Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Multiple controlled elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-27
2001-09-04
Marmor, Charles A (Department: 3681)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Multiple controlled elements
C074S473330
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282973
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a selector for a vehicle transmission, with a selector lever being movable in two shift gates. In the first shift gate, automatic positions of the transmission can be selected with the selector lever, and in the second shift gate, gear ratios can be selected sequentially by the selector lever. For this purpose, switches are provided in the second shift gate to detect the sequential selection processes.
A switching or selector device is described, for example, in DE 39 27 248 C1. In this device, the selector lever is accommodated in the second shift gate between two spring-loaded pins. As the selector lever is pivoted against the spring force, the pins actuate laterally-located microswitches. The microswitches and the pins are located on a common carrier plate which simultaneously forms the guide for the selector lever and serves as a cover of a housing of the selector that is open at the top. The carrier plate is bolted to the housing for that purpose.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a selector that is greatly simplified in terms of assembly.
This object has been achieved according to the present invention by providing that in a selector the switches are combined with spring-loaded pins to center the selector lower in a neutral center position. A switch module formed thereby is provided with a bore to receive the pin. A counterbearing for the pin is held in an opening whose diameter is as least as large as the outside diameter of the pin.
The selector proposed combines the switches and pins into a switch module. A switch module of this kind can be assembled in advance separately from the final assembly of the selector and adjusted. It is especially important in this regard that the switches be actuated by the pins so that the switches must be adjusted relative to the pins. At the same time, all of the electrical devices in the selector are combined into a module so that a single cable end can be associated with this module.
The switch module according to the present invention has, as above noted, a through bore to receive the pins. An opening in which a counterbearing for the springs for loading the pins is located has a diameter chosen to be large enough that the pins can be guided through this opening. By configuring the switch module in this manner, the pins can be installed from the outside of the switch module and has the advantage of being able to replace the pins even when the switch module has been assembled.
The selector switch module can be configured so that a gap formed by the first shift gate is bridged. For this purpose, the switch module is additionally connected with an opposite wall. Bridging the gap increases the rigidity of the housing of the selector, with the manufacture of the housing being simplified by the fact that a gap of this kind can be provided.
To fasten the switch module to the housing of the selector, conical pins are provided on the top of the housing. The pins engaging matching conical openings. The conical pins hold the switch module on the housing with zero play. Thus, when the pins and switches are actuated by the selector lever or during the bridging of the gap, additional play is avoided.
In addition, the selector receiving points for the housing can be provided with bores to fasten the switch module to the housing. The latching pins of a cover for the selector engage into the bores. The latching pins pass through the openings of the switch module, and the switch module is secured by fastening the cover to the housing without additional fastening apparatus being required for that purpose. Even if latching pins are generally sufficient for fastening the cover, it may be necessary under certain conditions to fasten the cover to the housing using expanding bolts, screws, or the like. Also here, however, no additional measures are required for fastening the switch module.
Regarding the switch module, a circumferential bead can be provided endwise on the pin and have an outside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the pin. This configuration of the pins ensures that the pins assume a specific position when assembled. Thereby, a movement of the selector lever caused by pins projecting too far is reliably avoided. Finally, the counterbearing for the spring can be held in the opening with a quarter-turn lock. In addition to the simplified assembly, the quarter-turn lock advantageously assumes a specific position in the axial direction following its installation.
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patent: 5845535 (1998-12-01), Wakabayashi et al.
patent: 5899115 (1999-05-01), Kataumi et al.
patent: 5927150 (1999-07-01), Hirano et al.
patent: 39 27 248 (1989-08-01), None
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Gruener Jens
Sander Edmund
Crowell & Moring , L.L.P.
Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
Marmor Charles A
Rodriguez Saul
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