JP4564893B2 - Shift device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a shift device for a transmission mounted on a vehicle.

  In recent years, as a shift device for an automatic transmission mounted on a vehicle, a so-called shift-by-wire system, which is advantageous in reducing the size of the device and reducing the operating force, has attracted attention. Are described in Patent Documents 1 to 3. In the shift-by-wire system, the position of the shift lever is detected by a sensor or the like, and the range of the automatic transmission is switched by an actuator based on the detection signal. In other words, since the range of the automatic transmission is switched by electrical control rather than mechanical control, the degree of freedom of design is also widened with respect to the operation mode of the shift lever.For example, a hand from a shift lever placed in a predetermined shift position can be used. When released, a so-called momentary function can be provided in which the shift lever automatically returns to the neutral position (home position).

  Now, examples of general selection ranges in automatic transmissions include neutral range, drive range, reverse range and low range (note that parking range is a range that locks automatic transmission and is selected in automatic transmission) In this case, a neutral position, a drive position, a reverse position, and a low position are also formed in accordance with the respective shift ranges of the shift lever. In the shift-by-wire type shift device, the momentary function can be provided at all the shift positions, and the shift lever can be always located at the same place except during operation, so that the shift operability is improved. Is expected.

  However, on the other hand, if the structure is such that the shift lever is always located at the same location, there is a problem that it is difficult for the driver to know which range the current automatic transmission range is switched to. This is especially true when the vehicle is repeatedly parked, such as when the vehicle is parked in parallel, or when the vehicle is traveling while switching between the low range and the drive range, such as when driving on a slope. Prominent in the situation. A technique is known in which the current range is displayed on a meter panel or the like with a symbol (for example, the reverse range is “R” and the low range is “L”). In this case, the driver displays the line of sight from the outside of the vehicle. Will have to be moved to.

On the other hand, for example, if the reverse position and the low position are not provided with a momentary function and the shift position is maintained, the driver must at least indicate that the current range is the reverse range or the low range. It can be discriminated by a sense, and the shift lever can be quickly judged when the vehicle is parked in parallel or traveling on a slope. Therefore, a shift lever holding function is provided for reverse and low positions, and a momentary function is provided for frequently used shift positions such as a drive position used during normal driving and a neutral position used when the vehicle is stopped. An excellent shift device can be constructed.
JP 2002-254942 A (paragraphs 0020-0029, FIG. 2) JP 2003-327002 A (paragraphs 0013 to 0017, FIG. 2) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-24749 (paragraphs 0023, 0029, FIGS. 2 and 3)

  However, if the shift lever is provided with the holding function described above, for example, when the vehicle gets off, the automatic transmission is locked, but the shift lever is in the reverse position, and in this case, The problem arises that the driver must manually return the shift lever to the neutral position once on the next ride.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and has an object of providing a shift device having a shift lever having a holding function and having excellent shift operability.

The present invention, by positioning the shift lever to one of a plurality of shift positions, the shift device for selecting one of a plurality of set in the automatic transmission range, is formed in a substantially V-shape, both end portions A first inclined surface that decreases toward the center from the first detent for returning the shift lever to the first predetermined position, and a second inclined surface that increases from both ends toward the center. A second detent that holds the shift lever in a second predetermined position, and is urged by an elastic member and supported by the shift lever so as to be able to advance and retreat, and contacts the first inclined surface by the urging force of the elastic member. the second inclined surface by the urging force of the elastic member is automatically returned or cooperation with the second detent of the shift lever to said first predetermined position from said second predetermined position by A plunger which by touching holding the shift lever in the second predetermined position, said by driving at least one of the first detent and said second detent, thereby releasing the cooperating with said second detent and said plunger And an actuator.

  According to the present invention, when the shift lever is held at the second detent, the second detent is moved by moving the second detent away from the plunger without changing the position of the first detent, or By operating the first detent in the direction approaching the plunger as it is, the shift lever can be returned to the first predetermined position while being guided by the first detent.

For example, it is preferable that the actuator includes a worm gear that is screwed with at least one of the first detent and the second detent, and a motor that rotationally drives the worm gear. Thereby, it is possible to restrict the first detent or the second detent on the movable side from inadvertently operating when the normal shift lever is operated.
In addition, an actuator is provided that drives the second detent in a direction away from the plunger to release the cooperation between the second detent and the plunger.
The first detent has a first concave surface into which the plunger is fitted in a portion corresponding to the first predetermined position, and the second detent is a portion corresponding to the first predetermined position. The second concave surface is fitted with the plunger, and the second concave surface is formed deeper than the first concave surface.
The first inclined surface corresponds to the inclined surfaces 40a and 40b in the embodiment described later, and the second inclined surface corresponds to the inclined surfaces 50a and 50b in the embodiment described later. The first concave surface corresponds to the concave surface 40c in the embodiment described later, and the second concave surface corresponds to the concave surface 50c in the embodiment described later.

According to the present invention, the driver does not consider the shift position of the shift lever even if it gets off with the shift lever in the holding position because the shift lever returns to the neutral position at the next boarding. It will end.
In order to move the shift lever according to the conditions, it may be possible to move the shift lever directly with a solenoid, but in this case, a large solenoid that only moves the shift lever with an operating force larger than the detent holding force is used. As a result, the entire shift device becomes large. According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to move the shift lever to an arbitrary position while keeping the shift device compact.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the position of the detent is maintained by screwing the worm gear and the detent except when the cooperation between the plunger and at least one of the first detent and the second detent is canceled. This eliminates the need for a drive power or detent retention mechanism for the actuator.

  1 is an external perspective view around an instrument panel to which a shift device of an automatic transmission is attached, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the shift device, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 shows a first detent and a second detent provided in the shift device, and FIG. FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing a state after assembly, FIG. 7C is a perspective view showing a positional relationship with the plunger after assembly, FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view of the shift device, and FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the shift device, (a) is in the holding state, (b) is in the middle of operation, and (c) is in the neutral state. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the shift device 1 is attached to an instrument panel IP between a driver seat and a passenger seat, for example. In this embodiment, a shift lever 5 to which a shift knob 4 is attached and supported so as to be swingable is provided so as to protrude from the panel 3. A gate pattern display shown in an enlarged view is formed on the head of the shift knob 4, and the shift lever 5 can be moved along this display.

  In this embodiment, the shift position includes a neutral position (home position) H, a neutral position N, a drive position D, a reverse position R, and a low position L. In the neutral position N and the drive position D, the range of the automatic transmission (not shown) is set to the neutral range or the drive range by moving the shift lever 5 from the neutral position H to the neutral position N or the drive position D. Further, the reverse position R and the low position L move the shift lever 5 from the neutral position H via the neutral position N to the reverse position R or from the neutral position H to the low position L via the drive position D. Thus, the range of the automatic transmission (not shown) is set to the reverse range or the low range. Further, the shift lever 5 moved to the neutral position N and the drive position D returns to the neutral position H by the momentary function. The shift lever 5 moved to the reverse position R and the low position L is held at the reverse position R or the low position L by the holding function. Further, the panel 3 is provided with a push-type parking switch SW that can be switched by electrical control in the vicinity of the shift lever 5, and an automatic transmission (not shown) is locked (parking state) by operating the parking switch SW. ).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the shift lever 5 includes a first rotating shaft 10 and a second rotating shaft 20. The first rotation shaft 10 is formed so as to extend in the Z direction, and the axial direction thereof is formed to coincide with the axial direction of the shift lever 5. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the first rotating shaft 10 is formed with a convex body 11 having a triangular cross section that protrudes in the Y1 direction below the second rotating shaft 20. A plunger 12 is supported on the convex body 11 so as to be able to advance and retreat in an obliquely downward direction in the Y1 direction. The plunger 12 is urged in a direction protruding from the convex body 11 by the elastic force of an elastic member 13 made of a coil spring or the like provided in the convex body 11.

  The second rotating shaft 20 is formed extending in the Y1-Y2 direction, and shaft portions 20a and 20b at both ends thereof are rotatably supported by the case 6. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the second rotating shaft 20 is formed with a square hole 20c penetrating in the Z direction in the vicinity of the center in the Y1-Y2 direction that is the axial direction thereof. The first rotation shaft 10 is inserted into the square hole 20c, and the first rotation shaft 10 is rotatably supported by the square hole 20c via the shaft 10a facing in the X1-X2 direction. . Further, the second rotating shaft 20 is integrally formed with a leg portion 21 extending below the Z axis closer to the Y2 side than the first rotating shaft 10. A plunger 22 is supported on the lower surface of the leg 21 so as to be able to advance and retreat, and protrudes from the leg 21 by the elastic force of an elastic member 23 (see FIG. 3) formed of a coil spring or the like provided in the leg 21. Is being energized. In this embodiment, the tip of the plunger 22 is formed in an arc shape (see FIG. 4) in the ZX plane, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a roller having an axis in the Y1-Y2 direction. May be supported rotatably.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the shift device 1 has a support parallel to the XY plane (see FIG. 2) below the first rotation shaft 10 and the second rotation shaft 20 in the case 6. A plate 7 is provided. On the support plate 7, a return portion 30 is provided at a position facing the plunger 12. An arcuate guide surface 31 is formed on the upper surface of the return portion 30, and the distal end 12 a of the plunger 12 is in contact with the guide surface 31 while receiving the elastic force of the elastic member 13.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the shift device 1 is provided with a first detent 40 and a second detent 50 at a position directly below the plunger 22 provided on the leg portion 21. The first detent 40 has a function of returning the shift lever 5 to the first predetermined position, and the second detent 50 has a function of holding the shift lever 5 at the second predetermined position.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the first detent 40 is provided in a pair and has a plate shape that is cut out in a substantially V shape. In FIG. 6, the first detent 40 on the Y1 side is indicated by reference numeral 40A, and the first detent 40 on the Y2 side is indicated by reference numeral 40B, both of which have the same shape. The first detent 40 (40A, 40B) has both end portions in the X1-X2 direction that are highest in the Z direction, lower toward the center portion, and inclined surfaces 40a, 40b that are inclined in the direction in which the plunger 22 protrudes, A concave surface 40c to which the tip 22a of the plunger 22 (see FIG. 6C) is lightly fitted has a central portion in the X1-X2 direction. The first detents 40A and 40B are formed in a state of being fixed to the support plate 7.

  The second detent 50 is inclined in the Z direction from both end portions in the X1-X2 direction toward the central portion, and is inclined at the central portions in the X1-X2 direction. A distal end 22a (see FIG. 6C) of the plunger 22 is lightly fitted and has a concave surface 50c formed deeper than the concave surface 40c. In the second detent 50, a base 51 parallel to the XY plane is integrally formed on the side opposite to the inclined surfaces 50a, 50b and the concave surface 50c.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the first detents 40A and 40B have a Y1-side surface and a Y2-side surface of the second detent 50, and the bottom surfaces of the concave surfaces 40c and 40c and the bottom surface of the concave surface 50c are Y1-. They are arranged close to each other so as to overlap each other in the Y2 direction. At this time, the crests 50d and 50e at the boundary between the inclined surfaces 50a and 50b of the second detent 50 and the concave surface 50c project from the inclined surfaces 40a and 40b of the first detent 40.

  As shown in FIG. 6C, the plunger 22 has a wide shape in the Y1-Y2 direction, and comes into contact with both the second detent 50 and the pair of first detents 40A and 40B. Yes. In the present embodiment, the first detent 40 is provided in a pair, but may be a single one.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second detent 50 is provided with arms 52 a and 52 b extending from the base 51 to the X1 side and the X2 side in the case 6. At the tips of the arms 52a and 52b, cylindrical connecting portions 53a and 53b each having a female screw hole penetrating in the Z direction are provided. On the other hand, the support plate 7 is provided with motors (electric motors) M1 and M2 on both sides of the X1 side and the X2 side with the output shaft g facing downward in the Z direction. A worm gear Wg is fixed to the tip (lower end) of the output shaft g, and the worm gear Wg is inserted so as to be screwed into the connecting portions 53a and 53b. As the worm gear Wg is rotationally driven by the motors M1 and M2, the second detent 50 can be moved up and down in the Z direction. In the present embodiment, the Z direction corresponds to the axial direction of the shift lever 5. In this embodiment, the worm gears Wg are rotated by the motors M1 and M2, but both worm gears Wg may be rotated by a single motor.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a crank-shaped gate groove M is formed through the support plate 7 at a position directly below the first rotation shaft 10. The gate groove M includes a first gate groove m1 extending in the Y1-Y2 direction, and a second gate groove m2 formed orthogonally from the front end (Y1 side end portion) of the first gate groove m1 in the X2 direction. A third gate groove m3 formed orthogonally from the rear end (Y2 side end) of the first gate groove m1 in the X1 direction is formed. On the other hand, a rod 14 inserted into the gate groove M is formed on the first rotation shaft 10 so as to extend downward in the Z axis, and this rod 14 is a shift position for detecting the shift position of the shift lever 5. It is connected to the detection means 60 (see FIGS. 3 to 5). This shift position detection means 60 can be comprised with a Hall element and a magnet, for example.

Next, operation | movement of the shift apparatus 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated.
First, the operation of the shift lever 5 in the shift direction (Y1-Y2 direction) will be described. For example, when the driver manually moves the shift lever 5 from the neutral position H to the drive position D (see FIG. 1), the first rotation shaft 10 is moved as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. It moves in the Y1 direction in the gate groove m1 (see FIG. 2) with the shaft 10a (see FIG. 2) as a fulcrum. At this time, the second rotation shaft 20 is left as it is, that is, the plunger 22 is held by the concave surface 40c of the first detent 40 and the concave surface 50c of the second detent 50. 2), the plunger 12 provided on the first rotation shaft 10 is elastically moved to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. It moves while receiving the elastic force of the member 13. Further, when the rod 14 is moved in the Y1 direction by this shift operation, the shift position detecting means 60 detects that the shift position has been switched to the drive position D, and the range of the automatic transmission (not shown) is increased. Switch to drive range. Thereafter, when the driver releases his hand from the shift lever 5, the plunger 12 receives the elastic repulsive force of the elastic member 13 and automatically returns toward the center of the guide surface 31 while protruding from the convex body 11. Further, when the automatic transmission is switched to the neutral range, the first rotation shaft 10 is switched by operating in the opposite direction to the case where the shift lever 5 is switched to the drive position D.

  When the driver switches the shift lever 5 from the neutral position H to the reverse position R (see FIG. 1), first, the shift lever 5 is moved forward (Y1 direction) to the neutral position N, and then X2. Move in the direction. Since the operation from the neutral position H to the neutral position N is as described above, the description thereof is omitted. When the shift lever 5 is moved in the X2 direction (see FIG. 2) in the state of the neutral position N, the second rotating shaft 20 has the shaft portions 20a and 20b (see FIG. 2) as fulcrums as shown in FIGS. It rotates in the counterclockwise direction shown in FIG. That is, the plunger 22 retracts from the neutral state shown in FIG. 7A in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 7B while receiving the elastic force of the elastic member 23 (see FIGS. 4 and 5), and the first detent 40 (40A, 40B) of the concave surface 40c and the concave surface 50c of the second detent 50 are moved in contact with each other. The state shown in FIG. 7B is a state in which the plunger 22 is in contact with the top of the peak 50d of the second detent 50 protruding from the inclined surface 40a of the first detent 40, and the plunger 22 is in the most retracted state. is there. When the plunger 22 moves further in the X1 direction from the state shown in FIG. 7B, the plunger 22 gets over the peak portion 50d as shown in FIG. 7C. At this time, the plunger 22 protrudes in the direction of the arrow by the elastic restoring force of the elastic member 23, and the plunger 22 is locked to the peak portion 50d. Therefore, the shift lever 5 is held at the reverse position R.

  When the plunger 22 operates as described above, at the same time, the rod 14 provided on the first rotating shaft 10 is guided from the first gate groove m1 into the third gate groove m3. The operation of the rod 14 at this time is detected by the shift position detecting means 60 (see FIGS. 3 to 5), and the range of the automatic transmission (not shown) is set to the reverse range.

  In a state where the shift lever 5 is held at the reverse position R, for example, when the parking switch SW is operated when the driver gets off, the motors M1 and M2 are synchronized with each other based on a predetermined control signal. It is rotationally driven in the direction W1 (see FIG. 8A). As the worm gears Wg and Wg are rotated by this rotating operation, the second detent 50 is lowered while maintaining the horizontal state. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8B, the peak portion 50d of the second detent 50 is lowered to a position where it does not protrude from the inclined surface 40a of the first detent 40, whereby the locked state of the plunger 22 is released. The plunger 22 moves in the X2 direction by the elastic restoring force of the elastic member 23 (see FIGS. 3 to 5) and the inclined surface 40a. Thereafter, the tip 22a of the plunger 22 slides down the inclined surface 40a and lightly fits into the concave surface 40c of the first detent 40 (see FIG. 8C). When the plunger 22 reaches the state shown in FIG. 8C in this way, the momentary function is exhibited and the shift lever 5 is moved to the neutral position as described in the returning operation from the neutral position H to the drive position D. N automatically returns to the neutral position H. After the shift lever 5 returns to the neutral state, the motors M1 and M2 are driven in the direction opposite to the direction W1 to raise the second detent 50 to the initial state (the state shown in FIG. 7A). deep. Further, when the parking switch SW is operated in a state where the shift lever 5 is held at the low position L, the second detent 50 is lowered while the plunger 22 is locked to the peak portion 50e, and the plunger When 22 slides down the inclined surface 40b in the X1 direction, the shift lever 5 returns from the low position L to the drive position D, and further returns to the neutral position H by a momentary function.

  As described above, when the driver gets off, the parking switch SW is operated to automatically return the reverse position R or low position L to the neutral position H, so that the shift lever can be used when the driver gets on the next time. The operation of manually returning 5 to the neutral position H becomes unnecessary, and the driver does not have to worry about the shift position of the shift lever. Note that the trigger for releasing the holding state of the shift lever 5 at the reverse position R or the low position L is not limited to the operation of the parking switch SW, but when the ignition switch is switched off or the door (especially driving) It may be when a door on the seat side is opened or closed.

  In the present embodiment, since the motors M1 and M2 and the worm gears Wg and Wg are provided as actuators for raising and lowering the second detent 50, between the neutral position N and the reverse position R performed by a normal shift operation. It is possible to prevent the second detent 50 from inadvertently operating in the up-down direction (Z direction) during the operation in the above-described operation and during the operation between the drive position D and the low position L.

  9A and 9B show a shift device according to a modified example and an operation explanatory diagram thereof. FIG. 9A shows a holding state, FIG. 9B shows a halfway operation, and FIG. 9C shows a neutral state. The shift device 1A in this modification includes a first detent 40C and a second detent 50C. Contrary to the shift device 1, the second detent 50C is fixed to the support plate 7, and the first detent 40C is moved up and down. Is configured to do. Since other configurations are the same as those of the shift device 1, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, the first detent 40C includes arm portions 42a and 42b extending to the X1 side and the X2 side. Similar to the connecting portions 53a and 53b, cylindrical connecting portions 43a and 43b each having a female screw hole penetrating in the Z direction are provided at the ends of the arm portions 42a and 42b. The connecting portions 43a and 43b The worm gears Wg and Wg are screwed together.

  The positional relationship between the first detent 40C and the second detent 50C shown in FIG. 9A is the same as that in FIG. 8A, and the tip 22a of the plunger 22 is locked to the peak portion 50d of the second detent 50C. Thus, the shift lever 5 is held in the reverse position R. In the state of FIG. 9A, when the motors M1 and M2 are rotationally driven in synchronization with the W2 direction, the first detent 40C rises along the Z direction. As shown in FIG. 9B, when the first detent 40C rises to a position where the peak 50d of the second detent 50C does not protrude from the inclined surface 40a of the first detent 40C, the plunger 22 moves the inclined surface 40a in the direction of the arrow ( X2 direction), and a neutral state (see FIG. 9C) is reached in which the tip 22a of the plunger 22 is lightly fitted to the concave surface 40c.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and is configured to drive either the first detent or the second detent. However, both the first detent and the second detent, that is, the first detent, One detent may be driven upward and the second detent may be driven downward simultaneously. Further, the gate pattern is not limited to a crank shape, and can be variously changed such as a U shape or a cross shape.

It is an external appearance perspective view around the instrument panel which attached the shift apparatus of the automatic transmission. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of a shift apparatus. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. It is the BB sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is CC sectional view taken on the line of FIG. The first detent and the second detent are shown, (a) is an exploded perspective view, (b) is a perspective view showing a state after assembly, and (c) is a perspective view showing a positional relationship with the plunger after assembly. is there. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a shift apparatus, (a) is a neutral state, (b) is in the middle of operation | movement, (c) is a holding | maintenance state. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a shift apparatus, (a) is a holding state, (b) is in the middle of operation | movement, (c) is a neutral state. The shift device concerning a modification and its operation explanatory view are shown, (a) is a maintenance state, (b) is in the middle of operation, and (c) is a neutral state.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1A Shift device 5 Shift lever 40, 40A, 40B, 40C First detent 50, 50C Second detent M1, M2 Motor Wg Worm gear

Claims (4)

In a shift device that selects one of a plurality of ranges set in an automatic transmission by positioning a shift lever at any of a plurality of shift positions,
A first detent that is substantially V-shaped, has a first inclined surface that decreases from both ends toward the center, and returns the shift lever to a first predetermined position;
A second detent having a second inclined surface that rises from both ends toward the center , and holds the shift lever at a second predetermined position;
It is urged by an elastic member and is supported by the shift lever so as to be able to advance and retreat. The urging force of the elastic member contacts the first inclined surface to move the shift lever from the second predetermined position to the first predetermined position. A plunger that automatically returns to a position or cooperates with the second detent to contact the second inclined surface by the urging force of the elastic member to hold the shift lever at the second predetermined position;
A shift device comprising: an actuator that drives at least one of the first detent and the second detent to release the cooperation between the second detent and the plunger.   2. The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a worm gear screwed to at least one of the first detent and the second detent, and a motor that rotationally drives the worm gear.   3. The shift device according to claim 1, further comprising an actuator that drives the second detent in a direction away from the plunger to release the cooperation between the second detent and the plunger. 4.   The first detent has a first concave surface into which the plunger is fitted in a portion corresponding to the first predetermined position, and the second detent is in the portion corresponding to the first predetermined position. Having a second concave surface to which the plunger fits;
  4. The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the second concave surface is formed deeper than the first concave surface. 5.

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