JP2000038046A - Shift lever device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a shift lever device to suppress the strength of a detent member to a low value. SOLUTION: A shift lever device 10 comprises a compression spring 92 to energize a release button 74 in a direction in which the button is protruded through a lateral hole 72 and energize upward a detent member 38 through a wire 82; and a compression spring 94 to reduce an energization force to a value lower than that of the compression coil spring 92 and energize downward the detent member 38. By compressing the compression spring 92 by pressing the release button 74, The energization of the compression spring coil 92 on the detent member 38 is released by compressing the compression spring 92 by pressing the compression button 74, and only the energization force of the compression spring 94 is exerted on the detent member 38 and the detent member 38 to lower the detent member 38. In this case, since only the energization force of the compression coil spring 94 is exerted on the detent member 38, a strength is suppressed to a low value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a shift lever device for changing a shift range of a transmission of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A shift lever device for changing the shift range of an automatic transmission of a vehicle is rotatably supported by a base member provided below the floor of the vehicle and has a tip end extending above the floor. It has a shifted shift lever. The shift lever is connected to the automatic transmission of the vehicle via a cable or the like, and when the shift lever is turned, the shift range set for the automatic transmission changes to a shift range corresponding to the turning position of the shift lever. Is done.

Further, the shift lever device includes, for example, a neutral range in which the driving wheels of the vehicle are in a free state, a reverse range in which the driving wheels of the vehicle are driven in reverse, and a parking in which the reverse range and the driving wheels of the vehicle are locked. A restriction mechanism is provided for restricting an inadvertent change operation of the shift range between the range.

In general, the limiting mechanism is constituted by a detent hole formed in a side wall provided on a side of the shift lever and a detent pin provided on the shift lever. The detent pin extends from a detent rod slidably provided along the axial direction inside the shift lever, and a slit hole formed in the shift lever so as to be elongated along the longitudinal direction of the detent rod. Projecting from the outside into the detent hole. The detent rod is urged toward the tip of the shift lever by the urging force of a compression coil spring or the like. Therefore, especially when no external force is applied, the detent pin reaches one end of the slit hole. In this state, the tip of the detent pin is in contact with the inner periphery of the detent hole.

A limiting wall protrudes from an inner peripheral portion of the detent hole in a direction opposite to a biasing direction of a biasing force of a compression coil spring. For example, a limiting wall is shifted from a shift position corresponding to a neutral range to a reverse range. The shift lever is shifted from the shift position corresponding to the reverse range to the shift position corresponding to the parking range, or from the shift position corresponding to the parking range to the shift position corresponding to the reverse range. When an attempt is made to operate, the detent pin abuts on the limiting wall, and the limiting wall indirectly restricts the shift operation of the shift lever via the detent pin. When the release button of the knob provided at the tip of the shift lever is pressed in this state, the release button presses the detent rod, and the detent rod is displaced against the urging force of the compression coil spring. As a result, the detent pin is displaced to a position where it can avoid the restriction wall, and the shift operation of the shift lever becomes possible.

[0006]

The release button and the detent rod are usually connected in the same relationship as the cam and the cam follower, and almost all of the pressing force acting on the release button is applied to the detent rod. Works. Therefore, the detent pin is brought into contact with the other longitudinal end of the slit provided in the shift lever with a force equivalent to the pressing force applied to the release button. For this reason, it has been necessary to provide the detent pin with such strength that it can withstand an impact when it comes into contact with the other longitudinal end of the slit hole with such a pressing force.

An object of the present invention is to provide a shift lever device capable of suppressing the strength of a detent member on the shift lever side such as a detent pin in consideration of the above fact.

[0008]

A shift lever device according to claim 1 is connected to a transmission of a vehicle, and selects an arbitrary shift range from a plurality of shift ranges set in the transmission by a shift operation. And a shift lever provided on the shift lever to move integrally with the shift lever along the shift operation direction with the shift operation, and independently of the shift lever in the shift operation direction. A detent member displaceable in an avoiding direction different from the opposite direction and urged in the avoiding direction, and a shift from a shift position corresponding to a specific shift range among the plurality of shift ranges. The shift operation of the shift lever to the other shift position by engaging the detent member with the shift operation of the shift lever to the shift position A detent means for indirectly restricting and avoiding the engagement when the detent member is displaced in the avoiding direction; and a biasing force greater than a biasing force for biasing the detent member in the avoiding direction. And a biasing means for biasing the detent member in a direction opposite to the direction avoiding the restriction wall, and for releasing the biasing force by a predetermined releasing operation.

According to the shift lever device having the above structure, when the shift lever is shifted, the shift range of the transmission of the vehicle is changed to the shift range corresponding to the shift position of the shift lever. Also, when the shift lever reaches a specific shift position and attempts to shift from that state to another shift position, the detent means engages with the detent member, and the detent means shifts indirectly via the detent member. Limit lever shift operations.

In this state, if a predetermined release operation is performed, for example, a release operation of a release member such as a shift lever or a release button provided on another part of the vehicle, a braking operation of the vehicle, or the like,
The urging force of the urging means on the detent member is released,
Only the urging force for urging the detent member in the avoiding direction acts on the detent member, and the detent member is displaced in the avoiding direction. As a result, the indirect shift operation restriction of the shift lever by the detent means is released, and the shift lever can be shifted to another shift position.

In this shift lever device, an external force such as a pressing force applied to a release button when the detent pin is displaced in the conventional shift lever does not act on the detent member. Even if the detent member is displaced in the avoiding direction by pressing the release button or the like, the displacement of the detent member in the avoiding direction is performed by the urging force for urging the detent member in the avoiding direction. The pressure is basically provided only for releasing the urging force of the urging means, and the transmission of the pressing force to the detent member is shut off. Thereby, the strength of the detent member can be reduced.

In the present invention, the biasing means may be configured to directly or indirectly bias the detent member, and may be biased by a spring force of a compression coil spring, a tension coil spring, a torsion coil spring, or the like. The biasing means may be provided by a biasing spring, or may be provided by an electromagnet which is biased by a magnetic force.

On the other hand, the urging force for urging the detent member may be generated by various urging members such as those used for urging means, or may be generated by free fall (that is, the urging force of gravity). Configuration).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the shift lever device according to the first aspect, wherein the shift lever device is reciprocally movable in a predetermined release direction and in a direction opposite to the predetermined release direction, and in a direction opposite to the release by the urging means. And a release member for releasing the biasing force of the biasing means by operating in the release direction.

According to the shift lever device having the above structure, the releasing member is urged by the urging means in the direction opposite to the releasing direction, and is moved in the releasing direction against the urging force of the urging means. When the release member is operated, the urging force of the urging means on the detent member is released. Thus, the urging force of the urging means on the detent member is released, and the detent member is displaced in the avoidance direction by an urging force different from the urging means.

In the present invention, the release member may be provided on the shift lever, or may be provided on other parts of the vehicle other than the shift lever.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the shift lever device according to the second aspect, the release member can be bent with a smaller force than an operation force required to move the release member in the release direction. A member for mechanically connecting a member to the detent member and transmitting a biasing force of the biasing means to the detent member is provided.

According to the shift lever device having the above structure, the releasing member and the detent member are mechanically connected by the connecting means, and the urging force of the urging means acts on the detent member indirectly via the connecting member. Then, the detent member is urged toward the side opposite to the avoidance direction by the urging force of the urging means via the connecting member.

Therefore, when the release member is operated in the release direction against the urging force of the urging means, the urging force of the urging means with respect to the connecting member is released, the connecting member is relaxed, and the detent member is moved. The urging force urging in the avoiding direction urges the detent member in the avoiding direction to move the detent in the avoiding direction.

Here, in the present invention, although the detent member and the releasing member are mechanically connected, the operating force acting on the releasing member is exclusively used for releasing the urging force of the urging means. Even if the amount of displacement of the release member per unit time due to the operation force applied to the release member is greater than the amount of movement of the detent member per unit time due to the urging force for urging the detent member in the avoidance direction, Since the operating force is absorbed by bending the connecting member, the operating force does not reach the detent member.

[0021]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of a shift lever device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the shift lever device 10. Have been. As shown in these drawings, the shift lever device 10 includes a base member 12. The base member 12 is disposed, for example, below the floor between the driver's seat and the passenger's seat of the vehicle, and substantially from both ends in the lateral direction of the vehicle (arrow LF in FIGS. 1 and 3 and directions opposite thereto). Has side walls 14 and 16 erected. A lever body 22 constituting the shift lever 20 is disposed between the side walls 14 and 16. The lever main body 22 has an axial direction substantially in the vertical direction of the vehicle (the arrow UP in FIGS. 1 and 3 and the opposite direction) and has a cylindrical shape with a bottom and an open upper end. A pair of shafts 24 are formed coaxially and protruding from both sides of the lower end of the lever body 22 substantially in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and a pair of shafts 24 are coaxially formed on both side walls 14 and 16. Supported.

A wire engaging piece 28 is formed on the outer peripheral portion on the front side of the lever body 22.
One end of a wire (not shown) is locked in the through-hole 30 formed in 8. The other end of the wire is mechanically connected to an automatic transmission (not shown) of the vehicle directly or through a connecting means such as a link. The shift range can be changed according to the displacement among a plurality of shift ranges set in the machine.

A pair of slit holes 34 elongated in the axial direction of the lever main body 22 are formed on the outer peripheral portion of the lever main body 22 so as to face each other along the radial direction of the lever main body 22 and through the center thereof. Is formed. As shown in FIG. 1, the slit hole 34 communicates with the hole 36 inside the lever body 22 on the inside.

A detent member 38 is arranged inside the hole 36. The detent member 38 is a block-shaped member elongated in the radial direction of the lever main body 22, the longitudinal dimension thereof is sufficiently longer than the diameter dimension of the lever main body 22, and the width dimension of the detent member 38 is a slit. It is slightly shorter than the width of the hole 34. For this reason, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the detent member 38 protrude outside the lever main body 22 from both slit holes 34, and can be displaced along the axial direction of the lever main body 22 by being guided by the slit holes 34.

As shown in FIG. 1, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the detent member 38 projecting outward in the radial direction of the lever main body 22 enter into detent holes 40 formed in both the side walls 14 and 16. The upper inner peripheral portion 42 of the detent hole 40 is connected to the lever main body 2 supported by the bearing portion 26.
2 has an arc shape corresponding to the trajectory of the upper end of the slit hole 34 when pivoted around the bearing 26, and when the detent member 38 is in contact with the upper end of the slit hole 34, the detent member 38 In contact with the inner peripheral portion 42,
Or it is located in the immediate vicinity. Further, a restriction wall 46 as a detent means is formed so as to project from a predetermined position of the upper inner peripheral portion 42 toward the lower inner peripheral portion 44.

The limiting wall 46 is provided so that the lever body 22 is
6 at a predetermined turning position around the slit hole 34
And the tip of the detent member 38 located at a predetermined position below or above the upper end of the bearing 26 along the turning direction around the bearing 26. Therefore, in this state, the lever main body 2 is moved in the direction in which the detent member 38 approaches the restriction wall 46.
When the rotation of the lever body 22 is performed around the bearing 26, the detent member 38 comes into contact with the restriction wall 46, and the restriction wall 46 restricts the rotation of the lever body 22 via the detent member 38. However, if the detent member 38 is slid toward the lower end side of the slit hole 34 to a position where the detent member 38 and the restriction wall 46 do not face each other and the restriction wall 46 is avoided, the lever main body 22 can be turned.

On the other hand, a pipe 50 constituting the shift lever 20 together with the lever main body 22 is inserted into the upper end opening of the lever main body 22. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a pair of cutouts 54 (only one is shown in FIG. 3) is formed from a longitudinal middle portion to a lower end portion of the pipe 50. These notches 54 are formed so as to face each other along the radial direction via the axis of the pipe 50, and the widths thereof are substantially equal to or larger than the widths of the slits 34 described above. Is also big. Each notch 54 is inserted into the hole 36 so as to communicate with each slit hole 34, and the detent member 38 penetrates through the slit hole 34 through the notch 54 and projects outside the lever body 22.

A housing 5 provided above the base member 12 at an upper end side of the pipe 50 with respect to the axially intermediate portion.
6 through the long hole 58. The housing 56 divides the occupant side of the vehicle compartment from the accommodating portion for accommodating the base member 12 and the like. The housing 56 shields the components such as the base member 12 from being seen from the occupant side. Has been prevented.

Further, a knob 70 constituting the shift lever 20 together with the lever main body 22 and the pipe 50 is fitted into the upper end of the pipe 50, so that the occupant can shift the shift lever 2.
When performing a shift operation (turn operation) around the bearing portion 26, the knob 70 is operated while being gripped. As shown in FIG. 1, a horizontal hole 72 is formed inside the knob 70 along the substantially left-right direction of the vehicle and opened at the right end of the knob 70, and a release button as a release member is formed inside the horizontal hole 72. 74 is slidably disposed along the lateral hole 72.

A groove 76 is formed in the lower inner peripheral portion of the horizontal hole 72, and a projection 78 projecting from the outer peripheral portion of the release button 74 enters therein. The groove 76 and the projection 7
Numeral 8 prevents rotation of the release button 74 in the horizontal hole 72 and limits axial movement of the release button 74 in the horizontal hole 72.

Further, a plurality of holding claws 8 are provided at one end in the axial direction of the release button 74 (that is, at the inner end of the knob 70).
0 is formed. These holding claws 80 are elastically deformable in a direction away from each other. These holding claws 80 hold a conical locking piece 84 having a smooth curved end and fixed to one end of a wire 82 as a connecting member.

The other end of the wire 82 passes through a vertical hole 86 formed in the knob 70 along the outer shape on the left end side of the knob 70 and communicated with the horizontal hole 72 at the upper end.
Through the lever main body 22 and is locked by a locking portion 88 formed at the center in the longitudinal direction of the detent member 38. That is, the release button 74 described above and the detent member 38 are mechanically connected by the wire 82.

As shown in FIG. 2, a compression coil spring 92 as an urging means is disposed at one end of the release button 74 and beside the holding claw 80. One end of the compression coil spring 92 abuts against one end of the release button 74, and the other end abuts against the bottom of the lateral hole 72 communicating with the vertical hole 86, and projects the release button 74 from the lateral hole 72. In the direction (arrow F1 direction in FIGS. 1 and 2).

On the other hand, a compression coil spring 94 whose urging force F2 is smaller than the urging force F1 of the compression coil spring 92 (ie, F2 <F1) is arranged inside the lever main body 22. This compression coil spring 9
4 has one end abutting against the detent member 38 and the other end abutting against a flange 96 formed inside the pipe 50 to urge the detent member 38 in a direction of pushing down (the direction of arrow F2 in FIG. 1). ing. Here, as shown in FIG.
Since the release button 74 and the detent member 38 are mechanically connected by the wire 82, the release button 74 and the detent member 38
And the compression coil spring 94 act, but as described above, the compression force of the compression coil spring 94 is smaller than the compression force of the compression coil spring 92 as described above. The coil spring 94 is contracted against its own spring force (biasing force F2), the release button 74 is pushed out from the lateral hole 72, and the detent member 38 is pulled up to a position in contact with the upper end of the slit hole 34. .

Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

In the present shift lever device 10, when the shift lever 20 is turned around the bearing 26 while gripping the knob 70, the wire (not shown) locked on the wire locking piece 28 according to the amount of the turn. Is displaced along its longitudinal direction, and an automatic transmission (not shown) connected directly or indirectly to this wire is operated, and among a plurality of shift ranges set in the automatic transmission, a shift lever 20
Is changed to the shift range corresponding to the turning position of.

Further, the shift lever is shifted to a predetermined turning position, for example, a turning position corresponding to a neutral range in which the driving wheels of the vehicle can freely rotate, or a turning position corresponding to a reverse range for driving the driving wheels of the vehicle in reverse. 20 and reaches a specific direction (for example, from a turning position corresponding to the neutral range to a turning position corresponding to the reverse range, or from a turning position corresponding to the reverse range, to a parking range for locking the drive wheels of the vehicle from the turning position corresponding to the reverse range). When the shift lever 20 is to be turned to the desired turning position, the detent member 38 in contact with the upper end of the slit hole 34 contacts the limiting wall 46, and
Restricts the turning operation of the shift lever 20 via the detent member 38. Therefore, in this state, the turning operation of the shift lever 20 in a specific direction cannot be performed.

Next, when the release button 74 is pressed toward the inside (release direction) of the knob 70, the compression force causes the compression coil spring 92 to generate its own spring force (biasing force F1).
Shrink against. As a result, the urging force F1 of the compression coil spring 92 that has been acting on the detent member 38 via the wire 82 is released, and only the urging force F2 of the compression coil spring 94 acts on the detent member 38, and the detent member 38 Descends. The detent member 38 descends until it reaches the lower end portion of the slit hole 34, which is the avoidance position where the restriction wall 46 can be avoided, or the vicinity thereof, so that the detent member 38 and the restriction wall 46 along the turning direction of the shift lever 20 move. The facing state is released. In this state, since the movement trajectory of the detent member 38 associated with the turning operation of the shift lever 20 is located below the limiting wall 46, the turning operation of the shift lever 20 becomes possible.

The shift lever device 10 is similar to the conventional shift lever device in that the release button 74 is pressed to lower the detent member 38. Does not act on the detent member 38.

That is, the pressing force applied to the release button 74 is used to contract the compression coil spring 92 and release the action of the urging force F1 of the compression coil spring 92 to the detent member 38. 3
8 is lowered by the biasing force F2 of the compression coil spring 94. Also, if the compression coil spring 9
Even if the compression coil spring 92 is contracted by the pressing force applied to the release button 74 earlier than the compression coil spring 94 contracted by the urging force F1 of 2 is restored by its own spring force (urging force F2), Since the pressing force is absorbed by the bending of the wire 82, the pressing force does not act on the detent member 38.

Therefore, when the detent member 38 comes into contact with the inner peripheral portion of the detent hole 40 including the restriction wall 46 when the shift lever 20 is turned, the detent member 38
When the impact force acting on the detent member 38 is disregarded by the urging force F2 of the compression coil spring 94, the impact when the detent member 38 comes into contact with the lower end of the slit hole 34 or the lower inner peripheral portion 44 of the detent hole 40 is ignored. The detent member 38 is raised by the urging force F1 of the compression coil spring 92, and has a strength enough to withstand an impact when the detent member 38 comes into contact with the upper end portion of the slit hole 34 or the upper inner peripheral portion 42 of the detent hole 40. What is necessary is just to give to the member 38. Therefore, the strength of the detent member 38 can be made lower than that of the detent pin of the conventional shift lever device, which needs strength that can withstand an impact force equivalent to the pressing force applied to the release button. Further, by making the detent member 38 low in strength, the range of choice of the material used for the detent member 38 is expanded, and the cost can be reduced. Further, since the strength of the detent member 38 can be reduced, the detent member 3
8 can be downsized and the shift lever device 10 itself can be downsized, so that the interior space of the vehicle can be used effectively and the instrument panel of the vehicle, which is difficult with the conventional shift lever device. It can also be attached to

In this embodiment, the compression coil spring 92 is used as the urging means.
The urging means may directly or indirectly release the release button 74 from the lateral hole 7.
The configuration is not limited to this mode, as long as the configuration is such that the detent member 38 is directly or indirectly biased toward the upper end side of the slit hole 34 in addition to the direction in which the detent member 38 is pushed outward. Therefore, even when a spring using the spring force as the urging force is used as the urging means, in addition to the compression coil spring 92, a tension coil spring, a torsion coil spring, a leaf spring, and the like can be applied. And forces other than spring force,
For example, an electromagnet may be used as the urging means, and the release button 74 and the detent member 38 may be urged by attraction or repulsion by the magnetic force.

In this embodiment, the detent member 38 is biased downward by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 94. However, the detent member 38 is biased downward. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be urged by the spring force of another spring such as a tension coil spring, a torsion coil spring, and a plate spring, as in the above-described modification of the compression coil spring 92,
Further, attraction or repulsion by the magnetic force of the electromagnet may be applied as the urging force. Further, the detent member 3
If the sliding direction of 8 is substantially vertical, the biasing force may be applied by gravity.

Further, in this embodiment, the wire 82 is applied to the connecting member, but the connecting member may be easily bent by an external force equal to or less than the pressing force when the release button 74 is pressed. However, it is not limited to the material constituting it. Therefore, the wire 82 may be a deviated wire or a single wire. Instead of the wire 82, for example, a string formed by twisting fibers such as a string or a hemp string formed of a synthetic resin material may be used as the connecting member.

In the present embodiment, the moving direction of the release button 74 as the releasing member is different from the displacement direction of the detent member 38. It is not limited.

Further, in the present embodiment, the pipe 50 is interposed between the knob 70 and the lever main body 22, but a configuration in which the knob 70 and the lever main body 22 are directly connected without using the pipe 50 may be used.

In the present embodiment, the release button 74 is provided on the shift lever 20 as a release member. However, the release member may be provided on other parts of the vehicle compartment other than the shift lever 20. Further, according to the gist of the present invention, the release member may not be provided. That is, instead of the compression coil spring 92, an electromagnet whose magnetic force is larger than the urging force of the compression coil spring 94 is used as the urging means, and the electromagnet is released when a special operation is performed, such as when the brake pedal of the vehicle is depressed. The detent member 38 may be lowered by the urging force of the compression coil spring 94. In this case, since the operation of pressing the release button 74 or the like (release operation) itself is unnecessary, the detent member 38 is lowered by the urging force F2 of the compression coil spring 94, and the lower end of the slit hole 34 or the detent hole The detent member 38 rises due to the impact when it comes into contact with the lower inner peripheral portion 44 of the lower portion 40 and the magnetic force of the electromagnet, and strikes the upper end portion of the slit hole 34 or the upper inner peripheral portion 42 of the detent hole 40. What is necessary is just to provide the detent member 38 with a strength that can withstand the impact at the time of contact, and the strength of the detent member 38 can also be set low.

[0048]

As described above, in the shift lever device according to the present invention, the strength of the detent member on the shift lever side can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a shift lever device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the knob taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a shift lever device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 shift lever device 20 shift lever 38 detent member 46 limiting wall (detent means) 74 release button (release member) 82 wire (connection member) 92 compression coil spring (biasing means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] A shift lever connected to a transmission of a vehicle, the shift lever selecting and changing an arbitrary shift range among a plurality of shift ranges set in the transmission by a shift operation; and a shift lever provided on the shift lever. With the shift operation, the shift lever moves integrally with the shift lever along the shift operation direction, and can be displaced independently of the shift lever in an avoiding direction different from the shift operation direction and in the opposite direction. A detent member biased in the avoiding direction; and the detent member accompanying a shift operation of the shift lever from a shift position corresponding to a specific shift range of the plurality of shift ranges to another shift position. To indirectly restrict the shift operation of the shift lever to the other shift position, and the detent member A detent means in which the engagement is avoided in a state displaced in the avoiding direction; and a direction in which the detent member avoids the restriction wall with an urging force larger than an urging force for urging the detent member in the avoiding direction. And a biasing means for biasing in a direction opposite to the direction described above and for releasing the biasing force by a predetermined releasing operation. 2. The apparatus is reciprocally movable in a predetermined release direction and a direction opposite thereto, and is urged by the urging means in a direction opposite to the release direction, and is operated in the release direction. The shift lever device according to claim 1, further comprising a release member that releases the biasing force of the biasing unit. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the releasing member is flexibly bent with a smaller force than an operation force required to move the releasing member in the releasing direction. The shift lever device according to claim 2, further comprising a connecting member that transmits an urging force to the detent member.