Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Multiple controlled elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-29
2001-04-17
Hurley, Kevin (Department: 3619)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Multiple controlled elements
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216551
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a transfer lever for a 4WD vehicle and, in particular, to an improved transfer lever adapted for use with transmissions of differing lengths.
Four wheel drive vehicles (4WD) include a transmission device in which the transfer is integrally attached to the transmission. The transfer includes a transfer lever which is operated to switch between 4 wheel drive and 2 wheel drive.
Referring to
FIG. 7
, a transmission device
102
of a 4WD automobile includes a transfer
106
attached at the rear of an automatic transmission (AT)
104
-
1
. Because automatic transmission
104
-
1
includes parts such as torque converters or the like, it has a length A.
A transfer lever
108
in transfer
106
is operated to switch between 4 wheel drive and 2 wheel drive. Transfer lever
108
operates a 4-wheel 2-wheel switching mechanism (not shown). The distance between the attachment surface of transfer
106
, where the rear surface of automatic transmission
104
-
1
is connected, and the center
110
C of a lever attachment piece
110
, where the base end of transfer lever
108
is attached, is identified as B. Furthermore, a knob attachment piece
112
at the tip of transfer lever
108
is positioned to the rear of center
110
C.
Referring to
FIG. 8
, there is shown a prior-art transmission device
102
having a manual transmission (MT)
104
-
2
. Transfer
106
is attached to manual transmission
104
-
2
in the same manner as with automatic transmission
104
-
1
.
Manual transmission
104
-
2
does not require parts such as torque converters, or the like. As a result, it has a length C which is slightly less than length A of automatic transmission
104
-
1
. This difference in length positions transfer lever
108
knob attachment piece
112
to the rear of center
110
C.
An example of this transfer device for a 4WD automobile is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent number 8-156625. In this publication, a transfer is connected to a transmission. In this transfer, there are 3 shift positions: a high speed gear on demand 4 wheel drive position, in which the safety of on road driving is improved; a high speed gear direct 4 wheel drive position, which is suited for continuous off road driving; and a low speed gear direct four wheel drive position, which is suited for situations where a large drive torque is necessary in off-road driving. With this transfer, it is possible to easily switch between the three shift positions with one switching rail which interlocks with the transfer lever. On-road safety and off-road driveability can coexist.
However, referring to
FIG. 9
, when attaching transfer
106
, which has the same length B to each of automatic transmission
104
-
1
, which has a longer length A, and manual transmission
104
-
2
, which has a shorter length C, the position at which transfer lever
108
is located is changed. The change is by a measurable distance D between the location of center
110
C of lever attachment
110
of automatic transmission
104
-
1
and center
110
C of lever attachment
110
of manual transmission
104
-
2
. Furthermore, the position of knob attachment piece
112
of transfer lever
108
also changes in the front to rear direction. As a result, the optimal shift position is not achieved in both manual and automatic transmissions. Furthermore, when there is a difference in the length of the transmission, one single transfer lever can not accommodate differing types of vehicles.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above. The present invention is an improved transfer lever for a 4WD vehicle of the type including: a transmission; a transfer attached to the transmission; and a transfer lever operable to switch the transfer between 4 wheel drive and 2 wheel drive; the transfer lever is bent, proximate its base, to form an angle such that, when attached to transmissions of differing lengths, the attachment orientation of the transfer lever can be altered, according to the transmission length, so that the position of the knob attachment piece of the transfer lever remains unchanged.
Briefly stated, the present invention provides an improved transfer lever for a 4WD vehicle which is arranged such that the position of a knob attachment piece remains the same even when used with transmissions of two different lengths. The difference between the two lengths is a distance D. This retains the knob attachment piece in an optimal shift position can be attained. The transfer lever is bent, proximate its base, at an angle that places the knob attachment piece a distance D/2 from a centerline of its base. The transfer lever is installable in two orientations 180 degrees apart. When the longer transmission is used, the transfer lever is installed to position the knob attachment piece D/2 forward of the centerline, and when the shorter transmission is used, the transfer lever is installed to position the knob attachment piece D/2 rearward of the centerline, whereby the knob attachment piece is positioned in the same fore and aft location regardless of which transmission is used.
According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a transfer lever for attachment to a transmission of a 4WD vehicle, the transmission having one of first and second lengths, a difference between the first and second lengths being a distance D, the first length being greater than the second length, comprising: a transfer attached to the transmission, the transfer lever attached to the transfer, operable to switch the transfer between 4 wheel drive and 2 wheel drive, the transfer lever having a base at a first end for attachment to the transfer and a knob attachment piece at a second end for operation by an operator, a bend in the transfer lever proximate the base, the bend placing the knob attachment piece a distance D/2 from a centerline of the knob attachment piece, the transfer lever being attachable in first and second orientations, 180 rotational degrees apart, and the first orientation positioning the knob attachment piece the distance D/2 forward of the centerline when the transmission of the first length is used, and positioning the knob attachment piece the distance D/2 rearward of the centerline when the transmission of the second length is used, whereby the knob attachment piece is disposed in substantially the same fore and aft location, regardless of which length of transmission is employed.
According to a feature of the invention, there is provided a transmission of a 4WD vehicle, the transmission having one of first and second lengths, a difference between the first and second lengths being a distance D, the first length being greater than the second length, comprising: a transfer operably attached to the transmission, a transfer lever attached to the transfer, operable to switch the transfer between 4 wheel drive and 2 wheel drive, the transfer lever having a base at a first end for attachment to the transfer and a knob attachment piece at a second end for operation by an operator, a bend in the transfer lever proximate the base, the bend placing the knob attachment piece a distance D/2 from a centerline of the knob attachment piece, the transfer lever being attachable in first and second orientations, 180 rotational degrees apart, and the first orientation positioning the knob attachment piece the distance D/2 forward of the centerline when the transmission of the first length is used, and positioning the knob attachment piece the distance D/2 rearward of the centerline when the transmission of the second length is used, whereby the knob attachment piece is disposed in substantially the same fore and aft location, regardless of which length of transmission is employed.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.
REFEREN
Arai Yasushi
Iwamoto Michitaka
Fischer Andrew J.
Hurley Kevin
Morrison Law Firm
Suzuki Motor Corporation
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