Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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8$=gT CONTROL M$cHAHISM TO
MANUAZ~T.Y BH~FT AN A'QTOMAT=C TRANSMISS=ON
The present inverition.relates generally to shift
control mechanisms. for transmissions arid, more
particularly, to a shift control mechanism to maaually
shift an automatic transmission.
Automotive vehicles require a power train to
transmit the force of..an engine to wheels~of the vehicle.
The_power train's main component is typically referred to
as the "transmission". Engine torque and speed are
converted in the transmission in accordance with the
tractive-power. demand o~ the vehicle. Transmissions are
generally referred to as manually actuated or automatic
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transmissions. Manual transmissions generally include
mechanical mechanisms for coupling rotating gears to
produce different ratio outputs to drive the wheels_
Automatic transmissions are designed to take automatic '
.control of the frictional unite, gear ratio selection and
gear: shifting.
Recently, there has been a demand to provide an
automatic transmission that may be manually shifted in
addition to normal automatic transmission operation. .Such
I:o shifting is typically provided by a shift control
mechanism. An.~example of such a shift .control mechanism is
disclosed in~U.S. Patent No. 4.,905,530 to Stehle et aI.
This patented shift control mechanism for an automatic
transmission includes a selector lever to be operated
manually. The selector lever is displaced in a ~irst
shifting lane for selecting different transmission speeds
during.normal automatic mode operation and transversely in
a second shifting~lane to manually engage the desired
.~for.ward speed. .However, there is a: need in .the art to
_prov~.de a new and ituproved shift control mechanism.
Tt is, therefore, one object of the present
invention to provide an improved shift control mechanism
for an automatic transmission.
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It is another obj ect of the present invention to
provide ~ an improved shift control mechanism to w manually
shift an automatic transmission.
To achieve the foregoing objects, the present
invention is a shift control mechanism for an automatic
transmission including a housing having a shift control
patterp. with a longitudinal. portion defining a plurality of
automatic transmission operating settings and a transverse
portion at one end of the longitudinal portion defining a
to plurality of manual transmission operating settings, The
shift control mechanism also includes a shift lever which
is manually movable along the shift control pattern for
selecting the automatic transmission operating settings~and
for selecting the manual transmission operating settings.
The shift control mechanism further includes ~a Fall Effect
$ensor/switch assembly actuated by moving the shift lever
to a first position in the transverse portion to send a
signal to-manually upshift the automatic transmission and
to a second-position in the transverse portion opposite the
2o first positionvto send a signal to manually downshift the
automatic transmission.
One advantage of the present invention is that a
sh~.ft control mechaizism. is provided for an automatic
transmission. Another advantage of the present invention
is that a shift control mechanism is provided for manually
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shifting an automatic transmission. Yet another adva.r~tage
of the present invention is that the shift control
mechanism uses a Hall Effect aensor/switch to sense the
position of a shift lever to generate a signal to manually
shift the automatic transmission.
According to an aspect of the present invention there
is provided a shift control mechanism for an automatic
transmission comprising a housing including a shift control
pattern having a longitudinal portion defining a plurality
of automatic transmission operating settings and a
transverse portion at one end of the longitudinal portion
defining a plurality of manual transmission operating
settings, a shift lever manually movable along the shift
control pattern for selecting the automatic transmission
operating settings and for selecting the manual
transmission operating settings, and a proximity switch
assembly actuated by moving the shift lever to a first
position in the transverse portion to send a signal to
manually upshift the automatic transmission and to a second
position in the transverse portion opposite the first
position to send a signal to manually downshift the
automatic transmission, the proximity switch including a
switch housing and a shift lever engagement member
pivotally mounted to the switch housing and moveable with
the shift lever to the first and second transverse
positions to manually shift the automatic transmission,
wherein the switch housing includes a plurality of support
prongs, the shift lever engagement member including a body
and a hub disposed at one end of the body, and a yoke
disposed at the other end of the body opposite the hub and
extending transversely to the body, the shift lever
engagement member mounted on the support prongs at the hub,
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the shift lever receivable by the yoke when the shift lever
is in the transverse position.
According to another aspect of the present invention
there is provided a shift control mechanism for an
automatic transmission comprising a housing including a
shift control pattern having a longitudinal portion
defining a plurality of automatic transmission operating
settings and a transverse portion at one end of the
longitudinal portion defining a plurality of manual
transmission operating settings, a shift lever manually
movable along the shift control pattern for selecting the
automatic transmission operating settings and for selecting
the manual transmission operating settings, and a proximity
switch assembly actuated by moving the shift lever to a
first position in the transverse portion to send a signal
to manually upshift the automatic transmission and to a
second position in the transverse portion opposite the
first position to send a signal to manually downshift the
automatic transmission, the proximity switch including a
switch housing and a shift lever engagement member
pivotally mounted to the switch housing and moveable with
the shift lever to the first and second transverse
positions to manually shift the automatic transmission,
wherein the switch housing includes a plurality of support
prongs, the shift lever engagement member including a body
and a hub disposed at one end of the body, and a yoke
disposed at the other end of the body opposite the hub and
extending transversely to the body, the shift lever
engagement member mounted on the support prongs at the hub,
the shift lever receivable by the yoke when the shift lever
is in the transverse position, and wherein the proximity
switch assembly includes a centering mechanism disposed
between the yoke and the hub to urge the shift lever
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engagement member to a neutral position between the first
and second transverse positions.
Other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention wil~l.be readily appreciated as the same
becomes better understood after reading the subseguent
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
-FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a shift control
mechanism,.~according to-the present-invention, illustrated
in operational relationship with vehicle structure.
FIG. 2 i.s an enlarged plan view of the shift
control mechanism cf. .FIG. 1.
FIG.. 3 is :a fragmentary side elevational view of
the-shift control mechanism of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4
of FIG. 2 illustrating-the shift control. mechanism in a
f irBt operational position.
FIG.-S is.a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating
the shift control mechanism in a second operational
position.
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l~IG. fi is a partial plan view of a shift control pattern for the shift
control mechanism of FIG. 1.
rIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of another embodiment, according to
the present invention, of the shift contzol mechanism of FIG. 1.
S FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the shift control
ruechanism of FIG.7.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along, lines 9-9 of FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 illustrating the shift control
mechanism in a second operational position.
FIG. 1 I is a sectional view taken along lines 1 I-I 1 of FIG. 9.
Referring to Y 1G. l, a shut control mechanism 10, according to the pzesent
invention, is illustrated in operational relationship with vehicle structure
I2 such as a
vehicle floor of an automotive vehicle (not shown). The shift control
mechanism 10 is
operatively connected to a key cylinder lock housing (not shown) and an
automatic
transmission (not ~sla~wn) via cables (not shown). The automatic transmission
may be
of the type iiisclosed in (J.S. Patent No. 4,875,391 to Leising et aL.
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The connections of the shift control mechanism 10 to the automatic
transmission and
key cylinder lock housing are similar to that disclosed in tJ.S. Patent No
5,207,124 to
Anderson et al..
Referring to FIGS. Ithrough 4, the shift control mechanism 10 includes a
housing, generally indicated at 14. The housing l4 is generally rectangular in
shape
and has a bottom wall 16. 'Che housing 14 also has a pair of side walls 18 and
20
spaced transversely and a pair of end walls 22 and 24 spaced longitudinally
and
extending upwardly generally perpendicular to the bottom wall 16. The Dousing
14
further includes a cover 26 haying an arcuate-shaped cenlTal portion 28 and
generally
planar flange portions 30 secwed to a top edge of the walls 18, 20, 22, 24 by
suitable
means such as screws 32. It should be appreciated that the walls 16, 18, 20,
22 and 24
may be integral and formed as one-piece from a plastic material such as by
molding.
Referring to FIGS, 2 and 6, the central portion 2$ of the cover 26 includes a
shift
1 S control pattern fonxted by an inverted and generally 'f-shaped guide slot
34 extending
therethroagh. The guide slot 34 has a longitudinal portion 36 with
predetermined
automatic
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transmission operating gears or settings such as Park (p),
Reverse (R) , Neutral (N) and Drive (D) for selecting
transmission speeds to be automatically engaged in the
automatic transm3.ssion during normal automatic transmission
operation. The guide slot 34 has a transverse portion 38
at one end of the . longitudinal portion 36 ~rith
predetermined manual tran'slnission operatizig settings such
as Manual (M) , Upshift (f) and Downshift (-) to select and
manually shift or engage the desired forE,ra.rd sp,~ed during
manual operation of the automatic transmission. It should
be appreciated that= the automatic transmission may be
manually shifted by moving transversely from the M setting
to either the + or - setti.ng.
Referring to FIGS. Z through 4, the shift control
mechanism 10 also includes a~ shift lever 40 to shift the
automatic transmission. The shift lever .g0 extends through
the guide slot 34 in the cover- 26 and is manually operated
or displaced through the Park (P), Reverse (R), Neutral
(N) , Drive -(D) , . Manual. -(M) , upshift (:+) and downshift (-)
settings. The shift lever 40 has a shift rod 42 slidably
mounted therein. The shift lever ~40 also has a palm
abutting knob 44 surrounding the shift lever 40 and a push
button 46 extending from the palm abutting knob 44 for a
function, as described. in U.S. patent No. 5, 207,124 to:
Anderson et al.
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The shift control mechanism 1G further includes
a mounting assembly, generally indicated at ~4~, for
pivotally mounting the shift lever 40 within. the housing
14. The mounting assembly 48 includes a bracket 50 having
. an inverted and generally- U-shape. ~ The bracket ~ 50 has a
generally hor3,zorital base portion 52 with a central opening
54 and .leg portions 56 generally perpendicular 'to and at
each end of the base portion 52. The base portion 52 has
a bushing 5~ disposed in the central opening 54.,.~ The leg
1o portions 56 include an opening 58 extending t~herethrough
near a free end thereof. The mounting assembly 48 also
includes a pivot pin .60 for pivotally mounting the bracket
5o to the housing 14 . The pivot pin '60 is mounted between
.mounting brackets 62 formed on the bottom~wall 16 of the
housing. 14. The pivot pin 60 extenda~ through .the openings
58 of the leg portions 56 and a passageway 64 of the
mounting brackets 62': It should be appreciated that the
bracket 50.pivots or rotates longitudinally about. the pivot
pin 60
The mounting assembly .48 also includes -a
connecting member 66 for pivotally connecting .the shift
lever 40 to the pivot. pin s0. The connecting metnbez~ 66 has
a cavity 68 to forth a generally U-shaped cross-section.
The connecting member 66 also has a pair of transversely
spaced and downwardly extending flanges. 'tG with openings ?2
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extending therethrough. The pivot pin 6o extends through
the openings 72 in the flanges 70 to allow the conx~ecting
member 66 to pivot or -rotate Longitudinally about the pivot
pin 60. The mounting assembly ~8 includes a cross-over pin
74 far pivotally connecting the shift lever 4o. to the
connecting member 66-. The cross-over pin 74 .extends
through openings ~in the shift lever 40 sad connecting
member 66 to allow the shift lever 4Q to pivot or rotate
transversely about the cross-over pin 74. It should be
1o appreciated that the connecting member 66 allows
longitudinal pivotal- uiovement of the shift lever 40 in the
longitudinal portion 36 of the guide slot 34 and the cross-
over pin 74 allows transverse pivotal movement of the shift
lever 4o in the transverse portion 38 0~ the guide --slot 34 .
It should also ~be appreciated'. that the longitudinal- portion
36 of the guide slot 34 prevents transverse pivotal
movement of the shift lever 40 and guides the shift lever
4o along a predetermined path.
The mounting--assembly 48 may include a tubular
member ~6 ~ with ~a bottom - seat- 78 secured to a left. end of
the .bracket 50 by suitable means such as welding. The
mounting assembly~may also .include a detente member 'so
slidably mounted in the tubular member 76. and urged
- upwardly therefrom by a .ooil spring 82 . mounted between the
bottom seat 78 and a flange 84 Formed around the detente
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member 80. The detent member 80 has an extended end s6
which is rounded and received in a plurality' of .rounded
indentations ss formed in the inner surface of an edge
portion of the central portion 28 of the cover 26. _a
further e~cplanation of the structure and. operation ~aay b~e
found in U. S. Patent No. ~5, 20?,124 t0 l,TlderBOn et al.
The mounting assembly 48 further includes a first
guide member 90 having a central opening 92 disposed about
the shift lever 40. The guide member 90 'has a plurality of
1o steps 94 spaced axially and formed in an outer periphery
thereof for a , function to be described. The mouritil7g
assembly 48 includes a second guide member 96 on an
3.nterior surface of the cover 26. Preferably, the second
guide member 96 is integral with the cover 26. The scecond
guide~member 96 has a cam profile or cooperating surface
98. The steps 94 of the guide member.90 form a generally
point contact With the cooperating surface ~98 to nova
therealong. The mounting assembly ~48 also .includes a
retainer bushing 100 disposed about the shift lever 4o and
a coil sprig 102 disposed about the shift lever 4o between
the first guide member ~ 90 .and the retainer bushing io0.
The coil spring.102 urges the first guide member 90 axially
a~tay from the retainer bushing 100. It should be
appreciated that the retainer. bushing Zoo is fixedly
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secured to the shift lever 40 and the first guide member 90
is slidable along the.shift lever 40.
The shift control mechanism 10 also includes a
switch assembly, generally indicated at 104, to send
signals directly to a transmission controller (not shown)
for shifting the automatic transmission, such a
transmission controller is disclosed in U~.S.~~Patent No_
4,~8?5.391 to Leising et al. The switch asaetiibly Z04
includes~switches 106 disposed on each transverse-side of
to the slot 36 a.n the cover 26. The switches 106 are attached
to the cover 26 by suitable means. The swite~hes 106 have
a spring loaded contact 108 which extends outwardly over
the + and ~ settings of the transverse portion 38. When
the shift lever 40 contacts or deflects one. of~.th,e contacts
los, the s~ritch 106 sends a signal to the transmission
controller. The switches 106 are connected by~connectors
(not shown) and electrical wires (not shown) to the
~transmi~ssion controller. It should be appreciated .that the
transmission controller executes a command -to shift the
automatic transmission,
The shift control mechanism 10 further includes
a return spring 110 for centering or urging the shift-lever
40 to the M setting. The return spring 110 has a coil
portion 112 ~ secured to t~i~. cover 26 by suitable means such
.as a fastener 113. The return spring 11o also has a pair
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of fingers 114 extending longitudinally and._"spaced
transversely by a spacer ll6 extending upwardly from the
cover 26. The shift lever 40 is disposed between the
fingers 114. Alternatively, the return spring 11o may be
S of the torsional type and disposed about the cross-over pin
?4 or a pair of springs of the compression type disposed on
opposed sides of the shift lever 4b for centering or urging
the shift 7.ever 40 to the M setting.
In operation, the shift lever ~0 is moved
l0 longitudinally by an operator from the P setting. to either
the R, H or D setting. . to allow normal automata:c operation
of -the automatic transmission.. When tie shift lever 4o. a.s
a.n the D setting, the operator may desire to manually shift
the automatic transmission. T~f so, the shift lever ~-40 is
l5 moved longitudinally by the operator from. the D setting to
the M setting to allow manual shifting of the automatic
transmission. If a. downshift is desired, the operator
moves~transversely the shift lever 40~to the - setting to
-downshift the automatic transmission. :When this occurs,
20 the shift- lever, 40 .contacts and deflects-the contact 108 of
the switch 106 . to send a signal . to ~ the transmission
controller which then.executes a command to.downshift the
automatic transmission. As illustrated a.n FIG. S, the
..\
first guide member 90 moves down~rard7:y against the spring
25 102 and one of the fingers 114 of the return spring 110 is
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deflected transversely. After zhe shift lever 40 is moved
to the - setting, the operator releases the shift lever 40.
t,Then this occurs, the finger 114 moves the shift lever 40
transversely to the M setting and, as the coil spring 102
urges the first guide member 90 upwardly, the steps 94 of
the-first guide member 9o slide_along the cooperating
surface 98 of second guide member 96. It should be
appreciated that the operation is similar for movement of
the .shift lever 40 from the M setting to the f e.etting for
~an upshift of the automatic transmission.
Referring to FTGS. 7 through 1~, another
embodiment of the shift control mechanism ZO includes a
proximity switch assembly, generally indicated at 204
wherein like references numerals have been used to
designate like structure as discussed above. ~As with the
switch assembly l04 shown in the' other Figures, the
proximity switch assembly 204 shown~in FIGS.~7. through 11
is actuated by moving the shi~.t lever 40 . ~. to a first
position in the transverse portion 3.8 to send~a.signal to
manually upshift the au_tomatic.yransmission. The.pro~cimizy
switch assembly 20~ is also actuated when the .shift lever
4o is moved .to a second position in the transverse portion
38 opposite the first, position to send a sig'nal~ to -manually
dot~mshift the automatic transmi.s.sion: A.s can best be seen
2s with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the proximity switch
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assembly 204 includes a switch housing, generally indicated
at 206 and a shift lever engagement member,generally
indicated at 208 . The shift lever engagement member 208 is
pivotally mounted to the switch housing 206 and movable
S with the shift lever 40 -tb the first and second transverse
positions to tttanually shift the automatic transmission.
The switch housing 206 . includes a base support stud 212
operatively supporting the switch.housing 206 upon the
bottom wall ~16 of the shift ~ control mechanism housing 14 .
In addition, the switch housing 206 includes a pair of
horizontally-extending flanges 216 disposed on either side
of the switch housing ~ 206 for. securing- the svritch housing
206 to the cover 26 of the shift control mechanism, housing
~14 by using.a pair of fasteners 218. The switch housing
206 further includes a.plurality. of support prongs 220 for
a function to be described.
The shift lever engagement member 208 includes a
body 222 and a hub. 224 disposed' at one end .of the body 222.
The shift lever engagement ~member_208 includes a magnet 209
recessed in the~sha.ft lever engagement member 208. ' The
magnet 209 is located such that its travel .'crosses the Hall
Effect sensor/switch 240 to be described. The shift lever
engagement member 208 is mounted on the support,prongs 220
at the hub 224. The shift lever engagement member 208 alsc
includes a yoke.226 disposed at the other end of the body
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yoke 226 extends transversely to the body 222. As can best
be seen with reference to FIG. 7, the yoke 226 includes an
arcuate recess 228. The shift lever 40 is receivable by
the yoke 226 in the recess.228 when the shift lever 40 is
S in the transverse portion 38.
Referring now to FIGS.~9 and ll; the proximity
switch assembly' 204 inc7.udes a . centeririg mechanism,
generally indicated at 230 which is dispose3.between the
yoke 226 and the hub 224. The centering mechanism 230
10 urges the shift lever engagement member 208 to a neutral
position between the first and second transverse positions.
The centering mechanism 230 includes a pair of arms 232
extending transversely from the body 222 in a direction
opposite to the yoke 226 in spaced parallel relationship
15 with..respect to each.other. The centering mechanism 230
includes a coiled spring 234 captured .between a pair of
.flanges 236 on the switch housing 206 and is compressible
in the direction of both the first and second transverse
positions to exert a centering force on the 'shift lever
2D engagement member 208 to urge the member 208..to the neutral
position.
As best shown in .FIGS. 7 and 9, the switch
~hous.ing 206 also includes a compartment' 238 disposed in
spaced relationship but''immediately adjacent the shift
lever engagement member 208 at the yoke 226. The proximity
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switch assembly 204 includes a proximity or Hall Effect
senaor/switch 240 disposed within the compartment.238 and
operatively cor~ziected to a power source through a connector
242. The Hall Effect sensor/switeh 240 is capable of
sensing the movement of the shift lever engagement member
208 . With the shift .lever 40 as the shift lever 40 is moved
to the first and second transverse positions. The Hall
Effect sensor/switch~240 generates a signal in response to
the movement of the magnet 209 on the shift lever
engagement member 208 to manually upshift and downshift the
automatic transmission. It should be appreciated that the
Hall Effect sensor/switch 240 is conventional.
In operation, when the shift lever 40 and shift
lever engagement member 208 are, moved to either the first
is or second transverse positions within the transverse
portion 38, the Hall Effect sensor/switch 240~senges the
movement of~zhe'change in magnetic field provided by the
magnet 209 and sends a signal. to .the transmission
controller ~,thi.ch then~executes a command to downshift or
upshift tha. automatic transmission. As -illustrated in FIG.
3.0,, c~rhea the shift lever 40 and thus the shift lever
engagement member 208 are moved transversely, one of the
arms 232 of the centering mechanism 230 will act to
compress the coiled spring 234. After the operator
releases the shift lever 40, the coiled spring 234 acts to
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exert a centering force on the shift lever engagement
member 2os to urge the member 208 and shift lever 44 to the
neutral position.
Accordingly, the shift control mechanism l0
allows an operator to choose complete automatic control of
the automatic:transmission by leaving the shift lever 40 in
the longitudinal portion 36 of the guide slot 34 or can
change gears manually by moving the shift lever 4o in the
transverse portion.38 of the guide slot 34. ..Also, the
Zo shift 'control mechanism 10 may use a Hal3 Effect
sensor/switch 240 to sense the position of the shift lever
40 to generate a signal to manually shift~the automatic
transmission.
The present invention has been described in an
illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the
terminology~vrhich has.been used~is intended to be in the
nature of words of description rather than of limitation.
