Control Lever Movable Through Plural Planes Patents (Class 74/473.33)
  • Patent number: 11506279
    Abstract: An adjustable shifter for a vehicle is provided. The adjustable shifter comprises a body, a shift shaft mounted within the body, and a height adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a height of the shift shaft relative to the body in a continuously adjustable manner throughout an operating height range of the shift shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Erik Daniel Grassauer
  • Patent number: 11486491
    Abstract: A shift device for a vehicle includes a baseplate, a shift lever having a spherical shaft part at a lower end, and a control lever connected to the shift lever. The spherical shaft part of the shift lever is supported by the baseplate and configured to turn relative to the baseplate. A cable coupling part is provided at an upper part of the control lever. A turning shaft part supported by the baseplate is provided at a lower part of the control lever outward of the spherical shaft part of the shift lever in a vehicle width direction, and the turning shaft part is configured to turn relative to the baseplate. The control lever has a branched part between the cable coupling part and the turning shaft parts, and the branched part is located above the spherical shaft part and branched in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO, TSUDA INDUSTRIES CO., LTD., MANNOH INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shori Kato, Atsushi Toyama, Takaaki Fukushima, Naotaka Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 11434990
    Abstract: A shift device comprises a shift lever and a shift knob. A driver moves the shift knob in a longitudinal direction when a shift change is conducted between plural traveling positions. The driver moves the shift knob, in a lateral direction, toward a driver's side when the shift change is conducted from a R position to a P position. When viewed from a vehicle rear side, the shift lever located at the traveling positions takes a first position where the shift lever is inclined, relative to its upright state, in a direction of separating its upper end portion with the shift knob from a driver's seat, whereas the shift lever located at the P position takes a second position where the shift lever is in the upright state or in a state which is closer to the upright state than the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Uemura, Yoshito Hirata, Tomonori Ohtsubo, Masanori Taguchi, Kouji Tokunaga, Akira Michinaga
  • Patent number: 11168784
    Abstract: A vehicle shifter device for ensuring high safety by suppressing misoperation by a driver. The vehicle shifter device includes a shift lever and a lock plate. The shift lever has a cylindrical lever body, a rod movable in an axial direction in a cylinder of the lever body, and a first lock lever and a second lock lever connected to the rod. The first lock lever is substantially L-shaped in plan view. The lock plate has a first extension portion extending in an X-direction and a second extension portion, integrally formed with the first extension portion, that extends in a Y-direction. In addition, the lock plate has a plurality of concave parts. In the lock plate, the projection height of a convex part between the concave part and the concave part is larger than the projection height of a convex part between the concave part and the concave part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takenaga Yohsuke, Daiki Nakata, Toshihiro Matsuoka, Masayuki Tokumo
  • Patent number: 11085526
    Abstract: A shift lever apparatus for a vehicle moves a center point of rotation of a shift knob upward such that a height of the shift knob exposed to a console and an operating stroke of the shift knob are reduced, and a console size is decreased. The shift lever apparatus allows a manipulation direction of the shift knob is the same as an operational direction of a transmission cable, and thus a connection structure of an existing transmission may be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, SL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Won Jin Jeong, Jin Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 10982759
    Abstract: A gear shift lever biasing apparatus includes a shift lever biased primarily along a first dimension axis using a spring. The shift lever is retained to a backing plate, which may be mounted on a frame. A contact area on the backing plate engages with a bumper that is secured to the frame with a semi-rigid retainer, thereby providing bias to the gated shift lever primarily along a second dimension axis that is primarily orthogonal to the first dimension axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shane R. Smith, Jason W. Grundey, Scott D. Batdorf
  • Patent number: 10920880
    Abstract: Provided is an automotive transmission, and more specifically, an automotive transmission that prevents the occurrence of unnecessary handling feedback when a gear shift lever is operated. The automotive transmission includes a gear shift lever, a rotation unit configured to rotate together with the gear shift lever, a first gear unit disposed at a first side of the rotation unit to be rotated around a rotation axis of the rotation unit together with the rotation unit, a second gear unit configured to switch between a coupled position, at which the second gear unit is coupled to the first gear unit, and a separated position, at which the second gear unit is separated from the first gear unit, and a driving unit configured to change a position of the second gear unit and provide a driving force to the second gear unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventor: Hongjun Cha
  • Patent number: 10865875
    Abstract: A dial shift lever device for a vehicle may be provided that includes: a dial knob which is rotatable from a predetermined reference position by a user's operation for changing a shift stage; a button driving part which comprises a plurality of buttons disposed circumferentially in a receiving recess formed in a lower portion of the dial knob and generates a signal for selecting the shift stage as at least one of the plurality of buttons is pressed by rotation of the dial knob; and a guide assembly which is coupled to the lower portion of the dial knob and locks the rotation of the dial knob or releases the lock of the rotation of the dial knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventors: Dong Won Kim, Yong Soo Kang
  • Patent number: 10808833
    Abstract: In a shift device, when a switch is operated, a moving portion, a first lock plate, a second lock plate and a third lock plate are moved toward a vehicle front side, and placement of the first lock plate, the second lock plate and the third lock plate at a return path is cancelled. Therefore, if the switch is operated when a lever is placed at other than a “P” position, due to a guide pin being moved along the return path toward an upper side by urging force of a return spring, the guide pin is returned to a vehicle front side end of a first lateral path, and the lever is returned to the “P” position. Due thereto, the lever can easily return to the “P” position from other than the “P” position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Susumu Mega, Yoshihisa Hirano
  • Patent number: 10634242
    Abstract: A vehicular shifter device includes: an operation member; a body portion which supports the operation member to be shiftable from a home position in a predetermined direction, and which causes the operation member after a shift operation to automatically return to the home position; and a control means which controls the range of a transmission on the basis of a shift operation of the operation member. The control means sets the range to a neutral range when the operation member is shifted from the home position in the predetermined direction. The control means switches the range from the neutral range to a travel range when the operation member is shifted from the home position in the predetermined direction again after the shift operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoh Yamazaki, Masayuki Tokumo
  • Patent number: 10495212
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gear selection unit for an automatic transmission. The gear selection unit may include a mount having a gate, where the gate has an automatic channel oriented in a longitudinal direction and a tapping channel disposed adjacent to the automatic channel, and where the automatic channel and the tapping channel are connected to one another via a connecting channel. A selection lever may be inserted in the gate, and the selection lever may be pivotably supported in the mount. A cable pull slider may be movably supported in the longitudinal direction in the mount, where the cable pull slider is coupled to the selection lever via a releasable first coupling device when the selection lever is disposed in the automatic channel. A connector may be coupled in the longitudinal direction to the cable pull slider via a second coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Berthold Grosse Kohorst
  • Patent number: 10328798
    Abstract: Work vehicle includes an operation lever pivoting forward and backward stepwise through a plurality of operation positions; and a detent type retention mechanism holding the operation lever in each of the operation positions. The retention mechanism includes a coupling member coupled to the operation lever; and a retention member holding the operation lever via the coupling member. The operation lever and the retention mechanism are provided separately from each other, aligned in a direction intersecting with a pivot support shaft of the operation lever. The operation lever and the coupling member are reciprocally connected via a linking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Yasunobe
  • Patent number: 10234027
    Abstract: A gear-shifting device for a vehicle is provided and includes a guide body that has a first end portion connected to a control shaft, installed so that a second end portion is rotated at the first end portion as an axis in a rotational displacement that corresponds to a selecting path to perform a selecting operation, and installed to be moved in a substantially straight displacement that corresponds to a shifting path along an axis direction of the first end portion to perform a shifting operation. A guide unit is disposed to distinguish each shifting path on the selecting path in which the second end portion of the guide body is rotated and is configured to guide the second end portion of the guide body to be movable along the shifting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kyung Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 9388897
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for electronically controllable transmission, and more particularly, an apparatus for electronically controllable transmission, the apparatus capable of shifting gears by moving a shift lever and sensing the magnetic flux density of a magnet, which moves in accordance with the rotation of the shift lever, by using a three-dimensional (3D) hall sensor. The apparatus includes: a shift lever including one end which is connected to a magnet and shifting gears by moving the shift lever; a shift lever body which is connected to the shift lever and is allowing the shift lever to move around shift axis or select axis; and a sensor unit including a 3D sensor which is mounted fixedly in the place intersecting the shift axis and select axis within the shift lever body and can sense the movement of the magnet around an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis as the magnet moves, wherein the 3D sensor is mounted at a tilted angle for providing at least two of three output signals with linearity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Jeong-Ho Bak, Byung-Ki Kim
  • Publication number: 20150135878
    Abstract: A shifting apparatus for a vehicle may include a lever position guide that is provided inside a gear lever box at which a gear lever is located, and has a reference position and multiple gear positions connected to the reference position, an elastic part engaged to the gear lever and the gear lever box and configured to return the gear lever to the reference position when the gear lever deviates from the reference position and thus is located at any one of the multiple gear positions, and a controller that shifts a gear range according to a preset shifting order when the gear lever moves between the reference position and the multiple gear positions, and shifts the gear range to a preset gear range when the gear lever is located at any one of the multiple gear positions for a longer time than a setting time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Han Gil Park, Ki Young Song, Chang Hyun Lee, Yang Rae Cho
  • Patent number: 9022164
    Abstract: An operation device of a shift by wire way excludes mechanical connection for transferring operational force between a transmission and an operation device for shifting, which can be used in a vehicle to which an electronic shifting device is mounted. For this purpose, a shift pattern is capable of operating intuitively a shifting device by providing a shift pattern identical to an existing shift pattern and keeping user's experience and at the same time reducing the number of the shift lock to solve the drawback of a prior shift pattern provided with a plurality of shift locks that defines the utilizing of a space, and thereby utilizing a space at a maximum level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, SL Corporation
    Inventors: Hyung-Suk Kim, Young-Eon Jung
  • Publication number: 20150101439
    Abstract: An apparatus for operating a shift lever for a vehicle includes: a shift lever pattern part that includes a plurality of reference ranges in which a position of the shift lever is fixed, a parking range, and a shift lever moving path along which the reference ranges and the parking range are connected to one another; and a driving part that applies returning force to the shift lever so as to return the shift lever to the reference ranges if the shift lever deviates from the reference ranges and is located in the shift lever moving path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corp., Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Chang Hyun LEE, Han Gil Park, Yang Rae Cho
  • Patent number: 9004218
    Abstract: A system for controlling a work vehicle is disclosed. The system may include a controller configured to control motion of the work vehicle and an electronic joystick communicatively coupled to the controller. The electronic joystick may be configured to transmit signals to the controller as it is moved between a neutral position and a full stroke position. The joystick may also be configured such that a varying joystick force is required to move the joystick between the neutral and full stroke positions. In addition, a rate of change of the joystick force may be varied as the electronic joystick is moved across a start/stop position defined between the neutral and full stroke positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Navneet Gulati, Duqiang Wu, Aditya Singh
  • Patent number: 9003917
    Abstract: A gear shifter includes a frame and a pivot frame pivotally mounted to the frame. A gear shift lever is pivotally interfaced to the pivot frame by a pivot pin passing through a bore in the gear shift lever. The gear shift lever extends upwardly beyond the frame and a lower section of the gear shift lever extends downwardly into the frame. A fastener passes at least partially though the gear shift lever and interfaces with the pivot pin such that, one position of the fastener locks the pivot pin within the gear shift lever and within the pivot frame and, a second position of the fastener frees the pivot pin from both, therefore facilitating removal of the gear shift lever. The lower section of the gear shift lever is interfaced to a first transmission linkage and the pivot frame is interfaced to a second transmission linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: DG Auto Sales and Service LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Geberth, Robert Runman
  • Publication number: 20150020634
    Abstract: A poly-stable electronic shifter assembly can include a poly-stable shift lever, a shift knob, a park, reverse, neutral and drive (PRND) indication area and a flexible member. The shift lever can be coupled to a base proximate a first end of the shift lever. The shift knob can be coupled to a second end of the shift lever. The PRND indication area can be associated with the shift knob. The flexible member can be positioned about the shift lever between the shift knob and the base such that the flexible member covers the shift lever and conceals a physical location of the shift lever when positioned in one of a PRND gear selection location. The PRND indication area can be disassociated with the PRND gear selection locations such that the PRND indication area includes an absence of alignment with the shift lever in the PRND gear selection locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Jay T. TenBrink, Robert L. Brown
  • Publication number: 20150013490
    Abstract: A shifting device for a transmission of a motor vehicle has an actuation lever (1) which can be selectively transferred into (a) a first selector gate, more particularly an automatic selector gate, in which the lever is mechanically coupled to a transmitting component (2) for actuating a gearshift cable or a gearshift linkage, or (b) a second selector gate, more particularly a sequential selector gate, in which the lever is decoupled from the transmitting component, the transmitting component being movably mounted, more particularly pivotably mounted. A locking means (11) can immobilize the transmitting component such that no force is exerted on the gearshift cable or the gearshift linkage as long as the actuation lever has been transferred into the second selector gate. The transmitting component may be released by a transfer of the actuation lever into the first selector gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: ECS ENGINEERED CONTROL SYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Heiko Schirmer, Wei Yang
  • Publication number: 20140331805
    Abstract: A gearshift assembly structure includes: a gearshift knob including a knob core that has a insertion hollow formed lengthwise; a locking member installed on the knob core to pivot, the locking member having a locking protrusion formed on the outer surface of the locking member; and a gearshift rod to be inserted into the insertion hollow of the knob core, the gearshift rod having a locking groove formed on the outer surface thereof, wherein at the position the gearshift rod is fully inserted into the insertion hollow of the knob core, the locking member is received in the locking groove by pivoting the locking member inward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicants: SL Corporaiton, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hee-Soo Yang, Yang-Rae Cho, Jee-Hyuck Choi, Chang-Hyun Lee, Ean-Soo Cho, Hyun-Woo Lee, Ju-Yeong Kim
  • Patent number: 8863603
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gearshifting device (1; 100; 200), which is intended for a transmission and comprises a selector lever (2) that can be moved in such a manner that different shift positions (P, R, N, D, S, M+, M?) can be selected in at least two gearshift gates (3, 4) and that it is possible to shift between one of the gearshift gates (3, 4) and the at least one other gearshift gate (4, 3), and comprises at least one lock (5), which is used to block the traversing path of the selector lever (2) with respect to one of the gearshift gates (3, 4), in order to shift from one of the shift positions (P, R, N, D, S) into another of the shift positions (P, R, N, D, S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: ECS Engineered Control Systems AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Pätzold
  • Patent number: 8863605
    Abstract: A gear shift lever apparatus includes: a first support shaft pivotally supported on an upper housing; a gear shift lever swingably supported via the first support shaft; an engagement member provided to the gear shift lever; a second support shaft pivotally supported on a lower housing in parallel to the first support shaft with at least part of the second support shaft overlapping the first support shaft in an axial direction thereof; a selector lever swingably supported via the second support shaft; an engagement receiver formed in the selector lever and being engageable with the engagement member in a swing direction thereof; and a bypass unit configured to prevent the selector lever from interfering with the first support shaft upon swinging of the gear shift lever due to a manipulation of the gear shift lever through engagement between the engagement member and the engagement receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norihito Shioji
  • Patent number: 8857287
    Abstract: A vehicle shifter 1 comprises a shifter body 2, a shift lever 3, an interlocking member 4, and a selecting return spring 5 serving as a biasing member. The interlocking member 4 is configured such that a front end thereof is pivotally supported by the shifter body 2, and a rear end thereof is swingingly movable around the front end as a swing center during a manual operation for moving the shift lever 3 in a selecting direction. The selecting return spring 5 is configured to pull the rear end of the interlocking member 4 toward a rear end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takushi Ujimoto
  • Publication number: 20140283641
    Abstract: A shifting assembly for a vehicular transmission includes a shift rail having a yoke coupled thereto. A lever may be provided having portions forming an L-shaped slot. The yoke may engage the lever through the slot. The shift rail may be configured to shift the transmission into a forward gear ratio and a reverse gear ratio. The shift rail may be configured to translate along a primary axis in a first direction and in an opposite second direction. A shift fork may be coupled to the shift rail, which is configured to cause the transmission to shift into a forward gear ratio when the shift rail is translated in the first direction to a forward gear engagement position. The yoke may be configured to cause the transmission to shift into a reverse gear ratio when the shift rail is translated in the second direction to a reverse gear engagement position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: GANESHA NEELAPPA
  • Publication number: 20140251053
    Abstract: A gear shifting method and device of a multistage transmission in which gear shift of a main transmission and an auxiliary transmission is mechanically operated by operation of one shift lever. The device is provided with: a cam mechanism that has a select operation output member and a shift operation output member, which separate, into shift operation and select operation for each direction, operation by operation of one shift lever that moves along at least one H-shaped shift pattern, a first cam groove that operates by the select operation, and operates a shift mechanism for the auxiliary transmission that shifts a shift fork for the auxiliary transmission, and a second cam groove that operates a select mechanism that selects a target shift fork from among a plurality of shift forks for the main transmission; and a shift mechanism for the main transmission that operates by the shift operation, and shifts the shift fork for the main transmission selected by the select operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Yasushi Yamamoto, Nobuyuki Iwao
  • Patent number: 8760152
    Abstract: A device for detecting the position of a gear step selector lever (2?) for selecting a gear setting of a motor vehicle has a signal transmitter (14) arranged at the gear step selector lever (2?) and a signal receiver (16) arranged spaced apart from the signal transmitter (14). The relative position between signal transmitter (14) and signal receiver (16) varies for different gear steps which can be selected. The signal transmitter (14) may be a magnet and the signal receiver (16) may be a triaxial Hall sensor system, designed so as to detect the relative position in three dimensions. Where the gear step selector lever (2?) has a ball joint (20), the signal transmitter (14) is arranged at one ball (22) of the ball joint (20). In this arrangement, a north-south-axis (18) of the magnet (14) does not run through a ball center (26). The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising a corresponding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: ECS Engineered Control Systems AG
    Inventor: Falk Uhlenbruck
  • Publication number: 20140165767
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gear shift assembly for shifting a transmission between a plurality of ranges. The assembly includes a user input adapted to be moved to induce a shift between two of the plurality of ranges and a shaft coupled to the user input. A movement of the user input induces a first movement of the shaft. The gear shift assembly also includes a first range member movably coupled to the shaft, where the first range member moves concomitantly with the shaft. A second range member is coupled to the shaft. The second range member also moves concomitantly with the shaft. The assembly further includes a control valve disposed in fluid communication with the second range member. The control valve is operably controlled in response to movement of the user input to direct fluid to the second range member to induce a second movement of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Deere and Company
    Inventors: John J. Gallen, Peter Wetrich, Mark J. Tieszen, Mark A. Herman
  • Publication number: 20140165768
    Abstract: An exemplary shifter may include a lever, at least a portion of which may extend along an axis. The lever may be movable along the axis from and to a neutral position. The exemplary shifter may also include a spring operatively attached to the lever. The spring may be configured to bias the lever to the neutral position. The exemplary shifter further may include a lever control assembly to substantially inhibit the lever from rotating about the axis. The lever control assembly generally may remain stationary with respect to the axial movement of the lever. The lever control assembly may include a bushing around at least a portion of the lever, and through which the lever is slidable in the axial direction. The lever control assembly may also include a first pair of pins and a second pair of pins, which may form a cross joint around the bushing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Carlos Fontana
  • Publication number: 20140144274
    Abstract: In a strength gate of a shift lever device, a shift hole is provided with an automatic transmission hole, a manual transmission hole, and a communication hole. The strength gate is provided with a peninsular portion that is adjacent to the automatic transmission hole, the manual transmission hole and the communication hole, and an opposing portion that is on the opposite side of the manual transmission hole to the peninsular portion. The peninsular portion is disposed to a front side with respect to the opposing portion. A reduction in the size of the peninsular portion along the vehicle left-right direction can accordingly be suppressed even if the strength gate is reduced in size along the vehicle left-right direction, thereby enabling a reduction in the strength of the peninsular portion to be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Masashi KATO, Kenichi KAKO, Hayato MORI, Kenji NAKANISHI, Reiji HIGUCHI, Yoshifumi IWASAKI, Kenta GOTO
  • Patent number: 8726756
    Abstract: It comprises a fixed part (10) and a knob (20), said knob (20) being arranged such that it can be moved relative to said fixed part (10) for shifting operations, and a haptic device (30) for providing the user with a shifting feeling when operating the knob (20). The haptic device (30) may act between the knob (20) and the fixed part (10) and it may be mounted inside the knob (20). The haptic device (30) comprises a contoured surface fitted inside the knob (20) (31) and a follower finger (32) is arranged spring biased in the fixed part (10) towards the contoured surface (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Fico Triad, S. A.
    Inventors: Javier Moreno Colom, Ferran Esquius I Rafat, Jordi Jornet Vidal
  • Patent number: 8720293
    Abstract: A shift lever device for operating a vehicle mounted transmission by pivoting operation of a shift lever about a predetermined axis is disclosed, and in this shift lever device, a housing is configured by a first housing member that is disposed on one side of the shift lever in a predetermined direction and a second housing member that assemblable to the first housing member along the predetermined direction from the side of the shift lever opposite to the side facing the first housing member with the shift lever therebetween, and the shift lever is axially supported inside the housing such that the shift lever is pivotable about an axis whose axial direction is the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masashi Kato, Yoshinobu Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8720294
    Abstract: A shifting apparatus capable of selecting any one of plural shift ranges according to a driver's manipulation intention and allowing the driver to additionally express his/her consecutive manipulation intention in a specific shift range may include: a main shaft, a shifting lever installed to slide in a straight line and pivot along the main shaft, and a gate plate limiting a reciprocation path of the shifting lever such that the shifting lever reciprocates on a single path while sliding in a straight line and pivoting along the main shaft. The gate plate may include a gate pattern having a plurality of shift ranges arranged in a line on the reciprocation path and formed in such a manner that a specific shift range among the plurality of shift ranges is discriminated from the other shift ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, SL Corporation
    Inventors: Eunsik Kim, Jongho Hong, Jeehyuck Choi, Jeongseon Min, Yangrae Cho, Chunnyung Heo, Kwanggi Lee, Dongjae Kim
  • Patent number: 8683888
    Abstract: A shift device for an automated or automatic transmission, in particular of a motor vehicle, has a manual selector lever which can be moved into the following stable selector lever positions: P, R, N and E and into four non-stable selector lever positions. Here, the stable selector lever positions are all arranged in alignment in a shift gate. Here, a stable selector lever position E is provided which is arranged in alignment with the stable selector lever positions in the shift gate and, here, is situated between two non-stable tilt positions +/?, which are arranged in alignment with the selector lever positions P, R and N, for step-by-step or multiple shifting, and in a transverse gate, which runs transversely with respect to the shift gate, between the two non-stable selector lever positions D and M arranged in the transverse gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Sickart, Michael Funk
  • Publication number: 20130340558
    Abstract: The subject invention provides for a shifter assembly for selecting one of a plurality of gears of a transmission of a vehicle. The shifter assembly includes a pin engaging a lever and one of a handle and a support and rotatable towards first and second ramps to define a first range of movement between the lever and one of the handle and the support. A first post and a second post extend from the lever. A first bushing is attached to the first post and a second bushing is attached to the second post. A pair of first and second engagement surfaces are disposed on the one of the handle and the support. The first bushing is sandwiched between the pair of first engagement surfaces and the second bushing is sandwiched between the pair of second engagement surfaces to define a second range of movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: Anders Kvarnström
  • Publication number: 20130247705
    Abstract: A shifting apparatus for a manual transmission which transmits shifting operations of a shift lever to the transmission and includes a control shaft rotatably and movably mounted to a control housing may include a control body which may be mounted to the control shaft and may be rotated with the control shaft or moved along an axial direction of the control shaft with the control shaft according to selecting operating or shifting operation, wherein a shift groove and a select groove may be formed to one side and the other side of the control body, and a stopper protruded on an inward side of the control housing corresponding to the control body for supporting the rotated control body along circumferential direction thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Youngbae Ryu
  • Publication number: 20130239731
    Abstract: A self-propelling work vehicle for forward and reverse drive includes a handle unit attached to the vehicle body for a first shift movement along a first direction with a neutral position and a second shift movement from the neutral position along a second direction intersecting the first direction. Forward drive speed or reverse drive speed is determined based on the first shift movement. A guide unit attached to the vehicle body includes a maximum forward speed guide member for defining a shift movement end of the handle unit determining a maximum forward speed of the forward drive speed, and a neutral guide member for guiding the second shift movement of the handle unit from the neutral position defined as a starting position. The maximum forward speed guide member and the neutral guide member are positionally adjustable independently of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Maxwell REICHARD, Masahiro YAMADA, Robert WALDEN
  • Publication number: 20130220055
    Abstract: An integrated multifunctional motor vehicle shifter is disclosed which comprises a selector connected to a surface in the interior of a motor vehicle. The selector is configured to rotate about an axis to select from a first group of driving characteristics, and the selector is also configured to move in at least one direction substantially perpendicular to the axis to select from a second group of driving characteristics. In one embodiment the selector can chose between both driving modes and transmission settings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: JOHN CURL
  • Patent number: 8485061
    Abstract: An operating device for selecting shift stages in a shift-by-wire gearbox. The device comprises a selector lever which is movable between a drive gear position and a park position, and a locking device with a spring-loaded detent pin and a lock-in gate. An actuator device, that moves the selector lever, comprises a disengagement device. A detent pin and a lock-in gate can be brought, via a disengagement device, from a first relative position, in which the detent pin engages a shifting track of the lock-in gate, into another relative position, in which the detent pin disengages the shifting track. The operating device facilitates simple and safe actuator-induced return of the selector lever, into the park position, and offers the driver reliable optic and tactile feedback about the actual shift condition of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignees: SF Friedrichshafen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kliemannel, Ludger Rake, Sascha Rosentreter, Harald Merklein, Andreas Giefer
  • Publication number: 20130145888
    Abstract: A support structure for a shift lever includes a rotation shaft coupled to the shift lever, a base plate including a support that pivotally supports the rotation shaft to tiltably support the shift lever, a restriction member coupled to the base plate, and a fixing portion that fixes the restriction member to the base plate. The base plate includes a guide that guides the coupling of the restriction member to the base plate. The rotation shaft includes a main protrusion, which protrudes from an end surface of the rotation shaft in an axial direction, and an auxiliary protrusion, which protrudes in the axial direction from the end surface by a smaller protrusion amount than the main protrusion. The restriction member is fixed in contact with the main protrusion to restrict movement of the rotary shaft in the axial direction in cooperation with the restriction member and the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicants: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD., KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Naomasa Sasaki, Daisuke Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20130118285
    Abstract: A shift assembly for a manual transmission includes a decoupled inertial mass. The decoupled mass is active only to assist and complete the shift (longitudinal shift lever movement) and is inactive during selection (lateral shift lever motion). A shift tower includes a stub shaft which is translated axially by a first shift cable through a first linkage. This motion corresponds to lateral motion of the shift lever (selection). A radial arm is rotated by a second shift cable through a second linkage. This motion corresponds to longitudinal motion (gear engagement) of the shift lever. A mass of dense material is mounted on the arm which is received about the stub shaft and connected thereto by a member in a slot that rotationally couples the arm and mass to the stub shaft but allows unrestricted (uncoupled) axial motion between the arm (and mass) and the stub shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Rogerio Martins Fernandes, Edmar Jose Pereira Gomes
  • Publication number: 20130074633
    Abstract: A gear shift lever apparatus includes: a first support shaft pivotally supported on an upper housing; a gear shift lever swingably supported via the first support shaft; an engagement member provided to the gear shift lever; a second support shaft pivotally supported on a lower housing in parallel to the first support shaft with at least part of the second support shaft overlapping the first support shaft in an axial direction thereof; a selector lever swingably supported via the second support shaft; an engagement receiver formed in the selector lever and being engageable with the engagement member in a swing direction thereof; and a bypass unit configured to prevent the selector lever from interfering with the first support shaft upon swinging of the gear shift lever due to a manipulation of the gear shift lever through engagement between the engagement member and the engagement receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: FUJI KIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Norihito SHIOJI
  • Patent number: 8402858
    Abstract: A gearshift device for a change-speed gearbox of a motor vehicle, includes, but is not limited to a gearshift lever guided movably between positions corresponding to different gears, on which a locking member is displaceable between a locking position in a first degree of freedom in which it blocks any movement of the gearshift lever from a forward gear position into a reverse gear position, and a release position in a first degree of freedom in which it allows movement from the forward gear position into the reverse gear position. The locking member on the gearshift lever is movable in a second degree of freedom between a normal position in which movement between release position and locking position is possible and an alignment position in which it fixes the gearshift lever free from play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Burger, Thorsten Hahn, Axel Geiberger
  • Publication number: 20130036849
    Abstract: An operating shift apparatus for a transmission may improve shift feeling using variable rotational inertia according to rotation. The operating shift apparatus for a transmission may include a control shaft is disposed on a transmission case, a select lever which is connected to the control shaft and selects a shift gear, a shift lever which is connected to the control shaft and engages the selected shift gear and a weight disposed to the shift lever for enhancing rotational inertia of the shift lever, wherein the shift lever and the weight are independently formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hongsuk Suh
  • Publication number: 20130036850
    Abstract: A remote shifter apparatus for use in a manual transmission equipped vehicle includes a base, a length adjustable shift stick, a transmission shift lever engaging fastener and a linkage directly coupling the stick to the fastener to translate shift stick movement to the transmission lever. The shift stick is free to rotate laterally and longitudinally relative to the vehicle drive axis and about a ball joint to cause the transmission lever to be moved through its full range of motion for each gear. A mechanism is provided for enabling adjustment of the length of the shift stick to accommodate selective variations in throw length. The ball joint frictional relationship between shift stick and base is also selectively adjustable to provide a customizable shift feel to improve feedback to the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Colin J. Corey, William Washburn, Craig Corey
  • Patent number: 8371188
    Abstract: A transmission control assembly having a housing and a bracket pivotally coupled to the housing for movement along a first path. A yoke is selectively coupled to the bracket for concurrent movement with the bracket along the first path. The yoke is also selectively pivotal about a second pivot axis substantially transverse to the first pivot axis for movement along a second path. A tactile device is supported by the bracket and engageable with the housing. The tactile device moves about the bracket during the movement of the bracket along the first path. A locking mechanism is coupled between the bracket and the yoke. The locking mechanism moves between an unlocked position when the yoke is coupled to the bracket for allowing movement of the tactile device and a locked position engaged with the tactile device when the yoke moves along the second path for preventing movement of the tactile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kongsberg Driveline Systems I, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Bortolon, William McDonald
  • Patent number: 8347752
    Abstract: An actuating device for transmitting shift commands to an automatic gearbox of a motor vehicle. The actuating device comprises a selector lever which is movable in a selector lane between an automatic shift lane and a sequential shift lane, a shift carriage for transmitting the shift commands to a gearbox transmission element, a separating device for separating the force transmission between the selector lever and the shift carriage, and a locking device for blocking the selector lever in at least one selector lever position. The locking device is set up to block the shift carriage. The shift carriage can be blocked not only in the shift-lock positions but also in the position of the shift carriage which corresponds to the selector lane position of the selector lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Carsten Weifels
  • Patent number: 8333128
    Abstract: An electronic selector lever module for generating gear shifting signals for an automatic transmission of a vehicle. The swivel motion of the gear selector lever, within a main shifting path, is transformed into rotational motion for an angle sensor. The sensor is positioned on a printed circuit board and is actuated by a rotor. To guide the rotor relative to the angle sensor, the rotor either surrounds a rounded part of the printed circuit board or surrounds a rotor guidance which is mounted on the printed circuit board. The mechanical linking point is a short sleeve at a slider, which both belong to the rotor, needed for the shifting path motion, and which also drive the tilting lever for the transverse motion. The slider can be moved, relative to the rotor, along rails, either radially and directly at the rotor, or tangentially to the pivot point of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Schober, Thomas Deichler, Hans-Ludwig Gotz
  • Publication number: 20120291581
    Abstract: A vehicle shifter 1 comprises a shifter body 2, a shift lever 3, an interlocking member 4, and a selecting return spring 5 serving as a biasing member. The interlocking member 4 is configured such that a front end thereof is pivotally supported by the shifter body 2, and a rear end thereof is swingingly movable around the front end as a swing center during a manual operation for moving the shift lever 3 in a selecting direction. The selecting return spring 5 is configured to pull the rear end of the interlocking member 4 toward a rear end thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: DELTA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takushi Ujimoto