Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Multiple controlled elements
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-09
2003-07-29
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Multiple controlled elements
C074S473330, C074S4710XY
Reexamination Certificate
active
06598494
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a shifting device of a motor vehicle automatic transmission with a selector lever and a kinematics for transmitting the selection movements to an automatic transmission, wherein the selector lever can be moved around a first shift axis in an automatic shift gate for selecting automatic gears and around a second shift axis in a sequence shift gate for the manual upshifting and downshifting of gears, wherein a central carrier pivotable around a selector axis, an inner bridge, which is mounted pivotably on the central carrier and is pivotable around the first shift axis extending essentially at right angles to the selector axis, and an outer bridge, which is mounted on the inner bridge in the sequence shift gate, is pivotable around the second shift axis and is connected to the selector lever, are provided.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A shifting device of a motor vehicle automatic transmission, which has a selector lever and a kinematics for transmitting the selection movements to the automatic transmission, has been known from German Offenlegungsschrift DE 195 26 059 A1, in which the selector lever can move in an automatic shift gate for selecting automatic gears and in a sequence shift gate for the manual upshifting and downshifting of gears. The shifting device is designed such that the automatic shift gate is arranged on the right when viewed in the direction of travel and the sequence shift gate is located to the left of it. The embodiment of the shifting device shown is designed for a vehicle with the steering wheel on the left. If a corresponding shifting device is to be installed in a vehicle with the steering wheel on the right, the arrangements of the automatic shift gate and the sequence shift gate must be transposed for ergonomic reasons. This means that the automatic shift gate is located on the left-hand side and the sequence shift gate to the right of it in a vehicle with the steering wheel on the right. To bring about this reversal, it is necessary to manufacture the shifting device in a mirror-image version. Such measures always mean great efforts because new sets of drawings must be prepared, and new tools must be manufactured, and NC programs must be rewritten. In addition, it is necessary concerning the stocking of spare parts to stock both types of shifting device. All the above-mentioned measures lead to a considerable cost and require close manufacturing tolerances.
Furthermore, the applicant's patent application with the official Reference No. 198 53 934.7, which was not previously published and whose disclosure content is herewith taken over fully into this application, discloses a shifting device, which has a selector lever and a kinematics for the transmission of the selection movements to an automatic transmission, where the selector lever can be moved in an automatic shift gate for selecting automatic gears and in a sequence shift gate for the manual upshifting and downshifting of gears around a selector axis, and where a central carrier, which is pivotable around a selector axis, an inner bridge, which is mounted pivotably on the central carrier and is pivotable around a first shift axis extending essentially at right angles to the selector axis, and an outer bridge, which is mounted on the inner bridge, is pivotable around a second shift axis and is connected to the selector lever, are provided. The changeover between the kinematic situation in the automatic shift gate and the kinematic situation in the sequence shift gate is achieved here by the engagement of two locking elements in locking element engagements, wherein the locking element engagements are stationarily and rigidly connected to the housing of the shifting device. This necessary cooperation of a freely movable unit (=movable parts of the shifting device) with a stationary housing of the shifting device requires close tolerances in manufacture and great assembly efforts. The manufacturing tolerances become especially problematic when short shifting paths become necessary for the changeover from one gate into the other.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is therefore to find a shifting device for an automatic transmission with sequential shifting possibility, which is equally suitable for vehicles with the steering wheel on the right and for vehicles with the steering wheel on the left and can be embodied at the same time with components that can be manufactured with low requirements on the manufacturing tolerances, without deteriorating the clearance of the shifting device or even improving it.
According to the invention, a shifting device of a motor vehicle automatic transmission has a selector lever provided with kinematics for transmitting the selection movements to an automatic transmission. The selector lever can be moved around a first shift axis in an automatic shift gate (AG) for selecting automatic gears and around a second shift axis in a sequence shift gate (SG
1
, SG
2
) for manually upshifting and downshifting gears. A central carrier is pivotable around a selector axis. An inner bridge is mounted pivotable on the central carrier and is pivotable around the first shift axis extending essentially at right angles to the selector axis. An outer bridge is mounted on the inner bridge in the sequence shift gate and is pivotable around the second shift axis and is connected to the selector lever. A device for selecting the shift axes by a pivoting movement of the selector lever is indirectly or directly fastened to the central carrier.
Thus, it is proposed that the shifting device for a motor vehicle automatic transmission with a selector lever and a kinematics for transmitting the selection movements to an automatic transmission, wherein the selector lever can be moved around a first shift axis in an automatic shift gate for selecting automatic gears and around a second shift axis in a sequence shift gate for the manual upshifting and downshifting of gears, wherein a central carrier pivotable around a selector axis, an inner bridge, which is mounted pivotably on the central carrier and is pivotable around a first shift axis extending essentially at right angles to the selector axis, and an outer bridge, which is mounted on the inner bridge in the sequential shift gate, is pivotable around the second shift axis and is connected to the selector lever, are provided, be improved such that means for selecting the shift axes by a pivoting movement of the selector lever are indirectly or directly fastened to the central carrier.
Direct fastening to the central carrier can be achieved, e.g., by arranging axes or indirect fastening can be achieved by means of coupling rods.
Using a shifting device of such a design, it is now possible, on the one hand, to use the same shifting device in vehicles with the steering wheel on the right and in vehicles with the steering wheel on the left, and the same middle movement space can be used for the automatic shift gate in both types of vehicles, while the left-hand movement space can be used for the sequence shift gate in a vehicle with the steering wheel on the left and the right-hand movement space can be used for the sequence shift gate in a vehicle with the steering wheel on the right. On the other hand, particularly high requirements are not imposed on the manufacturing tolerances of the individual parts of the shifting device according to the present invention, and the clearance of the shifting device is reduced. At the same time, the gate change angle can be kept very small, which leads to pleasantly short shifting paths for the driver.
In a preferred embodiment of the shifting device according to the present invention, the means or device for selecting the shift axes can permit a pivoting movement of the selector lever around the first shift axis (=automatic shift axis) in the case of the selection of the automatic gate and a pivoting movement around the second shift axis (=sequence shift gate) in the case of the selection
Bucci David A.
McGlew and Tuttle P.C
Stefanon Justin
ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
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