JP2000211393A - Shift lock releasing mechanism for transmission operating device for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shift lock releasing mechanism for a transmission operating device for an automobile without the risk of wrong operation or influence on the layout in the vicinity of an instrument panel, provided in a simple structure with an easy mounting operation. SOLUTION: A shift lever 6 is mounted rotatably on the front surface of a transmission operating device main body 18. A shift lock releasing arm 42 projects from the side surface of the transmission operating device main body 18. A manual shift lock releasing unit for operating the shift lock releasing arm 42 is mounted on the side surface of the transmission operating device main body 18. The manual shift lock releasing unit formed independently from the transmission operating device main body 18 in a structure detachable with respect thereto can be mounted by screwing with no need of accurate positioning.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a shift lock release mechanism for a vehicle speed change operation device, and more particularly to a shift lock release mechanism for an instrument panel mounted type speed change operation device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, there has been proposed a shift operation device having a shift lock for locking a shift operation lever of an automatic transmission to a parking position in connection with a brake device of a vehicle. This shift operation device avoids the problem of runaway due to sudden acceleration at the time of vehicle start by preventing the shift operation lever from being operated from a parking position to a shift position such as a drive position when the brake device is not operated. When the brake device is actuated, the electromagnetic actuator is energized to release the shift lock.

In such a shift operating device, when the electromagnetic actuator itself is damaged or when the battery is dead and the electromagnetic actuator stops operating, the shift lock cannot be released and the operation cannot be performed. In order to avoid this problem, there has been proposed a device provided with a manual shift lock release means irrespective of the brake operation, as described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-12053, for example. ing.

On the other hand, a so-called floor shift type in which a shift lever of the device is mounted on a floor next to a driver's seat and a so-called column shift type in which an operation lever is mounted on a steering column are widely known as shift operation devices for vehicles. However, in recent years, in addition to the above-described type, a type in which a speed change operation lever is attached to an instrument panel of a vehicle has been proposed in order to secure a wider space for the driver's feet or hands.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above-mentioned gearshift operation device of the instrument panel mounting type, when the above-mentioned manual shift lock releasing means is provided, the front of the vehicle compartment which is easy to touch by a passenger in the passenger seat or the like is provided. Since the manual shift lock release lever is provided in the instrument panel, there is a risk that the shift lock release lever is operated by mistake in a situation where the shift lock does not need to be released. In addition, it is necessary to incorporate an operation mechanism for operating the manual shift lock release lever into the shift operation device main body in the instrument panel. However, the structure becomes complicated in view of the basic structure of the shift operation device, and cost increases. At the same time, there is a problem that the production becomes difficult.

Further, the provision of an operation mechanism for operating a manual shift lock release lever has a problem that the layout near the instrument panel is affected. Therefore, there has been a demand for a shift lock release mechanism having a compact and simple structure that does not affect other devices provided on the instrument panel as much as possible.

The present invention has been proposed in order to cope with the above situation, and there is no possibility of erroneous operation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a shift lock release mechanism of a vehicle speed change operation device which has a simple structure and mounting and does not affect a layout near an instrument panel.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a shift lock release mechanism for a shift operation device for a vehicle of an instrument panel type, in which a shift lock release arm is projected. A manual shift lock release unit is detachably mounted on a side portion of the apparatus main body.

The manual shift lock release unit includes a bracket mounted on the side of the shift operation device body surrounding the shift lock release arm, a spring member suspended from an upper portion of the bracket, and a spring. An upper end is attached to a lower end of the member, and a manual release rod having a ring-shaped engaging portion at an upper end and an operating portion at a lower end is provided. The engaging portion of the manual releasing rod is engaged with the shift lock releasing arm. It is characterized by being combined.

According to the above configuration, the manual shift lock release mechanism is formed by mounting the manual shift lock release unit on the side of the transmission operating device main body. Then, a ring-shaped engaging portion formed at the upper end of the manual release rod in this unit is engaged with a shift lock releasing arm projecting from a side portion of the transmission operating device main body. To manually release the shift lock, the operating portion formed at the lower end of the downwardly extending manual release rod is pulled down against the repulsive force of the spring member, so that the engagement portion at the upper end of the manual release rod is released by the release arm. Pull down to release the shift lock.

According to this, the manual shift lock release mechanism of the instrument panel-mounted vehicle speed change device is formed by a separate unit independent of the speed change device body, so that the shift structure on the side of the speed change device body is provided. Can be formed with a simple structure without affecting the
It is not necessary to disassemble the speed change operation device on the main body side for mounting and dismounting. In addition, since the manual shift lock release lever is protruded from the side surface of the speed change operation device and the ring-shaped engaging portion of the manual release rod is engaged with this lever, precise precision is required when attaching the manual shift lock release mechanism. There is no need for positioning.

Further, in the manual shift lock release mechanism having the above-described structure, the operating portion formed at the lower end of the manual release rod only projects below the instrument panel.
The operation of pulling down the manual release rod extending downward has almost no effect on the layout near the instrument panel, and there is little risk of erroneous operation while being a simple operation. In addition, the manual shift lock release unit including the bracket, the spring member, and the manual release rod has a simple structure, can be provided at low cost, and does not require a large space in the instrument panel.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are explanatory views showing the basic configuration of a vehicle speed change operation device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a view showing a detent plate.

A steering shaft 3 is disposed inside a steering column cover 2 protruding toward the passenger compartment with respect to the instrument panel 1, and a steering wheel 4 is attached to an upper end of the steering shaft 3. The steering wheel 4 can be tilted in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1 by a known structure.

A retainer 5 is attached to a portion of the steering shaft 3 near the steering wheel 4 and surrounded by the steering column cover 2 by fastening means such as bolts. A proximal end 6a of a shift lever 6 extending in the radial direction of the steering shaft 3 is connected to the retainer 5 so as to be rotatable along a central axis thereof.

The other end of the shift lever 6 contacts the steering wheel 4 of the instrument panel 1 so that the inside of the instrument panel 1 does not come into contact with various components (not shown) provided therein. And extends obliquely from the opening 7 formed on the left side toward the vehicle compartment side. That is, the shift lever 6 has a proximal end 6a disposed inside the steering column cover 2, an intermediate portion 6b disposed inside the instrument panel 1, and furthermore, only a distal end 6c in the vehicle compartment. It is arranged on the side.

A knob 8 is attached to an end of the shift lever 6 protruding toward the passenger compartment. A shift button 9 is attached to the tip 6 c of the knob 8.
Are provided so as to protrude and retreat in the axial direction.

The shift button 9 is connected to one end of a push-pull cable (not shown) disposed along the inside of the shift lever 6 made of a hollow material, and the other end of the push-pull cable. Is connected to a detent pin (not shown) provided at the end of the shift lever 6 on the retainer 5 side. That is, a conventional structure (Japanese Patent Application No. 10-83658 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-1574) is used.
No. 82), a detent pin is engaged / disengaged with a detent plate to be described later by the push button operation of the shift button 9.

The steering shaft 3 is provided on the retainer 5.
FIG. 2 shows a detent plate 10 oriented substantially parallel to FIG.
It is attached in a state that it protrudes to the left side. The detent plate 10 has a well-known structure in which a plurality of cutouts are formed within the rotation range of the detent pin.
For reference, the shape of the notch is shown in FIG.
It is as follows. That is, the notches 11 for “P (parking)” and “R (R)” are sequentially arranged from the top along the left edge of FIG. Reverse), notch 12, "N (neutral), D (drive), 2"
(Second) notch 13 and “L (low)” notch 14. Reference numeral 15 denotes a detent pin.

At the end of the shift lever 6 on the retainer 5 side, a control lever 16 projecting upward or diagonally upward to the left in FIG. 2 is attached. The control lever 16 is a member for converting a turning operation of the shift lever 6 into a linear operation and transmitting the same to a manual valve of an automatic transmission for a vehicle (not shown). One end of 17 is attached. That is, the shift control cable 17 is pulled or pushed back with the rotation operation of the shift lever 6. Note that the shift operation device main body 18 is configured by the connection portion between the retainer 5 and the shift lever 6, the detent mechanism, and the control lever 16.

In such a shift operating device, when the shift lever 6 is switched from the N range to the P range, for example,
When the shift button 9 is pressed, the detent pin 15 moves in a direction to come out of the ND / 2 notch 13 of the detent plate 10. When the shift knob 8 is rotated from this state so as to be pulled down to the vehicle body floor side, the detent pin 15 and the control lever 16 move the outer peripheral side of the shift lever 6 by an angle equal to the rotation angle as shown in FIG.
, The control cable 17 is pulled in the same direction. As a result, the manual valve operates, and as a result, the oil passage of the hydraulic circuit is switched. When the shift button 9 is released from this state, the detent pin 15 is pressed against the left edge of the detent plate 10 and the P notch 11
, And further rotation of the shift lever 6 is restricted.

Next, a shift lock and a shift lock release mechanism incorporated in the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The drawing shows a state in which the detent pin 15 is engaged with the notch 11 for P of the detent plate 10. Here, the lock arm 41 is configured such that the detent pin 15 engaged with the P notch 11 of the detent plate 10 is rotated around the lock arm rotation shaft 43 at one end.
Can be swung between a first position (a position indicated by a solid line) for preventing escape from the engagement position and a second position (a position indicated by a broken line) at which the detent pin 15 can escape from the engagement position. It is arranged in. The lock arm 41 is constantly urged toward the first position by the action of a spring (not shown) inside the electromagnetic actuator, and its intermediate portion is pivotally supported by the operating rod 40 a of the electromagnetic actuator 40. The electromagnetic actuator 40 moves to the second position against the bias of the spring by the operation of the electromagnetic actuator 40. Further, a shift lock release arm 42 projects from the movable end of the lock arm 41, and the tip engagement portion 53 a of the manual release rod 53 is hooked on the shift lock release arm 42.

In this mechanism, when the vehicle is stopped and the shift lever 6 is operated to park, the detent pin 15 retreats the lock arm 41 against the spring force, and the detent pin 15 enters the P notch 11 of the detent plate 10. Engage. At this time, the lock arm 41 returns to the first position and is held by the spring force, and prevents the detent pin 15 from escaping from the engagement position, so that the shift lock is performed. When the brake device operates in the shift locked state, the electromagnetic actuator 40 is operated by a switch interlocked with the brake device, and the lock arm 41 is moved to the second position to release the shift lock. Therefore, when the vehicle is started, the automatic transmission is switched to the start shift range only when the brake device is operated, so that the problem of sudden start is effectively eliminated, and occurrence of an accident is effectively avoided.

Here, if the electromagnetic actuator 40 is electrically broken or the battery runs out and the shift lock is not released even when the brake device is operated, the manual release rod 53 is pressed against the spring force. Then, the shift lock can be manually released.

The specific structure of the manual shift lock release mechanism according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG.
3 shows a front view of the transmission operating device main body 18 as viewed from the front side of the instrument panel. The shift lever 6 described above is rotatably mounted on the front surface of the speed change operation device main body 18. In addition, the shift operation device main body 18
The shift lock releasing arm 42 protrudes from the side surface. And the shift lock releasing arm 4
Manual shift lock release unit 50 for operating 2
Are mounted on the side surface of the speed change operation device main body 18. The manual shift lock release unit 50 is formed independently of the speed change operation device main body 18 and has a structure that is detachable from the speed change operation device main body 18. It is possible.

This manual shift release unit 50 is similar to that shown in FIG.
As shown in the overall configuration, a bracket attached to the shift operation device body 18 surrounding the shift lock releasing arm 42, a coil spring 52 suspended from an upper end of the bracket 51, and a lower end of the coil spring 52 The manual release rod 53 is operated. The manual release rod 53 is formed by bending the upper end into a ring shape and
3a, and an operating portion 53b formed in a lower end portion by bending into a ring shape.

The bracket 51 is formed to have a U-shaped cross section so as to surround the shift lock releasing arm 42.
A screw or a pin is fixed to the side portion of the speed change operation device main body 18 by the fixing portion 51a. A manual release rod 53 is attached to the inside of the bracket 51 via a coil spring 52. Inside the bracket 51, a rod rotation preventing stopper 51b, a rod fixing clip 51c, and a stopper 51d are provided.

Then, the bracket 51 is mounted on the side of the transmission operating device main body 18, and the shift lock releasing arm 42 is mounted.
The manual shift lock release mechanism is formed by engaging the engaging portion 53a of the manual release rod 53 with the lock lever. To manually release the shift lock, the operating portion 53b formed at the lower end of the manual release rod 53 extending downward is connected to the coil spring 52.
The manual release rod 5 is pulled down against the repulsive force of
3. The engaging portion 53a at the upper end pulls down the release arm 42 to release the shift lock.

[0029]

Since the present invention is configured as described above,
The following effects are obtained. (1) Since the manual shift lock release mechanism of the shift operation device for a vehicle of the instrument panel mounting type is formed by a separate unit independent of the shift operation device main body,
The shift operation device can be formed with a simple structure without affecting the shift structure on the main body side, and there is no need to particularly disassemble the shift operation device on the main body side for attachment and detachment. (2) Since the manual shift lock release lever is protruded from the side surface of the shift operation device and the ring-shaped engagement portion of the manual release rod is engaged with this lever, precision is required when attaching the manual shift lock release mechanism. There is no need for precise positioning. (3) In the manual shift lock release mechanism having the above configuration, the operating portion formed at the lower end of the manual release rod only projects below the instrument panel, so that the layout near the instrument panel has almost no effect. (4) The operation of pulling down the manual release rod in the manual shift lock release mechanism having the above configuration is a simple operation, but has a low risk of erroneous operation. (5) The manual shift lock release unit including the bracket, the spring member, and the manual release rod has a simple structure,
It can be provided at low cost and does not require large space in the instrument panel. (6) The manual shift lock release mechanism having the above configuration is resistant to external factors such as dust and dirt, and is easily attached and detached.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic configuration of a vehicle speed change operation device according to one specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic configuration of a vehicle speed change operation device according to a specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a detent plate.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a shift lock and a shift lock release mechanism incorporated in a specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific configuration of a manual shift lock release mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the overall configuration of a manual shift release unit of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Instrument panel 3 Steering shaft 6 Shift lever 18 Transmission operation device main body 50 Manual shift lock release unit 51 Bracket 52 Coil spring 53 Manual release rod

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A shift lock release mechanism of a shift operation device for a vehicle of an instrument panel mounting type, wherein the shift lock release arm is operated on a side portion of a shift operation device main body from which a shift lock release arm protrudes. A shift lock release mechanism for a shift operation device for a vehicle, wherein a manual shift lock release unit for the vehicle is detachably mounted. 2. The manual shift lock release unit,
A bracket mounted on the side of the shift operation device body surrounding the shift lock releasing arm, a spring member suspended from an upper portion of the bracket, an upper end attached to a lower end of the spring member, and a ring attached to the upper end portion 2. A manual release rod having a shape of an engagement portion and an operation portion at a lower end portion, wherein the engagement portion of the manual release rod is engaged with the shift lock release arm. Shift lock release mechanism of the vehicle speed change operation device.