JP3129937B2 - Automatic transmission select device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic transmission selecting device, and more particularly to an automatic transmission having a plurality of drive ranges having different numbers of gears, in which an operation for selecting a drive range from a parking range is improved. And a select device for an automatic transmission.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The selection positions of a select lever for performing a shift operation of a vehicle with an automatic transmission are, for example, a parking range (hereinafter abbreviated as P), a reverse range (hereinafter abbreviated as R), a neutral range (hereinafter abbreviated). N) 4
High speed drive range (hereinafter abbreviated as D4), 3 speed drive range (hereinafter abbreviated as D3), 2 speed fixed range (hereinafter abbreviated as 2), 1 speed fixed range (hereinafter abbreviated as 1) There are some that can be switched with. Of these, D4 shifts from first gear to fourth gear at the appropriate time from low speed to high speed,
This makes it possible to drive with high fuel efficiency when traveling from an ordinary road to an expressway, and this range is particularly suitable for beginners.

When such an automatic transmission is of a type in which a select lever is provided on a steering column, generally, an engaging element provided on a movable member integral with the select lever is provided with an uneven portion corresponding to each range position. The selector is engaged with the provided checker (fixing member) by the urging force of the spring, and the select lever can be freely moved between the ranges N to D4 to D3, but between the ranges R to P, N → R range, D3 → 2.
The range 2 → 1 is a direction (for example, a front side) orthogonal to the range change direction (for example, up and down) against the urging force of the spring.
In this state, the selector lever cannot be moved unless the engagement between the engaging element and the concave and convex portion is released.

[0004]

By the way, in the above-mentioned column shift type automatic transmission, in order to generate a sense of moderation when moving between the respective range positions, for example, a wave-shaped depression is formed on the peripheral surface. And a detent mechanism comprising a detent cam integrally connected to the movable member and a roller which resiliently engages with the depressed portion of the waveform of the detent cam. When the select lever is moved in the range changing direction while the engagement between the engaging element and the concave and convex portion is released against the urging force of the spring when the selector lever is moved to the D4 or D3 range through It is difficult to judge sensuously which position is in the D4 or D3 range only by the sense of moderation. In some cases, the user may continue to move and select the 2 or 1 range. When the shift lever is moved from the P range to the R range, the select lever may be moved in the range change direction by engaging the engaging element with the concave and convex portion.
Although it stops reliably in the range, it cannot be stopped easily in the D4 range, and the D3 range is selected as if the D4 range was selected. there were.
In particular, it is more difficult to notice a vehicle in which an instrument tachometer is not provided on an instrument panel.

The present invention has been devised to solve such disadvantages of the prior art, and its main objects are as follows.
An object of the present invention is to provide a selection device for an automatic transmission that can easily select a desired range position.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a parking range, a reverse range, a neutral range, a first drive range having a large number of shift stages, and a small number of shift stages are provided. In order to regulate a predetermined movement between the range positions having the second drive range in this order, a fixed member provided with an uneven portion, a movable member provided with an engaging element that engages with the uneven portion, Means for resiliently urging the engaging element in the direction for engaging the engaging element with the concave and convex portion, and a direction for releasing the engagement between the engaging element and the concave and convex section against the urging force of the urging means. Manual operation means for moving the movable member, and at least moving the movable member in the release direction with the manual operation means to move from the parking position to another range position. Means for increasing the load when the movable member is moved from the first drive range to the second drive range with the movable member moved in the release direction. This is achieved by providing a selection device for an automatic transmission characterized by having the following.

[0007]

According to such a configuration, for example, when switching from the P range to the D4 range, the select lever is
The movable member may be moved in the range changing direction while moving the movable member in a direction to release the engagement between the engaging element and the concave and convex portion of the fixed member, and may be released at the position where it abuts.
When switching to the range, the select lever may be moved in the range change direction without moving the movable member in a direction to release the engagement between the engaging element and the concave and convex portion of the fixed member, and released at a position where the select lever abuts.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a main part of a column type select device for an automatic transmission according to a first embodiment constructed in accordance with the present invention. This select device is mounted on a base bracket 2 fixed to a steering column 1.
A select direction rotating member 4 pivotally supported by a support shaft 3 extending parallel to the axis of the steering column;
A support shaft 12 orthogonal to the support shaft 3 of the rotating member 4
It has a fork member 5 as a movable member that is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable around, and a select lever 6 fixed to the fork member 5. A ball stud 7 erected on the rotating member 4 transmits the movement of the select lever 6 to a manual valve (not shown) of the torque converter via a connection mechanism 8 such as a bell crank.

On one axial end face of the base bracket 2, a checker cam 9 as a fixed member having irregularities formed for restricting movement of the select lever 6 between ranges.
Has been fixed. The fork member 5 is provided with a pair of claws 10 and 11 as bifurcated engaging members so as to sandwich the checker cam 9, and serves as a spring means mounted around a support shaft 12 of the fork member 5. Due to the torsion coil spring 13, one engagement claw 10 is connected to the checker cam 9.
Is always urged to abut on the uneven surface of. The other engaging claw 11 protrudes into an opening 2 a provided in the base bracket 2.

A guide groove 14 substantially parallel to the support shaft 12 of the fork member 5 is formed in a portion of the base bracket 2 adjacent to the checker cam 9, and the guide groove 14 has a stopper as a slide member. The key 15 is slidably engaged.

At one end of the stopper key 15, there is provided a long hole 16 oriented in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the stopper key 15, and the long hole 16 is provided with a connecting member 17 having a substantially triangular shape. The vertex T1 is engaged. The connecting member 17 has a second apex T2 pivotally attached to the base bracket 2 and a third apex T3 connected to a plunger member 19 which is an operating end of a solenoid 18 fixed to the base bracket 2. This solenoid 18 is linked to a brake (not shown). Thus, a shift lock mechanism that prevents a shift change unless the brake is depressed at the time of starting is configured.

On the other hand, a detent mechanism 20 is provided on the other axial end face of the base bracket 2 for giving a sense of moderation to the range switching operation. The detent mechanism 20 includes a detent cam 21 having a corrugated depression formed on the peripheral surface and integrally connected to the rotating member 4;
A roller 23 is elastically supported by the base bracket 2 via a leaf spring 22 so as to be engaged with the corrugated depression 1.

On the cam surface of the checker cam 9 with which the pawl 9 is engaged, a portion corresponding to the D4 range is provided on the most concave surface 24, and a portion corresponding to the N range and the N3 range is one step from the surface 24. Tall steps 25 and 26 are provided. Steps 27 and 28, which are one step higher than the steps 25 and 26, are provided in the portion corresponding to the R range and the portion corresponding to the two ranges, and the portion corresponding to one range and between the R range and the P range are provided. In the part of, the higher protruding part 2
9.30 are provided. Further, the portion corresponding to the P range forms a concave portion 31 that is the most concave like the surface 24. Here, as shown in FIG. 5 in which a main part of the checker cam 9 is enlarged, a slope having an angle θ1 (≦ 30 °) is formed between the surface 24 and the steps 25 and 26.

The opening 2a into which the engaging claw 10 protrudes has a size such that as the claw 10 moves from the concave portion 31 to the convex portion 29, the engaging claw 11 integral therewith can also move. However, the angle .theta.2 (.ltoreq.7
0 °) is formed, and the select lever 6 is moved in a direction parallel to the axis of the column against the elastic force of the torsion coil spring 13 for urging the fork member 5. If the user tries to rotate the range position in the selection direction, it is caught by the engagement claw 11, and the load rapidly increases at that position. The position is a position corresponding to the D4 range.

As shown in FIG. 4, which schematically shows the relationship between the checker cam 9 and the pair of claws 10 and 11 of the fork member 5, the select lever 6 is connected to the fork member 5 as described above. Since the engaging claw 10 is constantly resiliently biased in a direction in which it comes into contact with the uneven surface of the checker cam 9,
In the movement of P → R, N → R, D3 → 2, 2 → 1, the select lever 6 cannot be rotated as it is because the engaging claw 10 is caught on each step. Then, the select lever 6 is pulled up in a direction parallel to the axis of the column, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of selecting the range position, against the elastic force of the torsion coil spring 13 for urging the fork member 5, that is, the engagement is released. By moving in the direction, the engaging claw 10 can get over each step portion or convex portion,
P → R, N → R, D3 → 2, 2 → 1 can be switched. For R → N, N → D4, 1 → 2 → D3 → D4, the select lever 6 can be moved as it is. D4 → D3, D4 → N
Is moved from the surface 24 and the steps 25 and 26 because there is a step having a slope of the angle θ1 as described above.
As compared with the movement of N, N → D4, 1 → 2 → D3 → D4, a little more force is needed to get over the step, and the position of the D4 range can be easily recognized.

On the other hand, if the user attempts to rotate the select lever 6 from the P range to the D3 range while pulling up the select lever 6 in a direction parallel to the axis of the column, the engaging claw 11 is hooked on the step 2b at the position of the D4 range. , The load increases rapidly. Here, the stepped portion 2b is set in a range where the D4 detent suction force is generated in the detent cam 21 of the detent mechanism 20.
Is returned in the direction in which the pawl 10 engages the checker cam 9, the D4 range is selected. In addition, the select lever 6 is rotated with excessive force, or the select lever 6 is
Is slightly returned in the direction of engagement with the checker cam 9, the engaging claw 11 is disengaged from the stepped portion 2b, and the select lever 6 can be rotated in the range D3 to D1, so that no complicated operation is required. Can easily select D3-1. Therefore, each range position can be selected as desired while intuitively recognizing the D4 or D3 range without operating the range position while visually recognizing the range position on the instrument panel or the like. Needless to say, in this embodiment, the load does not increase due to the stepped portion 2a during the rotation from the first range side to the P range direction.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied. In this embodiment, a known check ball 40 is provided instead of the step portion 2a of the first embodiment. Therefore, the load increases at the D4 range position not only when the select lever is rotated from the P range side but also when the select lever is rotated from the one range side. Other structures are the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a floor type select device for an automatic transmission, and a lock pin 41 provided on a select lever (not shown) instead of a fork member having a pair of claws projecting therefrom. Are engaged with a guide hole 43 provided in the guide plate 42. On one side of the guide hole 43, a step-like portion 43a corresponding to each range position having the same function as each of the step portions 24 to 31 in the first embodiment is formed. The lock pin 41 is biased. A step 43b having the same function as the step 2b in the first embodiment is formed on the side of the guide hole 43 facing the step-like portion 43a. The operation and effect are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, the select lever, which is integral with the engaging element engaging with the concave / convex portion for restricting the predetermined movement between the range positions, is moved in the direction of releasing the engaged state. When the shift from the D4 range to the D3 range is continued in this state, the load on the shift is increased, so that D4 can be easily recognized when shifting from the P range side. When switching from the P range to the D3 range, for example, the select lever is moved in the range changing direction without moving the movable member in a direction to release the engagement between the engaging element and the concave and convex portion of the fixed member. You only have to release it at the point where it hits. Therefore, each range position can be selected as desired while intuitively recognizing D4 or D3 without operating the range position while visually recognizing the range position on the instrument panel or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a column type select device for an automatic transmission according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an essential part cross-sectional view of the lock mechanism as viewed from the rear side in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the detent mechanism as viewed from the rear side in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating the relationship between the checker cam and a pair of claws of a fork member in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing a main part of a column type select device for an automatic transmission according to a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing a main part of a floor type select device for an automatic transmission according to a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 steering column 2 base bracket 2a opening 2b step 3 support shaft 4 select direction rotating member 5 fork member (movable member) 6 select lever (manual operating means) 7 ball stud 8 coupling mechanism 9 checker cam (fixing member) 10 Dowel (engagement element) 11 lock claw 12 support shaft 13 torsion coil spring 14 guide groove 15 stopper key 16 long hole 17 connecting member 18 solenoid 19 plunger member 20 detent mechanism 21 detent cam 22 leaf spring 23 roller 24 surface 25 to 28 steps Parts 29, 30 Convex part 31 Concave part 40 Check ball 41 Lock pin 42 Guide plate 43 Guide hole 43a Stepped part 43b Step part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A 7-4143 (JP, U) JP-A 2-9366 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60K 20/02

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A predetermined position between a range position having a parking range, a reverse range, a neutral range, a first drive range having a large number of shiftable steps, and a second drive range having a small number of shiftable steps in this order. In order to restrict the movement of the movable member, a fixed member provided with an uneven portion, a movable member provided with an engaging element that engages with the uneven portion, and a resilient member in a direction in which the engaging element is engaged with the uneven portion. Urging means, and manual operating means for moving the movable member in a direction to release the engagement between the engaging element and the concave and convex portion against the urging force of the urging means, and at least the A select device for an automatic transmission, which requires moving the movable member in the release direction with the manual operation means to move from the parking range position to another range position, A state in which the movable member is moved in the release direction so as to increase the load when moving from the first drive range to the second drive range in a state where the movable member is moved in the release direction. wherein upon movement to the second drive range from the first drive range in
Load increase consisting of a step having an inclined surface that comes into contact with the engagement element
Means, and said first drive drain of said uneven portion
And the first drive between the neutral range and the neutral range.
Between the eve range and the second drive range.
A select device for an automatic transmission, comprising a step having a surface .