Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Multiple controlled elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-23
2001-12-04
Herrmann, Allan D. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Multiple controlled elements
C074S533000, C384S513000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324932
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to manual shift controls for automatic power transmissions employed in vehicles and more particularly to a new and improved low friction shifter unit for operative mounting on a vehicle steering column for selecting the various operations of the automatic power transmission of the vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Prior to the present invention a wide range of shifter units have been developed to provide improved selection of the various functions of automatic transmissions in automobiles and thereby facilitate vehicle operation. This includes shifter units mounted on the steering column beneath the steering wheel so that the vehicle operator has convenient and efficient access to the transmission control lever thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,732 issued Mar. 1, 1994 to W. M. Snell for Column—Mounted Shift Control Assembly assigned to the assignee of this invention and hereby incorporated by reference is an example of one such shifter unit.
FIG. 6
of the accompanying drawings to this specification diagrammatically illustrates a detail of a prior art shifter similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,732 and shows a selector or shift lever L operatively connected to turn cam C having hub H mounted for sliding rotary movement within a shouldered bushing B supported by a fixed gate plate G. Also there is shown a wave spring S operatively disposed between a washer W and the side of the gate plate. A cover plate P outboard of washer W is retained on the end of the hub by threaded fastener T. The wave spring compensates for frictional wear and yieldably holds these parts in operative relationship with respect to one another to reduce looseness of the parts and prevent vibration thereof and resultant noise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
While the prior art shift control units fully meet requirements for which they were designed, they utilize components susceptible to wear from sliding friction and include wave spring washers to compensate for such wear. In contrast to the prior art constructions, this invention provides fixed and consistent spacing and rolling friction between the fixed gate plate having predetermined gate detents or stop stations thereon, and a rotatable shifter member that is rotated to various preselected positions by a manual lever operatively connected to the rotatable shifter member. This invention accordingly provides a new and improved low torque shifter unit for selecting transmission operations featuring a ball bearing spacer unit carried in a pocket in a gate plate and operatively disposed between the gate plate and the rotatable shifter member to operatively support the rotatable shifter member and reduce wear and precisely establish the axial positions of the components of the shifter unit. With this invention, each shifter unit of a mass produces quantity of units meets predetermined low tolerance specifications and each will operate in the same consistent and smoother manner with reduced manual input effort throughout an extended service life as compared to prior art constructions.
These and other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description and drawings:
REFERENCES:
patent: 4022078 (1977-05-01), Malott
patent: 4934208 (1990-06-01), Carlstrom
patent: 5277077 (1994-01-01), Osborn
patent: 5289732 (1994-03-01), Snell
Sauger Daniel B
Slon Christopher M
Calcaterra Mark P.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Herrmann Allan D.
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