GB2237611A

GB2237611A - Selector device of an automatic transmission for a motor vehicle wherein rotation of a manual spool valve is prevented

Info

Publication number: GB2237611A
Application number: GB9022712A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tokuju Kuji; Tadao Fujisawa
Original assignee: Fuji Jukogyo KK; Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Subaru Corp
Priority date: 1989-10-28
Filing date: 1990-10-18
Publication date: 1991-05-08
Also published as: GB9022712D0; JPH0365056U; DE4034191A1; JPH0810708Y2

Abstract

An actuating lever (10) is operatively connected to a select lever so as to be rotated about a shaft. An engaging pin (13) is projected from the actuating lever, and a groove (16a, 16b) is formed on a spool (15) of a manual valve. The engaging pin is slidably engaged with the groove. A stopper plate (17) is rotatably mounted on the pin. A part of the stopper plate is slidably engaged with the groove so as to keep a smooth engagement in all operational ranges, so that the spool is prevented from revolving about the axis thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

1 Selector Device of an Automatic Transmission for a Motor Vehicle The

present invention relates to a selector device of an automatic transmission for motor vehicles.

Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open 62-100524 discloses the selector device for selecting an operation range of the automatic transmission. In the device, an outer lever is provided to be rotated by operating a shift lever for shifting a spool of a manual shift valve (manual valve).

Fig. 7 shows a conventional shifting device for the manual valve. The device comprises an actuating lever 1 rotated by operating a selector lever (not shown). The actuating lever 1 has an engaging pin 2 provided on a lower portion thereof. A spool 3 of the manual valve 3a has a vertical groove 4 formed on a periphery thereof to be engaged with the engaging pin 2.

in operation, when the actuating lever 1 is pivoted about a shaft, the engaging pin 2 engaged with the groove 4 is moved in an arc as shown by an arrow. If the actuating lever 1 is pivoted to an end position- 1 (1st gear locked) or P(parking), the engaging pin 2 is engaged with an upper portion of the groove 4 as shown in Fig. 8a. In the position of Fig. 8a, the lowest periphery of the pin 2 is located above the axis of the spool 3. in the 2 position, the pin 2 can not restrict the rotation of the spool 3 about the axis in the counterclockwise direction. Therefore, the spool may revolve about the axis as shown in Fig. 8b. In the condition shown in Fig. 8b, a contact point of the engaging pin 2 with an inner wall of the groove 4 is spaced from the axis of the spool 3. Consequently, the spool 3 may be bent by the pin 2, which renders movement of the spool 3 difficult.

If the diameter of the manual valve 3a or the length of the actuating lever 1 is increased to solve the problem the device becomes large in size.

An object of the present invention is to provide a selector device which ensures smooth shifting of a spool of manual valve, thereby enabling an increase of operational ranges of a transmission.

According to the present invention, there is provided a selector device for an automatic transmission comprising a selector lever, an actuating lever operatively connected to said selector lever so as to be rotated about a shaft, an engaging pin lateraly projected from said actuating lever, and a groove formed on a spool of a manual valve and slidably engaged with said pin, a stopper plate rotatably mounted on said pin, and slidably engaged with said groove so as to prevent rotation of the spool about its axis.

1 r 3 In an aspect of the invention, the groove is transversely provided in the spool, and the stopper plate has a front plate engaged with the groove and a rear plate rotatably mounted on the pin.

The other objects and features of this invention will become understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a selector device for an automatic transmission according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the selector device in the automatic transmission; Fig. 3 is a rear view showing a main part of the device; Fig. 4 is a side view showing the main part of the device; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along a line V-V of Fig. 4; Figs. 6a and 6b are perspective views showing stopper plates, respectively; Fig. 7 is a side view showing a main part of a conventional device; and 4 Figs. 8a and 8b, are sectional views taken along a line Viii - V= of Fig. 7, respectively.

Referring to Fig. 1, a selector lever 5 is providdd adjacent a driver's seat, and has seven shifting positions 1, 2, 3, D, N, R and P which represent operational ranges of a transmission such as 1- range (1st hold), 2-range (2nd hold), 3-range (3rd hold), D-range (driving), N-range (neutral), R-range (reverse) and P-range (parking), respectively. The selector lever 5 is connected to an automatic transmission 7 through a push/pull cable 6.

Referring to Fig. 2, a selector device in the transmission 7 has a shaft 11 rotatably supported in the transmission. A range select lever 8, a detent plate 9 and an actuating lever 10 are securely mounted on the shaft 11. The push/pull cable 6 is connected to the range select lever 8 so that the detent plate 9 and the actuating lever 10 are rotated corresponding to the shifting operation of the selector lever 5.

The detent plate 9 has a sector shape about the shaft 11 and has seven indentations 9a corresponding to the shifting positions. As shown in Fig. 3, a spring plate 12 has a roller 12a to be engaged with the indentations 9a, thereby providing click positioning operation for the selector lever 5.

1 t Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the actuating lever 10 has an engaging pin 13 secured at a lower end of the lever 10 and lateraly projected from the lever 10. The pin 13 is slidably engaged with side walls 16a of a transverse groove 16 formed in a spool 15 of a manual valve 20. An inverted U-shaped stopper plate 17 is rotatably mounted on the engaging pin 13 at a rear plate 17a. More particularly, as shown in Fig. 6a, the rear plate 17a has opposite arcuated portions 17c which are slidably engaged with an annular groove 13a of the pin 13. A front plate 17b of the stopper plate 17 is abutted on the front end of the pin 13 and extends to a lower position than that of the pin 13. The front plate 17b is slidably engaged with the groove 16 and adjacent to a bottom 16b.

Fig. 6b shows another example of the stopper plate.

The stopper plate 17 has a wide rear plate 17d having a hole 17e which is rotatably engaged with the pin 13.

Describing the operation, when the selector lever 5 is operated to shift the position, the movement of the selector lever is transmitted to the lever 10 through the push/pull cable 6, the range select lever 8, and the shaft 11, thereby pivoting the lever 10. The engaging pin 13 moves in an arc as shown by an arrow of Fig. 4. The engaging pin 13 pushes the side walls 16a of the groove 16 of the spool 15, so that the spool 15 is axially reciprocated. In accordance with the movement of the spool 15, oil passages of the manual 6 valve 20 in a control valve unit 14 (Fig. 3) are changed for controlling the transmission.

During reciprocation of the spool 15, the front plate 17b of the stopper plate 17 abuts on the bottom 16b of the groove 16. Thus, even if the lever 10 is positioned at the position 1-range or P-range, the front plate 17b does not remove from the bottom 16b, so that the revolution of the spool 15 about the axis is prevented. Consequently, the spool 15 is not bent by the engaging pin 13, and hence the spool 15 is smoothly shifted.

In accordance with the present invention, a stopper plate is provided on the engaging pin of the actuating lever for preventing the spool of the manual lever from revolving.

Consequently, if the rotating angle of the actuating lever is increased to increase the operational range of the transmission, the spool is not revolved, thereby ensuring the smooth shifting of the transmission.

While the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

7 h

Claims

1. A selector device for an automatic transmission comprising a selector leverj, an actuating lever operatively connected to said selector lever so as to be rotated about a shaft, an engaging pin lateraly projected from said actuating lever, a groove formed on a spool of a manual valve and slidably engaged with said pin, and a stopper plate rotatably mounted on said pin and slidably engaged with said groove so as to prevent rotation of the spool about its axis.

2. A selector device according to claim 1, wherein said groove is transversely provided in the spool, and said stopper plate has a front plate engaged with the groove and a rear plate mounted to rotate about the axis of the pin only.

3. A selector device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the stopper plate is dimensioned so that the stopper plate engages parts of the groove located to either side of the axis of the spool at all positions of the selector lever.

4. A selector device as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 6.

Published 1991 at The Patent Office, State House, 66/71 Highliolbom. London WC I R4TP. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point Cwrnfelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NP1 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd. St Mary Cray, Kent.