Abstract: A shifter mechanism includes a shift lever movable along a shift path and a detent assembly. The detent assembly includes a detent profile defining a plurality of gear positions, a bore, a detent plunger located at least partially within the bore, a spring member resiliently biasing the detent plunger into engagement with the detent profile, a split bushing located between the detent plunger and the bore, and a spacer located between the spring member and the bushing. The bushing is located between the spacer and an abutment of the detent plunger, and the spring member is located between the spacer and an abutment of the bore. Contact surfaces between the bushing and the abutment and between the bushing and the spacer are each angled so that a force of the spring member automatically expands the bushing to remove any free-play formed between the detent plunger and the bore.

Abstract: A shifter mechanism includes a housing, a yoke assembly having a shifter lever and pivotably secured to the housing along a shift path, and a gate cover secured to the housing and forming a slot. The shifter lever extends through the slot to define the shift path. The gate cover is a unitary component formed separate from the housing. The gate cover provides a gate profile and a secondary detent profile. By changing the gate cover alone, a shifter mechanism with different shifter lever travel or a different type of shifter mechanism can be obtained.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a shift lever includes a detent member movable along a path, a stopper member movable between a locking position to block movement of the detent member and an unlocking position to permit movement of the detent member, and a cam member carried by the stopper member and pivotable relative to the stopper member. In one embodiment, a spring member resiliently biases the stopper member toward the locking position. An electromagnetic solenoid permits relative movement between the cam member and the stopper member when unenergized and prevents relative movement between the cam member and the stopper member when energized. The cam member applies a force to the stopper member to move the stopper member toward the unlocking position in response to movement of the detent member along the predetermined path when the electromagnetic solenoid is energized.

Abstract: An electric actuator for an automatic transmission includes an adapter to transmit rotary motion between the adapter and the automatic transmission. An electric motor has an output shaft operably connected to the adapter by a gear set which includes a ring gear. The gear set reduces speed and increases torque supplied by the output shaft of the electric motor and applied to the adapter. A release mechanism is operably connected to the gear set and includes a lock member movable between a first position wherein the lock member is in engagement with the ring gear to lock the ring gear against rotary motion in both directions and a second position wherein the lock member is out of engagement with the ring gear to permit rotary motion of the ring gear in both directions.

Abstract: An automatic transmission shifter assembly comprises a shift lever support configured for attachment to a vehicle, a shift lever mounted to the shift lever support to shift between transmission gear settings; a brake transmission system interlock (BTSI) comprising a shift lever control member controllable by actuation of a solenoid or other powered actuator to selectively block the shift lever from moving out of the PARK position. An electronic ignition switch, an ignition actuator and an ignition key interlock are mounted to the shift lever support. The ignition key interlock comprises an interlock member controllable by the ignition actuator to selectively block the solenoid from moving the shift lever control member to the unblock position.

Abstract: An electric actuator for an automatic transmission includes an adapter to transmit rotary motion between the adapter and the transmission. An electric motor has an output shaft operably connected the adapter by a gear set which includes a ring gear. A release mechanism includes a solenoid which selectively moves a lock member. In a first position, the lock member engages the ring gear to lock the ring gear so that the adapter is rotated by rotary motion of the output shaft and the adapter rotates to a predetermined zone about a desired gear position. In a second position, the lock member is out of engagement with the ring gear to permit rotation of the ring gear so that the adapter is rotated by internal forces of the transmission and the adapter automatically self-aligns to the exact desired gear position when the adapter is within the predetermined zone.

Abstract: A shift lever device for a motor vehicle is disclosed with a shift lever being operated in a longitudinal and transverse direction. A stop device is disposed in either a vertically or horizontally and vertically oriented track adjacent the shift lever so that in one condition, the shift lever is prevented from movement out of the P shift range and in another condition, the shift lever is permitted to move from the P shift range to one of the N shift range, the R shift range and the 3 D shift range. The shift lever is also prevented from “N” position into “R” position, if the vehicle speed is too high by a reverse gear lock-out device.

Abstract: A shift lever device for a motor vehicle is disclosed with a shift lever being operated in a longitudinal and transverse direction. A stop device is disposed in either a vertically or horizontally and vertically oriented track adjacent the shift lever so that in one condition, the shift lever is prevented from movement out of the P shift range and in another condition, the shift lever is permitted to move from the P shift range to one of the N shift range, the R shift range and the 3 D shift range. The shift lever is also prevented from “N” position into “R” position, if the vehicle speed is too high by a reverse gear lock-out device.

Abstract: A shift-by-wire shifter assembly is provided. The shift-by-wire shifter assembly includes a shift lever, a sensor, a cable bracket, and a lever lock. The shift lever is movable between shift position locations. The sensor is operative to detect the shift position of the shift lever and generate an electrical signal corresponding to the shift position location of the shift lever. The cable bracket has a transmission shift cable mount. The lever lock is operative in a first condition to releasably interlock the shift lever to the cable bracket for movement of the cable bracket with the shift lever between shift position locations, and has a second condition in which the shift lever is movable between shift position locations independently of the cable bracket.

Abstract: A shifter system includes an automatic transmission shifter lever movable along a first shift path in forward and rearward directions and a transfer case shifter lever movable along a second shift path in the forward and rearward directions. The automatic transmission shifter lever is also movable in lateral directions to provide an auto stick option. The second shift path is laterally adjacent the first shift path a short distance to reduce space. An interlock mechanism is provided to prevent contact between the shifter levers. The interlock mechanism includes a blocker pivotable between a locking position wherein the blocker limits movement of the transfer case shifter lever along the second shift path and an unlocking position wherein the blocker does not limit movement of the transfer case shifter lever along the second shift path.

Abstract: A transmission shifter for controlling a transmission of a motor vehicle by a cable has a base, a shift lever mounted on the base and pivotable along a shift path, the shift lever having a guidance opening, and a cable attachment bracket having a tail and adapted to receive a transmission cable. The cable attachment bracket is adjustably attached to the shift lever so that the cable attachment bracket may be adjusted with respect to the shift lever over an adjustment distance. To reduce vibrational noise, the tail is laterally captivated within the guidance opening. For ease of assembly, preferably the cable attachment bracket is attached to the shift lever free of the pivot pin.

Abstract: A shifter system includes an automatic transmission shifter lever movable along a first shift path in forward and rearward directions and a transfer case shifter lever movable along a second shift path in the forward and rearward directions. The automatic transmission shifter lever is movable in lateral directions to provide an auto stick option. The second shift path is laterally adjacent the first shift path a short distance to reduce space. An interlock mechanism is provided to prevent contact between the shifter levers. The interlock mechanism includes a blocker pivotable between a locking position wherein the blocker prevents movement of the transfer case shifter lever to a first portion of the second shift path from a second portion of the second shift path and an unlocking position wherein the blocker permits movement of the transfer case shifter lever to the first portion from the second shift path from the second portion of the second shift path.

Abstract: An upper and lower lever type shift assembly is disclosed, suitable for use as a shifter for a motor vehicle. The shift assembly has a housing with a top opening and a side opening, an upper lever adapted to be connected to a shifter knob, a lower lever and a pivot block connecting the upper lever and the lower lever, wherein the pivot block is pivotably mounted in the housing, and a pivot cover cooperating with the housing to form a bearing surface for the pivot block proximate the side opening, wherein the pivot cover is connected to the housing by snap fit. The bearing surfaces cooperate with a pocket in the housing to support the pivot block. Such upper and lower type shift assemblies can be used to control, for example, transfer cases or transmissions of motor vehicles.

Abstract: A transmission shifter is disclosed for controlling a transmission of a motor vehicle by a cable in some instances and an electronic control in other instances. The transmission shifter has a base, a cable attachment bracket mounted on the base and pivotable about a first axis, and a shift lever pivotably mounted on the base. In a first segment of the first shift path the shift lever is movable in a cable-actuation mode and the shift lever urges the cable attachment bracket to pivot about the first axis, and in a second segment of the first shift path the shift lever is movable in an electronic-actuation mode and the shift lever does not urge the cable attachment bracket to pivot bout the first axis.