Restriction Of Shift, Gear Selection, Or Gear Engagement Patents (Class 74/473.21)
  • Patent number: 11953087
    Abstract: A shift lever device for an electric vehicle that provides the feeling of operating an MT shift lever. The device includes a retainer with a spherical bearing, a lever body that can swing in a shift direction and a select direction about a ball held in the spherical bearing, and a position sensor unit placed at a lower portion of the retainer. The position sensor unit includes a slider that can slide in a case in the select direction, a magnet that can slide on the slider in the shift direction, a sensor board placed on a bottom of the case and configured to detect a position of the magnet, and a detent plate with an MT shift pattern on a top surface of the case. The magnet is engaged with a lower end of the lever body that penetrates the detent plate and extends into the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Mannoh Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Saburo Kato
  • Patent number: 11858482
    Abstract: A commercial vehicle includes at least one driven axle, a service brake, at least one propulsion engine, and wheels. A parking brake function of the vehicle is achieved by a bistable locking means that acts on both wheels. A first and second multi-speed gearbox having respective first and second gear stages are each activated by an actuator and coupled to the wheels. The parking brake function is achieved at least in-part by concurrently activating the first and second gear stages. A computing device is configured to activate the bistable locking means when the commercial vehicle is at a standstill and configured to send a brake request via an electronic signal to an electronic brake control unit to activate the service brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, LLC
    Inventors: William Plow, Zsombor Gyoerke, Janos Toth, Sven Krueger, Levente Hos, Michael Blessing, Huba Nemeth, Peter Kovacsik, Andreas Buch
  • Patent number: 11767912
    Abstract: A park lock system for a vehicle transmission, includes a movable primary carrier, a secondary carrier, a rod, a first biasing member, an engagement carrier, and a first actuator. The movable primary carrier defines a primary internal space. The secondary carrier is located within the primary internal space and is movable relative to the primary carrier. The rod fixedly extends from the secondary carrier and includes a rod portion located outside of the primary internal space. The first biasing member is located within the primary internal space between the secondary carrier and the primary carrier. The engagement carrier is configured to receive the rod portion and includes a terminal portion operably connected to a pawl and a park lock wheel arrangement to lock and unlock the vehicle transmission. The first actuator is configurable in a first state or a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Frister, Martin Belley, Axel Hahn
  • Patent number: 11603926
    Abstract: A gear seeking shifter having a housing containing a shift lever with a depressible inner push rod. A CAM component is rotatably supported to a base of the shift lever and is driven by a gear seeking motor. An upwardly biased gate pawl is secured to the inner push rod into contact with any of a PRND shifter position gates configured along an opposing underside of said housing. At least one detent pawl is supported within the housing in biasing contact with a detent plate configured upon an opposing inside surface of the housing. The CAM component, upon being rotated by the motor, includes each of a first profile for retracting the gate pawl and a second profile for engaging and inwardly displacing the detent pawl away from contact with the detent plate to permit the CAM component to rotate the shift lever to a desired gear position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Soave, Calogero Alu
  • Patent number: 11572043
    Abstract: A commercial vehicle with at least one driven axle, at least one service brake, at least one propulsion engine, and wheels characterized in that the parking brake function of the vehicle is solved by a bistable locking means acting on both wheels. At least one multi-speed gearbox is provided to concurrently activate a first gear stage and a second gear stage having different ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, LLC
    Inventors: William Plow, Zsombor Gyoerke, Janos Toth, Sven Krueger, Levente Hos, Michael Blessing, Huba Nemeth, Peter Kovacsik, Andreas Buch
  • Patent number: 11485220
    Abstract: A rotary-type automotive transmission is provided. The rotary-type automotive transmission includes a housing; a shaft coupled to the housing in an axial direction; a bullet part provided on a surface of the shaft to be elastically projected in a first direction, which is perpendicular to the axial direction, and/or in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction; and a groove part mounted in a receiving groove that is formed on a surface of the housing, to face the bullet part. The groove part slidably moves in the first direction and/or in the second direction to be received in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Hyouk Kwon, Sungho Jin
  • Patent number: 11460108
    Abstract: A parking lock actuator includes a blocking cam, an actuating device, an energy store, a blocking drive, and an intermediate element. The blocking cam is arranged for positive engagement with a tooth gap of a parking lock gear and the actuating device is for transferring an actuating force to the blocking cam. The energy store is for transferring the actuating force from the actuating device to the blocking cam, the blocking drive is for displacing the actuating device, and the intermediate element is freely displaceable relative to the blocking drive over a predetermined intermediate path for displacing the actuating device. The blocking cam is arranged to positively engage the tooth gap to block rotational movement of the parking lock gear when the actuating device is in a blocked position, and the parking lock gear is rotatable when the actuating device is in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Greb, Laszlo Man
  • Patent number: 11415214
    Abstract: A shift operation determination apparatus includes: an operation member rotatably attached to the vehicle; a position detection section configured to detect a position of the operation member in a rotation direction; a shift determination section configured to determine, based on the position of the operation member, a shift range selected by the operation member; and a regulation section configured to regulate a rotation of the operation member, the regulation section being configured to regulate the rotation of the operation member when the operation member moves to a second position corresponding to the second range from a first position corresponding to the first range or a third position corresponding to the third range and moves to the third position within a predetermined time after being located at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Harada
  • Patent number: 11054022
    Abstract: In a shift device, when a first rotor cam is rotated in a reverse direction, recessed portions in the first rotor cam are engaged with protruding portions on a second rotor cam, and after a lever is moved rotationally, an engagement between the recessed portions and the protruding portions is released. So, when the first rotor cam is rotated in the reverse direction, not only can the recessed portions and the protruding portions be engaged with each other, but also the engagement between the recessed portions and the protruding portions can also be released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHATOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Hironori Watanabe, Tatsuya Onzawa
  • Patent number: 10962108
    Abstract: A shift-by-wire (SBW) column shifter for a vehicle includes a shift lever configured to be moved to shift gears. A shaft enables the shift lever to rotate the shaft about an axis. A lever detent is coupled to the shaft, enabling the shaft to rotate the lever detent about the axis. A slider magnet is constrained to move along a path, such as a linear path. The slider magnet has a groove that is engaged by a projection of the lever detent. Rotation of the lever detent about the axis is converted into movement of the slider magnet along the path via the engagement of the projection and the groove. A plurality of sensors are configured to output signals indicating a position of the slider magnet along the path to indicate a requested change in operating gear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ficosa North America Corporation
    Inventors: Alejandro Mendoza-Vega, Javier Alvarez Rubio
  • Patent number: 10919388
    Abstract: A system for and method of shifting a drive configuration of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) is provided. The system includes a shifter assembly, a gear case, and a linkage assembly extending therebetween. The shifter assembly includes a trigger lever for receiving a mechanical user input, thereby moving the shifter assembly between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The linkage assembly translates the user input to the gear case, thereby causing the gear case to shift between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, respectively. A linkage biasing member provides mechanical flexibility between the shifter assembly and the gear case, facilitating shifting on the fly. The trigger lever is operated by toggling it from a rest position to a deployed position. Upon user release, the trigger lever is automatically returned to its rest position for future engagement by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: ARCTIC CAT INC.
    Inventor: Justin Arthur Landon
  • Patent number: 10544863
    Abstract: A transmission for vehicle includes a counter shaft, a drive shaft, a shift fork, a shift cam, and a shift cam stopper. The counter shaft has a plurality of counter gears. The drive shaft has a plurality of driven gears. The shift fork changes combinations between the plurality of counter gears and the plurality of driven gears. The shift cam moves the shift fork. The shift cam stopper holds a position of the shift cam. Viewing from an axial direction of the shift cam, the shift cam stopper is disposed at a position partially overlapping with the shift fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10495217
    Abstract: An attachment structure for attaching a control component package unit to a transmission casing which accommodates a power transmitting mechanism of a vehicle and which is disposed in a drive-power-source compartment in a front section of the vehicle such that an axial direction of the power transmitting mechanism is parallel to a transverse direction of the vehicle. The control component package unit includes a container casing accommodating control components for controlling the vehicle. The attachment structure is configured to attach the control component package unit to a rear side part of an outer surface of the transmission casing, such that a straight line normal to the rear side part extends in a direction having a component of a rearward direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Teramoto, Shingo Toyama, Yasunori Takeda
  • Patent number: 10408147
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a gear change in the case of a non-synchronized dog-shift transmission having at least one shift fork controllable by way of a selector drum, wherein, by way of a position sensor on the selector drum, the rotational position of the selector drum is sensed and is transmitted to an electronic control unit for controlling a drive motor. By use of the sensed rotational position, the control unit detects whether the/a shift fork is in an intermediate position, in which none of the two possible gears associated with the shift fork is engaged. If the shift fork is in the intermediate position, the rotational speed of the drive motor is controlled to a middle value between the target rotational speeds of the two possible gears if in addition the clutch between the drive motor and the dog-shift transmission is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bernd Maier
  • Patent number: 10266052
    Abstract: A shift gate assembly includes a detent plate having a shift gate pattern. The shift gate pattern is provided with a first detent, a second detent, and a plurality of intermediate sides that extend between the first detent and the second detent. A side of the first detent that faces towards another side of the second detent is disposed in a non-parallel relationship with another side of the second detent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael C. Vermeersch, Arthur W. Nellett
  • Patent number: 10267417
    Abstract: A transmission shifter includes a base, a shift lever movable between gear positions, and a pawl, a pawl blocker, a permanent magnet, an electro-magnet, and an electrical circuit for selectively activating the electro-magnet when a predetermined vehicle condition is sensed. The permanent magnet's attraction to an iron based surface of the electro-magnet normally holds the blocker in a pawl-blocking position, keeping the shift lever in park position, until the electrical circuit activates the electro-magnet and the pawl is depressed. When activated, the electro-magnet biases the blocker toward a pawl-unblocked position. A ramp lever keeps the pawl blocker in the park position until the pawl mechanically moves the ramp lever and magnetically-biased blocker together, thus allowing the shift lever to be moved from park position. The park lock system is characterized by an absence of movement in response to an electrical signal to an electro-mechanical device and thus operates noise-free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: GHSP, Inc.
    Inventors: David Michael Mitteer, Jeffrey Lee Bays, Bradley John Vecellio
  • Patent number: 10088036
    Abstract: A multi-directional operating device includes an operating member, a support body, movable members, a pair of movable magnetic members, a facing magnetic member, stopper portions, a drive member, and a cam member. One of the drive member and the cam member has a guide surface having a first projection, and another of the drive member and the cam member has a sliding surface having a second projection. When the operating member is inclined in a first direction, one of the movable magnetic members is inclined, and inclination of another movable magnetic member is stopped by one of the stopper portions. When the operating member is inclined in a second direction, the first projection and the second projection are moved beyond projecting portions of each other and slide on each other. This multi-directional operating device is preferably applied to a vehicle shift apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Uenomachi, Keisuke Sato
  • Patent number: 10030762
    Abstract: A gear selector assembly includes a shift gate including a plurality of gates, a gear selector movable between the plurality of gates and including a pawl, and a gate blocker positioned to restrictively interact with the pawl of the gear selector to selectively restrict movement of the gear selector through a first gate to a second gate. The gate blocker includes a biasing member configured to bias the gate blocker towards a nominal position. The gate blocker is configured to not restrictively interact with the pawl to allow the gear selector to move from the first gate to the second gate when the gate blocker is in the nominal position. Each gate of the shift gate is associated with a mode of operation of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ficosa North America Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Jones, Vijay Thota, Javier Alvarez Rubio
  • Patent number: 9920833
    Abstract: A shifting apparatus for a manual transmission able to shift two shift stages, of which selection positions are different but shift positions are the same, using a single fork and a single sleeve. Compared to the related art in which a fork and a synchronization sleeve are provided to each of two independent shift stages, the full length of the transmission is reduced, thereby reducing the weight and manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kyung Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 9845868
    Abstract: A shift range switching device is provided for a vehicle. The device comprises a cover unit, a rotary unit, a control unit, and a body unit, wherein the rotary unit comprises a knob operation part exposed to the outside of the cover part, and a sensing part inserted in the knob operation part to be rotated by the knob operation part and to sense the rotation of the knob operation part. The control part comprises a parking button for shifting a transmission to a parking range, a display part for displaying the working range of the transmission and a sensor for sensing the rotation of the rotary unit. The body unit comprises a locking part coupled or decoupled from the sensing part to restrict the rotation of the rotary unit, and a cam into which one side of the sensing part is inserted to allow returning to the original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Daesung Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seag Woo Lee, Won Lee, Yeong Gi Jo
  • Patent number: 9702452
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing wrong shift operation of a manual transmission may include a control shaft provided in a housing of a transmission and connected to a shift lever, a stopper lever linked with the control shaft and rotated together with the control shaft, and a stopper unit arranged on a rotational radius of the stopper lever inside the transmission, and provided with a plate arranged rotatably in an axial direction of the control shaft such that the stopper lever that is rotated during a select operation for shifting to a highest speed step is caught by the plate to limit rotation of the stopper lever and the plate is rotated by the stopper lever when a shift operation is performed at a shift step preceding the highest speed step to progress the select operation to the highest speed step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kyung Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 9534354
    Abstract: Disclosed is a construction machine that enables an operator to operate a vehicle width changing control lever while visually confirming positions of crawlers. The construction machine includes a lower track structure 1 whose left and right crawler track devices 11A and 11B are adapted to change in spatial interval, and an upper swing structure 2 swingably mounted above the lower track structure. The construction machine further includes a hydraulically actuated cylinder for changing vehicle width, disposed between the left and right crawler track devices, the vehicle width changing cylinder changing the interval between the left and right crawler track devices upon supply and discharge of a hydraulic fluid being controlled by a vehicle width changing control valve, and a vehicle width changing control lever 34 disposed on a left section of a swing body support structure 50 relative to an operator's seat 23, the vehicle width changing control lever operating the vehicle width changing control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Yamamoto, Yohei Iwamoto, Hiroshi Tabeta, Osamu Kokuryo, Junya Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 9506563
    Abstract: The vehicle can include a power transmission system for transmitting power of an internal combustion engine to drive wheels through transmissions and a parking brake system for restraining rotation of the drive wheels by engaging with a part of the power transmission system. The parking brake system for the vehicle can also include a parking drive mechanism which operates a restraining member, by turning of an input shaft of a shift drive mechanism for changing the shift position in the transmission, so as to restrain rotation of transmission gear shafts, and thereby establish a parking brake state. In the parking brake system, a shift cable connected to the input shaft is connected to a parking operation lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Mitsubori, Kazuhiro Norita
  • Patent number: 9488272
    Abstract: An exemplary transmission may have a reverse shift rail and a locking mechanism to ensure that the reverse shift rail stops in a neutral position when disengaging from the other gear range. The reverse shift rail may be configured to move axially in a first direction to place the transmission in a drive gear, and in a second direction for a reverse gear. The transmission may also include a rail selector configured to engage with the reverse shift rail, and a reverse inhibitor configured to selectively dampen the reverse shift rail from moving in the second direction. An exemplary locking mechanism may include a main body and an arm extending from the main body. When the reverse shift rail disengages from the drive gear, the arm may be configured to contact the reverse inhibitor to substantially inhibit the movement of the reverse shift rail in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Carlos Fontana
  • Patent number: 9476500
    Abstract: A manual gear shifter assembly includes a shifter housing, a shift lever pivotally mounted to the shifter housing displaceable in a select direction to move between at least a first shift gate and a second shift gate, and in at least one shift direction for shifting the gears of the transmission, a shift cable coupled to the shift lever and the transmission, a blocker mounted in the shifter housing and operatively cooperating with the shift lever, a select lever pivotally mounted to the shifter housing with the select lever cooperating with the shift lever to allow displacement of the shift lever in the select direction to move between the shift gates, and a solenoid disposed in the shifter housing and cooperating with the blocker to physically block the displacement of the shift lever into a predetermined gear for inhibiting shifting of the transmission during a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: KONGSBERG DRIVELINE SYSTEMS I, INC
    Inventors: Kenneth Skogward, Sofie Rydell Wigren, Russell Staniek, Jeff Behounek, Jonathan Warner Love
  • Patent number: 9222565
    Abstract: A torque transmission device for a motor vehicle having a locking mechanism for locking at least one wheel of the motor vehicle, which wheel is connected to an output shaft of the torque transmission device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Stefan Pichler, Ferdinand Tangl
  • Patent number: 9222574
    Abstract: A detent assembly for selectively engaging a gear in a transmission of a motor vehicle is provided. The detent assembly includes a lever having a first groove and a second groove formed therein. The lever is configured to selectively engage a gear. A ball is provided, which is configured to selectively seat in the first groove, the further, to selectively seat in the second groove. A plate is configured to selectively bias the ball into the first groove, and the plate is further configured to selectively bias the ball into the second groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Ganesha Neelappa
  • Patent number: 9127754
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism comprises a planetary gear unit including input transmission, output transmission, and transmission stopping members. Torque entering the input transmission member is outputted downstream of the planetary gear unit by the output transmission member when the transmission stopping member is fixed and is not outputted downstream when the transmission stopping member is unfixed and entering a rotatable state. A rotation prohibiting target has an engaging target and is integral with the transmission stopping member. A rotation prohibiting member has a supporting shaft, a swingable portion at its one end and an engaging portion at its other end to engage the engaging target to enable the transmission stopping member to exert the stopping function. The engaging portion disengages the engaging target to bring the transmission stopping member into an unfixed state. A damper unit absorbs vibration caused in the rotation prohibiting member during a switching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Yasuda, Kenji Tomita
  • Patent number: 9122297
    Abstract: The master controller includes a main handle, a handle drum, a reverse handle, a lock collar, a first lock cam having an outer peripheral surface that locks the reverse handle at a neutral position when an operation key is at a locked position, a second lock cam that rotates integrally with the reverse handle, and has an outer peripheral surface that locks the reverse handle and the main handle at a neutral position when the operation key is at a locked position, and that locks the reverse handle at a forward position or a reverse position and unlocks the main handle when the reverse handle is operated to the forward position or the reverse position, and a rod holding unit that holds a rod movably between the lock collar and the second lock cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kameda, Ichirou Okui, Masao Okai
  • Patent number: 9080664
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a shift lever operating force transferring device of a manual transmission. The device includes a shift cable that connects a shift lever with a control shaft. Furthermore, the shift cable absorbs vibration and shock transmitted to the shift lever. Additionally, the device includes a bush insertion groove in which a select bush 32 is inserted and a closing member configured to seal the bush insertion groove from the exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Won Jin Jeong, Woo Deok Kim, Deok Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 9074673
    Abstract: In a vehicle having a generator cover mounted on one side of a crankcase so as to cover an end portion of a crankshaft projecting from the crankcase and a shift spindle located on the rear side of the generator cover as an input member of a shifting mechanism, a shift actuator is located below the longitudinal range of the generator cover in parallel to the crankshaft and on the front side of the axis of the shift spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kinya Mizuno, Yasushi Fujimoto, Masazumi Naito, Toshimasa Mitsubori
  • Patent number: 9062757
    Abstract: An automotive transmission is provided that includes a shift lever configured to move in a first direction to select a gear shifting position and a moving member that is configured to move in a second direction along a guide groove formed in the shift lever. A movement blocker is configured to selectively block the movement of the shift lever based on a position of the moving member. The movement blocker includes a rotating member configured to rotate in one direction by the moving member positioned at one side of the guide groove and block the movement of the moving member in the first direction. In addition, a support member to which the rotating member is rotatably connected moves in the second direction by the moving member positioned at the other side of the guide groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: SL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sang Ho Moon, Yun Je Hwang
  • Patent number: 9032828
    Abstract: In a shift lever device, a first engagement portion or a second engagement portion of a shift lever is inserted into a first stopping hole or a second stopping hole of a strength gate when the shift lever is turned along a manual transmission hole, thereby stopping the shift lever from turning towards an automatic transmission hole side. In the shift lever, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are disposed at the vehicle front side and the vehicle rear side of a support body. An increase in size of the shift lever in the vehicle left-right direction due to the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion can accordingly be suppressed, and the turning rage of the shift lever in the vehicle left-right direction can be made smaller, thereby enabling a reduction in size of the shift lever device in the vehicle left-right direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Masahi Kato, Kenichi Kako, Hayato Mori, Kenji Nakanishi, Reiji Higuchi, Yoshifumi Iwasaki, Kenta Goto
  • Publication number: 20150134149
    Abstract: A pilot interface panel may comprise at least one input mechanism configured to receive at least one user input, generate at least one input signal corresponding to the at least one user input, and send the at least one input signal to a controller. The controller may be configured to control movement of an electric taxi system of an aircraft in a manner according to the at least one input signal, wherein the electric taxi system may be configured to rotate at least one wheel of the aircraft by force from a purely electromotive source. The pilot interface panel may further comprise at least one safety mechanism, which may be configured to prevent at least one of the at least one input mechanisms from receiving an inadvertent user input resulting from an unintended action by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: ROBERT E. DE MERS, OLUKAYODE OLOFINBOBA, KEITH HUGHES, JOSEPH OTT, ALAN GRIESBACH
  • Patent number: 9027425
    Abstract: A transmission device for an internal combustion engine for preventing components thereof from being damaged for making the components smaller in size and weight, reducing a load and a time required to shift gear positions for increased operability and for reducing overall size and weight. A transmission device for an internal combustion engine includes a shift drum angularly movable by a star-shaped drum plate that is turned when a change spindle is turned and a stopper roller for limiting the star-shaped drum plate against turning movement. The star-shaped drum plate includes peaks corresponding to a plurality of gear positions and valleys interposed between the peaks. A selected one of the valleys includes a curved wall for being more gently contacted by the stopper roller than curved surfaces of the other valleys which are contacted by the stopper roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogasawara, Noriaki Takano, Eiichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8978504
    Abstract: In a shift lever device, operation of a shift lever to a “P” shift position is allowed when electric-power is not supplied to a solenoid in a state where the shift lever has been operated to a shift position other than the “P” shift position. Moreover, operation of the shift lever from the “P” shift position is regulated when electric-power is not supplied to a lock solenoid in a state where the shift lever has been operated to the “P” shift position. Therefore, in a case where the shift position of the shift lever is other than the “P” shift position when electric-power is not supplied to the solenoid and the lock solenoid, operation of the shift lever from the “P” shift position can be regulated by operating the shift lever to the “P” shift position, and the shift lever can be placed in the “P” shift position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Kunihiro Morimura
  • Patent number: 8970202
    Abstract: A shift sensor includes a movable member, four movable contacts, seven fixed contacts, and two power supply terminals. Each of the movable contacts is fixed to the movable member and pivoted to a position corresponding to a shift position. Each of the fixed contacts outputs a shift signal when it is brought into conduction with a power supply terminal by coming into contact with any of the movable contacts. The fixed contacts are arranged such that the number of shift signals that differ between shift positions is three or more, between the shift positions of P, R, N, D, and B, except for between the D and B positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Hokoi, Yoshitaka Watanabe, Junji Sato
  • Patent number: 8961365
    Abstract: A manual transmission including an input shaft Ai receiving power from an internal combustion engine through a clutch, an output shaft Ao receiving power from an electric motor, an EV gear stage for EV travel (different from neutral) in which no power transmission route is established between Ai and Ao, and a plurality of gear stages for HV travel in which a power transmission route is established between Ai and Ao. The movement of a shift lever SL from the neutral position to an EV-gear-stage shift completion position and the movement of the shift lever SL from the neutral position to the EV-gear-stage shift completion position is permitted only in a state in which the clutch pedal CP is depressed to provide an HV-MT vehicle power transmission control apparatus that includes a mechanism requiring a driver to operate a clutch pedal at the time of gear change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin AI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Osuka
  • Patent number: 8919218
    Abstract: The automatic transmission system includes a shift lever for changing stages by a user, a shift-lock device for fixing or releasing the shift lever, and a control unit including a shift control logic changing the stages of the transmission in accordance with the stage changed by the shift lever and a shift-lock control logic controlling the shift-lock device by stages for an initial time and a maintenance time after the initial time from when the stages may be changed such that the shift lever may be fixed, in order to shift-lock the shifted shift lever when the stages may be changed by the shift control logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sungil Lee, Hangil Park, Changhyun Lee
  • Publication number: 20140373661
    Abstract: A shifter assembly for a manual transmission includes a shifter housing, a shift lever and a gear blockout. The shift lever includes a shift plane select member configured to move to a first and second gear shift plane and a gear engagement member configured to move along the first and second gear shift plane to a first gear position. The shift plane select member and the gear engagement member are each operatively coupled to the transmission. The gear blockout is positioned within the shifter housing and configured to be selectively actuated to (i) block movement of the shift plane select member to the shift plane position thereby preventing the manual transmission from being shifted into first and second gears, and (ii) block movement of the gear engagement member to the first gear position thereby preventing the manual transmission from being shifted into first gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Robert A. Benson, Lawrence K. Laba, Eugene H. Polan, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140373660
    Abstract: A system for lash reduction of a shifter for a manual transmission includes a shifter assembly having a housing, a shift lever and a shift lever guide device positioned in the housing. The guide device includes a plurality of shift channels connected by a select channel and defines a shift pattern for the shift lever. The transmission gate guide includes a corresponding plurality of shift finger slots connected by a select slot and defines a pattern for a shift finger of the transmission. Movement of the shift lever into one of the channels operatively moves the shift finger into a corresponding one of the slots. Each of the channels includes a channel width complimentary to a width of the shift lever so as to substantially reduce lateral free play of the shift lever when received in the channels while allowing longitudinal motion of the shift lever in the channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Robert A. Benson, Jeffrey J. Sawruk, Lawrence K. Laba, Eugene H. Polan, JR., Michael W. Gapski, Christopher W. Collins
  • Publication number: 20140366671
    Abstract: A transmission protection system for a motor vehicle that has a low range of ratios (gears 1, 2, 3 and 4) and a high range of ratios (gears 5, 6, 7 and 8). A selection of gear is made using a gear selection shaft connected with a gear change lever having a preselective switch. An electro-pneumatic valve is directly connected to and acts axially on the gear selection shaft to counteract accidental positioning of the gear selection shaft in a position of the gears 1-2 or in a position of the gears 5-6. An electronic transmission control unit is configured to control the electro-pneumatic valve by an electric signal depending on a difference between a vehicle speed Sv and a first assumed speed S1 for the low range of ratios or between the vehicle speed Sv and a second assumed speed S2 for the high range of ratios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: EATON TRUCK COMPONENTS SP. Z O.O.
    Inventors: Leszek Wulnikowski, Zenon Ott, Przemyslaw Michalski, Filip Kopylowicz
  • Patent number: 8904897
    Abstract: A device for controlling a device for locking a motor-vehicle gear change in a parking condition includes a transmission which connects the gear change lever to a driven member movable between an operative position and an inoperative position, respectively for engagement and disengagement of the locking device. The transmission is connected to the driven member through a rotatable drum with a cylindrical surface having a cam-track cooperating with a cam-following element. The cam-track is designed so as to cause engagement of the locking device when the transmission is subjected to a pulling action or to a pushing action, depending upon the requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fiat Powertrain Technologies S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Scavarda
  • Patent number: 8904898
    Abstract: An electronic shift lever apparatus of an automatic transmission improving operability which may be provided in a room of a vehicle adopting the automatic transmission, may include a base having a lower member fixed to the vehicle and an upper member positioned above the lower member, a frame engaged to the upper member and horizontally slidable with respect to the upper member, a shift lock controlling device disposed between the frame and the upper member of the base and selectively locking the frame to the base, and an upper cover positioned above the frame, slidable vertically, and selectively unlocking the shift lock controlling device which controls an engaging state of the frame to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jeehyuck Choi
  • Publication number: 20140352476
    Abstract: An apparatus for returning a transmission to a primary mode is provided. The apparatus includes a shift lever that is configured to shift a transmission and a motor that is configured to provide driving force to move the shift lever. In addition, a selecting unit receives the driving force from the motor and moves the shift lever in a selecting direction. A shifting unit receives the driving force from the selecting unit and moves the shift lever in a shifting direction. The shift lever is further configured to be moved to a first position by the selecting unit and to a second position by the shifting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: SL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jung Ki Kim
  • Publication number: 20140352475
    Abstract: A structure prevents a gear shift lever from moving during a rear-end collision, and may include: a case mounted on the gear shift lever having a sliding groove; a lever having one end coupled to the case rotatable below the groove; a ball seated on the lever; a spring coupled to the lever so that elastic force is applied to raise the lever; a protruding portion mounted separate from the gear shift lever and positioned below another end of the lever, in which when the lever is rotated downward, an end of the lever is locked by the protruding portion blocking movement of the gear shift lever. When a rear-end collision occurs, the ball slides due to inertia rotating the lever downward to physically block the lever, thereby preventing a secondary accident by preventing the gear shift lever placed at an R-stage from unintentionally moving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Young-Je PARK, Chang-Hyun Lee, Yang-Rae Cho
  • Publication number: 20140345412
    Abstract: An apparatus for a gear shifter for use with a transmission is provided. The gear shifter includes a housing that defines a gate and a gear shift lever having a first end and a second end. The gear shift lever is at least partially received within the housing so that the first end is guided by the gate. The gear shifter includes a shifter block received within the housing and including a plurality of detents. One of the plurality of detents includes at least one pocket defined adjacent to the one of the plurality of detents so as to be in communication with the one of the plurality of detents. The at least one pocket and the plurality of detents are each sized to receive a portion of the second end of the gear shift lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Orson S. WANG
  • Patent number: 8893571
    Abstract: A transmission shift assembly for a vehicle and a method of monitoring the same includes a transmission having a shift position member movable between a plurality of gear positions. A linkage is coupled to an actuator and movable between a plurality of positions in response to movement of the actuator. A cable having first and second ends is coupled to the linkage and the shift position member respectively for transferring movement from the actuator to the shift position member. A plurality of sensors are spaced from each other and disposed about the first end of the cable such that movement of the cable relative to said linkage causes the sensors to monitor movement of the shift position member between the gear positions for achieving a proper position of the shift position member in one of the gear positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Rouleau
  • Patent number: 8875596
    Abstract: A steering wheel has at least one shift paddle which is coupled to the steering wheel in such a manner that the shift paddle is movable relative to the steering wheel in order in a contactless manner to trigger a shifting operation. In order to improve the ease of operation when actuating the shift paddle on the steering wheel, the steering wheel is distinguished by a slotted guide mechanism by which a shifting sensation is generated during movement of the shift paddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Walters, Manfred Harrer, Georg Wahl
  • Patent number: 8820188
    Abstract: A park-position mechanism includes a selector mechanism that includes a cam mounted on a selector hub shaft, a park gear mounted on a main shaft and corresponding in position to the cam, a park arm arranged between the cam and the park gear. The park arm has a holed base fit over a stud that rotates and supports the park arm in a crankshaft case. A torsion spring is arranged between the park arm and the crankshaft case with ends attached to the park arm and the crankshaft case respectively. The park arm has a driven section and an engaging section respectively extending from opposite sides of the holed base. The engaging section forms a projection. The driven section forms a hole in which a guide rod is received in an axially movable manner. The guide rod is engaged with the earn and is thus selectively driven by the cam to cause engagement of the projection of the engaging section with the park gear. A resilient member is arranged between the hole and the guide rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chao-Chang Ho