within a pipe, and a position pin is provided in a front end of the compression rod. The position pin is structured such that a front end portion thereof is inserted into the detent gate so as to be brought into contact with the detent. A knob button for pressing the compression rod downward and a return spring for returning the knob button to an original position are provided in a head portion of the operating lever. On the contrary, a position spring for ascending the compression rod upward and pressing the position pin to the detent is provided within the pipe.
Then, the compression rod, the position pin, the knob button, the return spring and the position spring mentioned above constitute a locking member R for inhibiting a movement of the operating lever and removing the inhibition.
In the operating apparatus for the automatic transmission structured in the above manner, the operating lever can be moved to each of positions from a parking position P
1
to a first position P
6
by rotating the operating lever around the pin. However, in the case of moving from the parking position P
1
to a reverse position P
2
and vice versa, the case of moving from a neutral position P
3
to the reverse position P
2
and the case of moving from a second position P
5
to the first position P
6
, the operating lever can be moved only by pushing the knob button and moving the position pin downward.
Accordingly, in each of the above operations, the operating lever can be moved only after the inhibition of moving the operating lever is removed by the knob button. However, the operation between the neutral position P
3
, a drive position P
4
and the second position P
5
can be freely performed by moving the operating lever without pushing the knob button.
However, in the operating apparatus for the automatic transmission in accordance with the related art, since the operating lever is structured such as to rotate around the pin, the head portion of the operating lever can only move in an arch like manner around the pin.
Further, since the detent on the detent plate is formed as an arch like around the pin and the position pin is structured such as to move in an axial direction of the operating lever, an layout of the operating lever, the position pin and the detent gate is limited. Accordingly, in the case that the operating lever is disposed in such a manner as to project from a vertical wall surface of an instrument panel of the automotive vehicle, the operating lever is operated in a vertical direction, so that the operating performance is deteriorated. In order to solve this problem, it is considered that the operating lever is bent, however, this makes the structure for moving the position pin complex, so that there are problems such as an increase of a number of parts and an increase of a cost or the like.
Further, in the operating apparatus for the automatic transmission mentioned above, since the detent is provided on the side in which the operating lever extends with respect to the pin, the detent plate projects from the mounting surface so that the panels (not shown) covering the detent plate project. Accordingly, the operating lever or the panels obstruct the way when the driver moves to the assistant driver's seat or the rear seat. In this case, when the projection is lowered by providing the rotating center of the operating lever at a position lower than the mounting surface, there is a problem that the operating lever becomes long, so that the operating stroke of the operating lever becomes long.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been achieved with such points in mind.
It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide an operating apparatus for an automatic transmission capable of moving an operating lever in such a manner as to generate various kinds of locus and improving a freedom of layout.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an operating apparatus for an automatic transmission capable of shortening an operating stroke of the operating lever and making a mounting space compact.
To achieve the object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operating apparatus for an automatic transmission, comprising: a select lever connected to the automatic transmission end; a first rotation supporting point provided at a middle position of the select lever and supporting the select lever in such a manner as to freely rotate; a second rotation supporting point provided at a position apart from the first rotation supporting point in the select lever at a predetermined distance: an operating lever rotatably connected to the select lever through the second rotation supporting point; a positioned member provided at a predetermined position in the operating lever; and a positioning member for determining a position of the positioned member to a predetermined position.
In accordance with the invention as recited in the first aspect structured in the above manner. the position of the operating lever and the extending direction thereof are determined by two positions of the second rotation supporting point and the positioned member. In this case, since the second rotation supporting point is determined such as to move in such a manner as to always generate an arch like locus around the first rotation supporting point, the locus on which the operating lever moves is also determined by determining the moving position of the positioned member by means of the positioning member.
For example, in the case that the second rotation supporting point moves on the locus of moving downward in an arch like manner from a top position, when an end portion of the operating lever is inclined such as to be ascended upward at a distance corresponding to the descending distance, at least the one end portion of the operating lever generates a horizontal moving locus. Accordingly, the inclination of the operating lever can be set by the positioning member and the positioned member. Therefore, the operating lever can be moved such as to generate various kinds of locus.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, as it depends from the first aspect, the positioning member is constituted by a detent gate formed in a detent plate supporting the select lever through the first rotation supporting point; the positioned member is constituted by a projecting member inserted into the detent gate; and the operating lever is rotated around the second rotation supporting point by a biasing member to engage the projecting member with a detent having unevenness formed on the detent gate.
In accordance with the invention as recited in the second aspect, the projecting member is fitted into the recess portion of the detent, thereby inhibiting movement of the operating lever. In this state, when the operating lever is rotated around the second rotation supporting point and the projecting member is drawn out from the recess portion of the detent, the operating lever becomes movable. Accordingly, inhibition of moving the operating lever and removal of the inhibition can be performed without using the conventional knob button, return spring and compression rod. Therefore, reduction of a number of the parts, simplification of the structure and cost reduction thereby can be a
Hirabayashi Hirokazu
Kataumi Yoshimasa
Murakami Takao
Suzuki Takayoshi
Bucci David A.
Charles Marcus
Fujikiko Kabushiki Kaisha
Thomas Kayden Horstemeyer & Risley
LandOfFree
Operating apparatus for automatic transmission does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Operating apparatus for automatic transmission, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Operating apparatus for automatic transmission will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2896028