Spherical Mount (e.g., Ball And Socket) Patents (Class 74/473.34)
  • Patent number: 10408639
    Abstract: A shifting device with two positive-locking shifting element halves includes a positive connection between the shifting element halves that is able to be established or released. The respective prevailing operating states of the shifting element halves are determined through a sensor device. The surface areas of an encoder contour relative to a measuring device are formed in a convex or concave manner, whereas a perpendicular gap between the surface areas of the encoder contour and a permanent magnet, starting from a joint area between the surface areas in the direction of an end area of the surface areas increases or decreases in each case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Hakspiel, Thomas Kerdraon, Andreas P. Friedrich
  • Publication number: 20150107393
    Abstract: A gear shift lever apparatus of an electronic manual transmission for a vehicle may include a spherical gear shift lever installed in a console to be rotated in leftward and rightward selecting directions and in forward and rearward shifting directions, a lever guide unit installed in the spherical gear shift lever and the console, for guiding rotation of the spherical gear shift lever when the spherical gear shift lever is rotated in the selecting directions and the shifting directions, and a lever sensor unit installed in the spherical gear shift lever and the console, for detecting a neutral position and/or a selected gear shaft stage of the spherical gear shift lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Eun Sik KIM, Jeong Seop Lee
  • 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: 8468905
    Abstract: An operating device with an operating lever for a control valve includes: an input member connected to the operating lever; an output member connected to a slide spool of the control valve; and a swing link for relaying a displacement of the input member to the output member. The swing link is swingable about a swing shaft center on one end and is connected to the input and output members. A latch portion in the swing link is farther than a connecting point with the output member from the swing shaft center. A lock body is switchably operable between a lock position and a release position, and at the lock position, engaged with the latch portion at a neutral position to limit a swing of the swing link about the swing shaft center by which the control valve is locked at a neutral state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshige Maezawa
  • Patent number: 8375821
    Abstract: An actuating device comprising an actuating element that is moved by a ball stud relative to a base comprising a ball socket. The actuating element can move relative to the base, within at least one pivot plane, between at least two shift positions. At least one recess of the ball socket has an elastic surface area which is flexible in the direction along the radius of the ball socket. The flexible elastic surface area has a centrally arranged pressure contact element, which bears against the joint ball. In a neutral position of the elastic surface area, the contact surface of the pressure contact element is at a distance away from the mid-point of the ball socket which is smaller than the radius of the joint ball, such that it possible to produce actuating devices which are robust in operation and free from play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Berthold gr. Kohorst
  • Patent number: 8328683
    Abstract: A transmission assembly for an electric vehicle includes a transmission having an input shaft, an output shaft, and a gear train coupled between the input shaft and the output shaft. A motor includes an output coupled to the input shaft of the transmission. A motor controller is electrically connected to the motor and controls a rotating speed of the motor. A gear controller is electrically connected to the motor controller. The gear controller outputs a speed request signal to the motor controller, and the motor controller controls the rotating speed of the motor based on the speed request signal, allowing smooth engagement between the gear train and the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: National Pingtung University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Chyuan-Yow Tseng, Chiu-Feng Lin, Li-Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 7992463
    Abstract: A shifter for an automatic transmission has a gate plate with a main gate and a sub-gate. A shift lever has a spherical portion and is movable along the main gate and the sub-gate. A switching member enables switching the automatic transmission to a manual operation. The switching member includes a body held in a swingable manner, and a lever holding section integrally formed with the body to rotatably hold the spherical portion. The body is adapted, to be uncoupled from the shift lever so as to place the automatic transmission in a manual mode when the shift lever is swung from the main gate into the sub-gate about the spherical portion and to be coupled to the shift lever so as to return the automatic transmission to an automatic mode when the shift lever is returned from the sub-gate to the main gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mizuho Ueta, Takumi Kusayama
  • Patent number: 7900534
    Abstract: A shifter for a vehicle transmission has a lever with a base end. A holder holds the base end of the lever rotatably in first and second perpendicular directions. A shaft is coupled to the base end of the lever. A shift-cable connection has a shaft insertion hole and is held swingably by the holder. The shift-cable connection is connectable with a shift cable connected to a transmission. The follower shaft has a distal end connectable with a selection cable connected to the transmission, and is inserted into the shaft insertion hole to allow the distal end to protrude therefrom. Thus, the shaft swings when the lever is tilted in the first direction to press an inner surface of the shaft insertion hole to swing the shift-cable connection, and moves inside and along the shaft insertion hole when the lever is tilted in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takumi Kusayama
  • Publication number: 20100307277
    Abstract: A shifter for an automatic transmission has a gate plate with a main gate and a sub-gate. A shift lever has a spherical portion and is movable along the main gate and the sub-gate. A switching member enables switching the automatic transmission to a manual operation. The switching member includes a body held in a swingable manner, and a lever holding section integrally formed with the body to rotatably hold the spherical portion. The body is adapted, to be uncoupled from the shift lever so as to place the automatic transmission in a manual mode when the shift lever is swung from the main gate into the sub-gate about the spherical portion and to be coupled to the shift lever so as to return the automatic transmission to an automatic mode when the shift lever is returned from the sub-gate to the main gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: DELTA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mizuho Ueta, Takumi Kusayama
  • Publication number: 20100031766
    Abstract: An actuating device comprising an actuating element that is moved by a ball stud relative to a base comprising a ball socket. The actuating element can move relative to the base, within at least one pivot plane, between at least two shift positions. At least one recess of the ball socket has an elastic surface area which is flexible in the direction along the radius of the ball socket. The flexible elastic surface area has a centrally arranged pressure contact element, which bears against the joint ball. In a neutral position of the elastic surface area, the contact surface of the pressure contact element is at a distance away from the mid-point of the ball socket which is smaller than the radius of the joint ball, such that it possible to produce actuating devices which are robust in operation and free from play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Berthold gr. Kohorst
  • Publication number: 20090223318
    Abstract: A gear shift assembly includes a base, a cylindrical collar extending from the base, a shift rod having generally spherical tip at a first end thereof for engaging a corresponding socket of a transmission, inner and outer gimbal spheres mounted on the shift rod and supported in the collar whereby the outer truncated gimbal sphere may pivot in the collar in a first direction when the shift rod is moved in the first direction and wherein the inner gimbal sphere is supported in the outer truncated gimbal sphere whereby the inner gimbal sphere may pivot inside the outer truncated gimbal sphere in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction when the shift rod is moved in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventor: Claudio R. Ballard
  • Patent number: 7578215
    Abstract: The position of a lever is adjustable relative to its bearing via a locking clip that is arranged opposite to a catch. The lever is arranged in a bearing shell with a ball therein in which the lever is arranged so as to be displaceable with the catch attached. The locking clip is guided in the walls of the ball, and the locking of the locking clip and catch in the closed state of the bearing shell forms a positive engagement. The adjustable ball bearing apparatus for shift levers and selector levers compensates for tolerances in the installation of a lever between the ball, the bearing shell, and the axis of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Teleflex Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Knagge
  • Patent number: 7523683
    Abstract: A shift lever mechanism (10) comprises a housing (12), having a longitudinal axis (14), and a lever (16), having a first end (18), a second end (20) and a longitudinal axis (22). The mechanism (10) further comprises pivoting means (24) adapted to facilitate pivoting of the lever (16) into predetermined positions. The mechanism (10) further comprises lever position indication means (78) operable to indicate disposal of the lever in one or more positions, and resilient means (92), operable to provide resistance to displacement of the lever (16) into a predetermined restricted position. The pivoting means (24) is attached to the lever (16) and is disposed in a retaining cup (38), being operable to pivot therein. The retaining cup (38) is disposed in the housing (12). The lever position indication means (78) and the resilient means being disposed on the pivoting means (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Graeme Andrew Jackson
  • Patent number: 7159486
    Abstract: A joint arrangement in a shift mechanism for a motor vehicle includes a coupling element cooperating with a gear shift lever, a mounting element joinable to a gear lever carrier, and a damping element arranged between the coupling element and the mounting element. The damping element includes cooperating first and second slide surfaces, which, by a relative movement, damp vibrations and substantially prevent vibrations from being transmitted between the mounting element and the coupling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagner AB
    Inventors: Torsten Thoreson, Marian Gruia
  • Patent number: 6951151
    Abstract: A manual transmission shifting device in which a shifting force is transmitted only by a first rod from a shift lever to a transmission and the shifting force transmitted to the first rod is supplied to the transmission via a simple mechanical link system, such that the number of components is reduced, thereby improving the efficiency of transmitting the shifting force to a transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seung-Doon Ryu
  • Patent number: 6820515
    Abstract: A handling mechanism of a gearshift which enables the gearshift to shift into reverse, neutral, first-speed, second-speed, third-speed, and fourth-speed, and fifth-speed in sequential order includes a gearshift coupled to a shift fork of a transmission-handling mechanism of a manual transmission; a moving mechanism for the gearshift allowing it to move in an H-shaped configuration and an operation mechanism which enables a vehicle operator to shift the gears. The gearshift handling mechanism also includes an operation lever moves in a single plane, an auto-return mechanism which causes the operation lever to return to its initial position, and a rotation mechanism for engaging the gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Inventor: Shinji Ikeya
  • Publication number: 20040074329
    Abstract: The invention relates to a joint arrangement (1) in a shift mechanism for a motor vehicle, comprising a coupling element (2) cooperating with a gear lever (11), a mounting element (3) joinable to a gear lever carrier (17), and a damping element (4) arranged between the coupling element (2) and the mounting element (3). The damping element (4) comprises cooperating first and second slide surfaces (18, 19), which, by a relative movement, damp vibrations and substantially prevent vibrations from being transmitted between the mounting element (3) and the coupling element (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: Torsten Thoreson
  • Patent number: 6694838
    Abstract: A shifting device for the electronic selection and/or control of the gears of a vehicle transmission is provided with a shift knob and at least one shifting mechanism. The shifting mechanism has a gear selection device. The shifting mechanism is mounted pivotably around at least one axis. A converting device converts the mechanical shifting movements into optical and/or electric and/or hydraulic signals (shift commands). A transmitting device transmits the signals. A bracket (8) is provided for the stationary positioning of the shift knob (1) in the interior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventor: Metin Ersoy
  • Publication number: 20030213326
    Abstract: A manual transmission shifter includes a shift lever pivotally supported on a base for multi-axial pivoting movement, and a bell crank pivotally supported on the base and operatively connected to the shift lever by a pivot/slide connection. Two cables are operatively attached to the shift lever and the bell crank, respectively, for shifting the transmission. A pivot/slide connection includes an aperture in the bell crank with grooves, a bushing operably mounted in the grooves for both linear sliding and rotational movement on the grooves, and an arm on the shift lever that telescopingly engages the bushing. A top cover compresses the flat spring between the top cover and the socket. The shift lever includes arms that attach to bushing blocks, which engage the flat spring so that when the shift lever is pivoted in the one direction, the associated opposing portion of the spring(s) biases the shift lever back toward a centered position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Brian W. Fett, Nathan J. Schout
  • Publication number: 20030140723
    Abstract: A bearing sphere for a gear shift lever is provided, preferably for a transmission for motor vehicles, in which the bearing sphere is disposed around the shift rod and the selection finger. The bearing sphere consists of two half-shells, which are releasably connected with the shift rod, the selection finger, and one another. Each half-shell has at least one depression for the shift rod, at least one claw element around the shift rod, an opening to hold an opposite claw element, at least one centering pin, and at least one hole for a centering pin, as well as an opening for the selection finger. The bearing sphere has the advantage that it no longer has to be produced on the gear shift lever using the injection-molding process, but rather can be affixed so as to be releasably connected with the shift rod, with little effort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Teleflex Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Carsten Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 6553859
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power shift device of a transmission for a vehicle which includes a connection link installed between a transmission lever and a power shift for transferring a select and shift operations of the transmission lever to the transmission through the power shift in such a manner that the connection link is rotated in the radius direction when the select operation of the transmission lever is performed, and is forwardly and backwardly moved in the axial direction when the shift operation of the transmission lever is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Hurn-Kwan Ha, Sung-Yong Pyo
  • Publication number: 20020148319
    Abstract: Disclosed are a transmission lever unit for vehicle comprising: a single transmission lever for operating the transmission unit; a first lever member swingable around a first pivot and having a second pivot; and a second lever member integrally attached to a base end portion of the transmission lever and swingable around the second pivot orthogonal to the first pivot, the transmission lever unit being adapted to select a desired combination of gear trains of first and second systems of the transmission through independent connecting means of the first and second systems by an operation of the lever, wherein the first connecting means is adapted to operate by swing operation of the transmission lever around the first pivot, and the second connecting means is adapted to operate by swing operation of the transmission lever around the second pivot, and a mounting structure of a coil spring held by two members disposed such that at least part of the members are substantially parallel to each other, for elastically
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventor: Akio Miguchi
  • Patent number: 6435054
    Abstract: A selector device for a change-speed gearbox. The selector device includes a remote selector rod for selecting the gears, a flexible-actuating linkage for changing over between the gears, and a coupling linkage for accepting reaction forces which are provided between the change-speed gearbox and a manual selector lever and its bearing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Friedrich Duckeck, Günter Wörner
  • Patent number: 6321616
    Abstract: A gear catching for a shift transmission in a motor vehicle including a rotatably mounted shift lever and bearing. The catching includes a substantially spherical body having at least one cam at the shift lever or a bearing shell enclosing it. The cam catches in a catch cam. The catch cam or cam is constructed in a springing manner and, due to catching, gives the driver a clear sense of shifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: United Parts FHS Automobil Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Hohmeier, Arnd Bürger, Grant A. Webb
  • Patent number: 6289760
    Abstract: A mounting structure of a change lever in a vehicle constructed and arranged to absorb an allowance between a housing and a ball rotatively pivoting a lower end of the change lever to rule out generation of noise and to prevent leakage of lubricant coated on a frictional part located therebetween, thereby improving a lever-shifting feeling, the change lever having a change lever knob thereon and a ball thereunder and accommodated in a housing forming a spherical inner space therein for rotation, the structure comprising a support member integrally formed at a lower end of the change lever with a cylindrical upper body unit inserted into a change lever and a spherical inner lower body unit having its diameter expanded at a lower part of the upper body unit and its upper surface adhered to a lower surface of the ball and its lower surface adhered to an inner surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Min-Soo Park
  • Patent number: 6237435
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the operational states of motor vehicle gears including a console, a lever mounted in the console whereby the lever can be articulated between a plurality of maneuverable positions corresponding to the operational states of the motor vehicle gears, the console comprising a housing and including a first groove and at least one track on at least one of the inner surfaces of the housing, a first support defining a first pivot hinge for the lever including a ball and socket joint whereby the first support permits the lever to pivot about an unlimited number of spatial pivot axes with respect to the housing, a second support defining a second pivot hinge, the first pivot hinge and the second pivot hinge defining a first pivot axis, whereby the lever can be maneuvered about the first pivot axis, and a third support having a longitudinal axis, the second support including a first pin mounted along the first pivot axis and prestressed toward the first groove, and the third support including
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive AB
    Inventors: Anders Grönhage, Kenneth Skogward
  • Patent number: 6230579
    Abstract: A shifter assembly (10) for automatic transmissions is disclosed having a base (12) and a detent member (14) supported by the base (12). The detent member (14) defines an automatic (18) and manual (20) shift path and a plurality of gear positions (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34) within the shift paths (18, 20). A transmission control arm (60) is pivotally connected to the base (12) for movement about an axis (A) and is adapted for connection to a linkage for operating an automatic transmission. The shifter assembly (10) also has a shift lever (42) movable through the gear positions (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34). The assembly (10) is characterized by including a pivotal connection (80) interconnecting the control arm (60) and the shift lever (42) for supporting the shift lever (42) on the control arm (60) and pivoting the shift lever (42) relative to the control arm (60) for changing between the shift paths (18, 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Teleflex Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael V. Reasoner, Klemens J. Meyer
  • Patent number: 6216551
    Abstract: An improved transfer lever for a 4WD vehicle is arranged such that the position of a knob attachment piece remains the same even when used with transmissions of two different lengths. The difference between the two lengths is a distance D. This retains the knob attachment piece in an optimal shift position can be attained. The transfer lever is bent, proximate its base, at an angle that places the knob attachment piece a distance D/2 from a centerline of its base. The transfer lever is installable in two orientations 180 degrees apart. When the longer transmission is used, the transfer lever is installed to position the knob attachment piece D/2 forward of the centerline, and when the shorter transmission is used, the transfer lever is installed to position the knob attachment piece D/2 rearward of the centerline, whereby the knob attachment piece is positioned in the same fore and aft location regardless of which transmission is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Michitaka Iwamoto, Yasushi Arai
  • Patent number: 6205880
    Abstract: In a gearshift device for change-speed gearboxes of motor vehicles, having a shifter shaft (1) movable both axially and radially in the gearbox housing and engaging at one end with an actuating lever arrangement (3) with which in turn corresponding ends of a gearshift linkage or of Bowden gearshift cables engage, substantially parallel to the shifter shaft (1) a supporting pin (6) projecting from the gearbox housing or from a closing plate (2) and having a ball-and-socket joint (7) with only two degrees of twisting freedom is provided, on which is supported a three-armed actuating lever (8), the three arms (9, 10 and 11) of which are disposed perpendicular to each other in the manner of orthogonal axes of coordinates, one of said arms (9) being connected by way of a ball-and-socket joint (12) to a pin (4) projecting radially from the shifter shaft (1) and the two other said arms (10 and 11) being connected by way of their ball-and-socket joints (13 and 14) to the corresponding ends of a gearshift linkage or o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hartmut Deidewig, Jean-Pierre Chazotte, Matthias Doelling
  • Patent number: 6202503
    Abstract: Arrangement for manual resetting of the mutual positional setting of an upper lever element (6) and a lower lever element (8) connected articulatedly to the latter, which lever elements together form a two-part gear lever (2) supported articulatedly in a vehicle. The lower end of the upper lever element (6) has fastened in it a guide sleeve (18) which is supported for rotation on a supporting spindle mounted in a holder yoke (22) which is fastened in the upper end of the lower lever element (8) and which has sidewalls (24, 26) and a reference wall (28) which not only connects these sidewalls but also has a position fixing portion (30). Between the lever elements (6, 8) there is a locking mechanism (32) which normally prevents mutual movement of the lever elements (6, 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Scania CV Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Lars Miller
  • Patent number: 6192771
    Abstract: An operating system for a vehicle transmission has a shifting lever which, for the shifting between gear ratios, can be swivelled in one shifting channel respectively about a shifting axle essentially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and, for selecting between different shifting channels, can be swivelled in at least one selecting channel about a selecting axle essentially in the transverse direction of the vehicle. A motion transmission connects the shifting lever with at least one transmission control shaft of a vehicle transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michail Gouselis