Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Multiple controlled elements
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-02
2001-09-11
Luong, Vinh T. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Multiple controlled elements
C074S473330, C074S491000, C074S523000, C248S900000, C188S371000, C180S271000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286385
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shift lever device having a shock absorbing structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in
FIG. 25
, a lower end of a shift lever
202
is mounted on a control shaft
204
and the control shaft
204
is axially supported by a shaft
208
whose both ends are supported by bearings
206
. As a result, when a shift operation of the shift lever
202
is effected, the control shaft
204
rotates to allow selection of a desired shift range.
However, when a strong force is applied to the shift lever
202
in the axial direction, the shift lever
202
does not have sufficient absorbing ability to the force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above-described circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shift lever device having an improved absorbing ability to a strong force acting in the axial direction.
A first aspect of the present invention comprises a shift lever which allows selection of an arbitrary shift range by shift operation, and supporting means which rotatably supports the shift lever outside an interior of a vehicle, wherein when axial impact force is applied to the shift lever, the supporting means is broken.
In the shift lever device according to the first aspect, usually, the shift lever is supported rotatably by the supporting means and an arbitrary shift range can be selected by shift operation.
When impact force (strong force) is applied to the shift lever in the axial direction, the supporting means is broken. Due to the breakage of the supporting means, the impact force applied to the shift lever can be absorbed. Namely, in the shift lever device of the present invention, since the impact force applied to the shift lever can be absorbed by breakage of the supporting means. For this reason, as compared with a conventional shift lever device, the absorbing ability to the impact force is improved.
A second aspect of the present invention is constructed such that, in the first aspect, the supporting means includes: a control shaft to which a lower end of the shift lever is connected so as to allow the shift lever to be rotatable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a bearing portion in which a shaft supporting hole by which the control shaft is supported is formed; and a thin-walled portion formed between the shaft supporting hole and an escape hole formed in the bearing portion.
In the shift lever device according to the second aspect, usually, the control shaft is supported by the shaft supporting hole of the bearing portion, and therefore, the shift lever is operated to rotate the control shaft and an arbitrary shift range can be selected.
When impact force is applied to the shift lever in the axial direction, the thin-walled portion of the bearing portion is pressed by the control shaft and is thereby broken. Due to the breakage of the thin-walled portion, the impact force applied to the shift lever can be absorbed. After the thin-walled portion is broken, the control shaft comes into the escape hole and moves in the direction in which the impact force acts.
As described above, the thin-walled portion is provided between the shaft supporting hole and the escape hole formed in the bearing portion, and therefore, the impact force applied to the shift lever can be absorbed without increase in the number of parts.
A third aspect of the present invention is constructed such that, in the second aspect, the transverse dimension of an opening of a hole wall forming the escape hole is made smaller than the diameter of the control shaft and is gradually made smaller in the direction away from the shaft supporting hole.
In the shift lever device according to the third aspect, after the control shaft breaks the thin-walled portion and comes into the escape hole, the control shaft abuts against the hall wall of the escape hole and moves while widening the escape hole in the transverse direction. For this reason, the decay time of impact force becomes longer and the impact force can be effectively absorbed.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is constructed such that, in the first aspect, a fragile portion is formed in a breaking portion of the supporting means which is broken due to axial impact force applied to the shift lever so as to partially lower strength of the breaking portion.
In the shift lever device according to the fourth aspect, when impact force is applied to the shift lever in the axial direction, first, breakage is caused in the fragile portion, and subsequently, the supporting means is broken. With the breakage being caused in the fragile portion as described above, the impact force can be effectively absorbed.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is constructed such that, in the first aspect, a fragile portion is formed in a breaking portion of the supporting means which is broken due to axial impact force applied to the shift lever so as to partially lower strength of the breaking portion, and at least one pair of wall surfaces is formed further at the front side than the breaking portion in a direction in which the impact force acts so that the space therebetween is gradually made smaller in a direction away from the shaft supporting hole.
In the shift lever device according to the fifth aspect, when impact force is applied to the shift lever in the axial direction, first, breakage is caused in the fragile portion, and subsequently, the thin-walled portion is broken. With the breakage being caused in the fragile portion as described above, the impact force can be effectively absorbed. Further, after breaking the thin-walled portion, the control shaft abuts against the wall surfaces and moves while widening the space of the wall surfaces in the transverse direction. For this reason, the decay time of impact force becomes longer and the impact force can be effectively absorbed.
A sixth aspect of the present invention is constructed such that, in the first aspect, the supporting means includes: a control shaft supported by a bearing portion of a shift lever device main body; a bracket mounted on the control shaft; a pin which is inserted in and passes through a through hole formed in the bracket and an axial hole formed in the shift lever so as to support the shift lever in a rotatable manner; a thin-walled portion formed in the bracket, wherein when axial impact force is applied to the shift lever, the thin-walled portion is broken; and a breaking portion formed in the pin at the side of the thin-walled portion and provided to be broken due to axial impact force being applied to the shift lever.
In the shift lever device according to the sixth aspect, usually, the shift lever is rotatably supported on the bracket by the pin. When the shift lever is operated to rotate the control shaft, an arbitrary shift range can be selected.
When impact force is applied to the shift lever in the axial direction, the thin-walled portion is pressed and broken by the shift lever and the breaking portion of the pin is also broken. Due to this breakage, the shift lever and a portion of the bracket are removed from the control shaft together with the pin and moves in the direction in which the impact force acts, thereby resulting in absorption of the impact force.
As described above, by providing a simple structure in which the thin-walled portion is formed in the bracket and the breaking portion is formed in the pin, the impact force applied to the shift lever can be absorbed.
A seventh aspect of the present invention is constructed such that, in the sixth aspect, the bracket includes a rotating bracket which rotates together with the control shaft, and a supporting bracket which projects from the rotating bracket and supports the control shaft, wherein the thin-walled portion is formed in the supporting bracket at a position where the supporting bracket is connected to the rotating bracket.
In the shift lever device according to the seventh aspect, the thin-walled portion is formed in the supporting bracket at the location where the s
Fujita Masaki
Kanazawa Hitoshi
Nishimura Masaya
Sato Kazuhiro
Shamoto Noriyasu
Cole Thomas W.
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
Luong Vinh T.
Nixon & Peabody LLP
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