Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element
Patent
1996-07-01
1998-08-11
Marmor, Charles A.
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element
74475, 74538, 192 4A, B60K 2004, F16H 5910
Patent
active
057911967
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a shift lever and mounting bracket for control of an automatic gearbox in a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An example of a shifting arrangement is the gear control for automatic gearboxes in motor vehicles. A gear control is generally provided with a control lever, which is pivotally anchored into a control bracket. The gear control must be anchored into a fixed part of the vehicle to provide a high degree of stability and also a well defined positioning with minimizing of tolerances. Known gear control is provided with e.g. a three-dimensionally formed bracket of injection moulded plastic, which gives rise to high tooling costs. In an alternative known solution, the bracket is made in form-pressed sheet which implies a great deal of welding and fitting work as well as high tooling costs.
There is therefore a need for a shifting apparatus which can be anchored with a good stability and well defined positioning.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, these and other objects have now been achieved by the invention of a shifting apparatus to be mounted on a base for control an automatic gearbox, which comprises a shifter bracket with first and second bracket members that are separately and independently mountable to the base, a shifter lever that is pivotally attached to the shifter bracket for movement between a plurality of shifting positions, and a releasable shifter latch for releasably blocking the lever against unintentional movement to certain of the shifting positions. The shifter latch comprises a first latch portion attached to the shifter lever and a second latch portion depending from the first bracket member. The first bracket member defines a pivot axis of the shifter lever, and has a first attachment means for attaching the first bracket member to the base. The second bracket member pivotally anchors the shifter lever to the base for pivoting about the defined pivot axis. The second bracket member further has a second attachment means for attachment of the second bracket member to the base.
In accordance with one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the shifting apparatus further has a pivot shaft that attaches the shifter lever to the second bracket member, connecting the first and second bracket members. In this embodiment, the first bracket member is directly attached to the base by the first attachment means, and is additionally attached to the base through the second bracket member.
The pivot shaft may have a center portion and two end portions. In that case, the first bracket member is connected to the center portion and the second bracket member is connected to both end portions.
In another embodiment of the invention, the second bracket member has a dimension in a direction parallel to the pivot axis, exceeding the dimension of the first bracket member in that parallel direction.
In another embodiment of the invention, the first attachment means comprises a single attachment point for attachment directly to the base. The second attachments means may comprise at least two attachment points for attachment directly to the base.
The first latch portion may be moveable between a blocking position and a free position, while the second latch portion depends from one of the first and second sides of the first bracket member. The first latch portion may be adapted for cooperation with the second latch portion depending from the first side and with the second latch portion depending from the second side.
In accordance with one embodiment of the apparatus, the first latch portion comprises two couplings, one of the couplings being attached to a release mechanism in the shifter lever for releasing the shifter latch. In that embodiment, the first latch portion may comprise first and second legs, each leg extending in a respective one of the sides of the first bracket member. The apparatus may further comprise an indexing mechanism for defining and shifting positions, the indexing mechani
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patent: 2527774 (1950-10-01), Stieger
patent: 4054181 (1977-10-01), Grosseau
patent: 4365522 (1982-12-01), Kubota et al.
patent: 4641545 (1987-02-01), Rabe
patent: 4934496 (1990-06-01), Barske et al.
patent: 5150593 (1992-09-01), Kobayashi
Skogward Kenneth
Timmann Klaus
Fenstermacher David M.
Marmor Charles A.
Scandmec AB
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