Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Multiple controlled elements
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-20
2002-06-11
Herrmann, Allan D. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Multiple controlled elements
C074S096000, C074S473120, C200S061880
Reexamination Certificate
active
06401564
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shift switch control device for selection lever units of automatic transmissions and, more particularly, to a shift switch control device for selection lever units of sport mode-type automatic transmissions capable of selectively performing an automatic transmission mode or a manual transmission mode as desired, the shift switch control device designed to accomplish a reliable up-shift operation, so-called a “+” shift operation, and a reliable down-shift operation, so-called a “−” shift operation, during a manual transmission mode, and to be reduced in the number of its parts, thus being preferably simplified in its construction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, sport mode-type automatic transmissions, designed to allow drivers to select an automatic transmission mode or a manual transmission mode as desired in accordance with driving conditions and/or driver's tastes while driving, have been developed and proposed to be equipped within, particularly, a variety of expensive luxury cars.
Different from conventional transmissions with a fixed automatic transmission mode or a fixed manual transmission mode, such sport mode-type automatic transmissions allow drivers to enjoy the driving feeling to the full while selecting the automatic transmission mode or the manual transmission mode as desired in accordance with driving conditions and/or their tastes while driving their cars.
Such a sport mode-type automatic transmission is provided with a selection lever unit for allowing a driver to perform a desired shifting operation. The construction of a conventional selection lever unit for such sport mode-type automatic transmissions is shown in
FIGS. 7
,
8
and
9
. As shown in the drawings, the conventional selection lever unit has a selection lever
100
, which is installed within a main frame
111
and is used for selecting a desired mode or a desired range within a transmission pattern
110
having a manual transmission mode and an automatic transmission mode. A cable bracket
113
is connected to a shift cable (not shown) at a position around the selection lever
100
. The above cable bracket
113
is operated in conjunction with the selection lever
100
when the automatic transmission mode is selected, thus actuating a transmission manual valve (not shown).
The selection lever
100
has two connection protrusions
114
, while the cable bracket
113
has a connection lever
115
at a position corresponding to the connection protrusions
114
. Therefore, the selection lever
100
is operated in conjunction with the cable bracket
113
through the engagement of the two connection protrusions
114
and
114
′ with the connection lever
115
during an automatic transmission mode.
The conventional selection lever unit has a shift switch control device of FIG.
9
. As shown in the drawing, the conventional shift switch control device for selection lever units comprises a manual mode select switch
103
, an up-shift switch
101
, a down-shift switch
102
and a switch actuation unit, which are provided on the top wall of the main frame
111
. The up-shift switch
101
and the down-shift switch
102
are used for performing the up- and down-shifting operations when the manual transmission mode is selected by the selection lever
100
.
In such a case, the up-shift switch
101
is positioned at the front portion of the shift switch control device, while the down-shift switch
102
is positioned at the rear portion of the control device. In addition, the manual mode select switch
103
is positioned between the up-shift switch
101
and the down-shift switch
102
.
Two shift switch actuation members
104
and
105
are provided at positions corresponding to the up-shift switch
101
and the down-shift switch
102
, with a gap defined between the two shift switch actuation members
104
and
105
. When the manual transmission mode is selected by the selection lever
100
, the lever
100
is inserted into the gap defined between the two shift switch actuation members
104
and
105
while pushing and turning on the manual mode select switch
103
.
In each of the two shift switch actuation members
104
and
105
, a tipping bar
108
is set within a housing
106
while being normally biased by a return spring
107
at its rear end, thus normally positioning the selection lever
100
at a neutral position.
Therefore, when the selection lever
100
is moved to perform a desired shifting operation, the tipping bars
108
of the two shift switch actuation members
104
and
105
actuate the up and down-shift switches
101
and
102
, thus allowing the switches
101
and
102
to output up- and down-shifting signals.
In such a case, the manual mode select switch
103
is continuously operated by a side surface of the selection lever
100
, thus being maintained at its activated state.
However, such a conventional shift switch control device for selection lever units of automatic transmissions is problematic in that it is very difficult to maintain the precise actuation gaps between the tipping bars
108
and the up- and down-shift switches
101
and
102
. In addition, the operational direction of the tipping bars
108
is different from the operational direction of the up- and down-shift switches
101
and
102
. Therefore, the shift switch control device may fail to accomplish a desired operational reliability.
In addition, it is very difficult to manufacture the tipping bars, and so the tipping bars are very expensive. Another problem experienced in the conventional shift switch control device resides in that it has a complex construction and is not easy to install within a limited area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a shift switch control device for selection lever units of automatic transmissions capable of selectively performing an automatic transmission mode or a manual transmission mode as desired, which is designed to accomplish a reliable up-shift operation, so-called a “+” shift operation, and a reliable down-shift operation, so-called a “−” shift operation, during a manual transmission mode, and which is reduced in the number of its parts, thus being preferably simplified in its construction.
In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a shift switch control device for selection lever units of automatic transmissions, comprising: a selection lever installed within a main frame of a chassis by a hinge shaft and used for selecting a desired range within a transmission pattern during an automatic transmission mode and performing an up- or down-shifting operation during a manual transmission mode, the transmission pattern having an automatic transmission mode pattern and a manual transmission mode pattern, the selection lever turning on or off up- and down-shift switches during the manual transmission mode, thus performing the up- or down-shifting operation; a rotary plate mounted to the hinge shaft at one side of the selection lever, with the up- and down-shift switches provided at the top end of the rotary plate while being spaced apart from each other at a predetermined gap, and a projection provided at the central portion of the rotary plate while extending toward the selection lever; a manipulation lever installed at the top portion of the selection lever such that the manipulation lever is positioned between the up- and down-shift switches at a M-stage of the manual transmission mode pattern, the manipulation lever being used for turning on or off the up- or down-shift switch; a projection guide plate provided on the selection lever at a position corresponding to the projection of the rotary plate under the manipulation lever, with an inclined surface formed at one end of the projection guide plate to prevent the up-shift switch from coming into undesired contact
Herrmann Allan D.
Hyundai Motor Company
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