MXPA96005340A - Transmission control lever with return to neutral function - Google Patents

Abstract

A control system for controlling multi-ratio vehicle transmission includes a speed select lever movable from a park position to selected gear ratio positions and a directional control lever having forward, neutral and reverse positions. A system is provided to cause the directional control lever to automatically move to its neutral position when the shift control lever is moved to its park position.

Description

TRANSMISSION CONTROL LEVER WITH RETURN TO NEUTRAL FUNCTION Background of the Invention This invention relates to a transmission control system for vehicle for a multiple ratio transmission, in particular to a transmission control system having a shift or speed selection lever and a directional control lever or for forward-neutral-reverse.

It is known to provide vehicles with a transmission control system having a speed selection shift lever for selecting transmission gear ratios and a directional control lever with forward, neutral and reverse positions. With such a system the operator does not always require moving the directional control lever to its neutral position when the parking lot is engaged. If such operator leaves and re-enters the vehicle, or if a new operator enters the vehicle, the lever can be moved out of the parking position and into a selected gear position without the operator being aware of the position of the lever of directional control. As a result of this, the vehicle may begin to move in a direction not expected or not attempted by the operator.

Synthesis of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a transmission control system which reduces the chances of the vehicle moving in a direction not expected or not attempted by the operator.

These and other objects are achieved by the present invention wherein a control system for controlling the multiple ratio vehicle transmission includes a speed selection lever that can be moved from a parking position to selected gear ratio positions and a lever of directional control having the positions for forward, neutral and reverse. A system is provided for making the directional control lever automatically move to its neutral position when the shift control lever moves to its parking position.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a partially schematic illustration view of a lever control system according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a forward-neutral-reverse lever mounted on a vehicle steering column.

Detailed description As shown in Figure 1, a shift or range lever 10 can be moved in a gate 12 to various positions, including a parking position P, to control a conventional vehicle transmission (not shown), such as the transmission of Speed John Deere Power Quad 4.

Such shift lever is preferably mounted in a console (not shown) in a vehicle operator compartment. A conventional directional control lever 14 is operatively coupled to the transmission (not shown) and can be moved to a forward position, F, associated with a transmission condition (not shown) which moves the vehicle in a forward direction, a neutral position associated with a transmission neutral condition (not shown), and a reverse position associated with a transmission condition (not shown) which moves the vehicle in a reverse direction. The neutral position N is located between the positions for forward F and reverse R. Such a directional control lever 14 is preferably mounted on the steering column 13 in a vehicle operator compartment.

Referring to Figure 2, the lever 14 is connected to a rotor arm 16 which rotates about a bolt 18. A pair of centering springs 20 and 22 are pressed to push the lever 14 to its neutral position. A retainer sleeve 24 is mounted on the end of the arm 16. A retainer roller 26 is mounted on the end of the sleeve 24 and is pressed outwardly therefrom by a detent roller spring (not shown) which is enclosed within of the sleeve 24. The roller 24 can be engaged with a catch slider mechanism 30 which includes a catch slider 32 mounted on an arrow 33 of a linear actuator 34., such as a linear solenoid. The slide 32 includes a base 36 on which are formed three curved detent grooves 38, 40 and 42 and a retainer groove 44. The slide 32 has a detent position where the retainer roller 26 can engage with the grooves of the groove. detent 38-40 and a position without detent where the roller 26 is free to move through the slot 44. When the solenoid 34 is energized and extended, and the slide 32 is in the detent position shown in figure 2. The retainer 32 is preferably pushed to the right, seeing Figure 2 towards the position without retainer retracted by a spring (not shown) which is internal to the solenoid 34.

As best seen in Figure 1, a normally closed parking switch 50 is electrically connected between a 12 volt, + 12v source, such as a vehicle battery, and the solenoid 34. When the switch 50 is closed, the solenoid 34 is activated and extended, and the slide 32 will be in the detent position shown in Figure 2. The switch 50 is operatively coupled to the shift lever 10 so that it opens only when the shift lever 10 moves to its parking position P. As a result of this, when the shift lever 10 moves to its parking position, the switch 50 opens, the solenoid 34 is deactivated and the slide 32 moves to the right and moves the notches of detent 38-40 out of contact with the retainer roller 26. The inlet springs 20 and 22 will then return the directional control lever 14 to its neutral position. This prevents the operator from unintentionally leaving the lever 14 in a forward or reverse position after the shift lever 10 is placed in parking. Also, because the solenoid 34 can be activated by the slide 32 to be in its detent position, if a power failure occurs, the lever 14 will return to the neutral position.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is understood that many alternatives, modifications and variations may be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. In this regard, the present invention should be used in connection with any set of transmission controls where the parking lock control is on a lever other than the steering control. For example, there are some tractors which have a parking control lever which is separate from any other control. Other tractors use a parking brake instead of a parking ratchet. This invention will apply to both situations. Therefore, this invention is intended to encompass all those alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the spirit and scope of the attached clauses.

Claims (6)

R E I V I ND I C A C I O N S

1. In a control system for controlling a multi-ratio vehicle transmission, the control system has a first control lever that has a parking position associated with a condition in which the movement of the vehicle is prevented, and having a lever of control. directional control having a forward position associated with a condition of the transmission that moves the vehicle in a forward direction, a neutral position associated with the neutral condition of the transmission, and a reverse position associated with a condition of the transmission which moves the vehicle in a reverse direction, characterized in that: a detent mechanism engageable with the directional control lever, the detent mechanism has a detent position where the directional control lever is held in its forward or reverse position, and the detent mechanism has a position of ease in where the directional control lever is moved to its neutral position; Y means coupled to the first lever for moving the catch mechanism to its release position when the first lever is moved to its parking position.

2. The mechanism, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that: The detent mechanism comprises an electrically operated actuator which is coupled to an electrical power source and which automatically moves to the released position when the power source is disconnected from the actuator.

3. The invention, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that: The first lever comprises a speed selector lever having a plurality of gear positions associated with the gear ratios selected from the transmission.

4. In a control system for controlling a multi-ratio vehicle transmission, the control system has a first lever having a parking position associated with a condition where the movement of the vehicle is prevented, and having a directional control lever having a forward position associated with a condition of the transmission that moves the vehicle in a forward direction, a neutral position associated with the neutral condition of the transmission, and a reverse position associated with a condition of the transmission which moves the vehicle in a reverse direction, characterized in that it includes: means for generating a parking signal when the first lever is in its parking position; Y means for automatically moving the directional control lever to its neutral position in response to the parking signal.

5. The invention, as claimed in clause a, characterized in that it comprises: a centering spring coupled to the directional control lever and pressed to push it to its neutral position; a detent member engagable with the directional control lever, the detent member having a detent position wherein the directional control lever is held in its forward or reverse position, and the detent member has a release position in where the directional control lever is allowed to return to its neutral position by the centering spring; a detent spring coupled to the detent member and depressed to move the detent member to its release position; an actuator coupled with the retainer member and energizable to move the retainer member to its detent position against the pressure of the detent spring; a source of energy; Y a switch connected between the power source and the actuator, the switch also being coupled to the first lever so that the switch disconnects the actuator from the power source when the first lever is in its parking position.

6. The invention, as claimed in clause 4, characterized in that: The first lever comprises a shift control lever having a plurality of gear positions associated with the gear ratios selected from the transmission. SUMMARY A control system for controlling a multi-ratio vehicle transmission that includes a speed selection lever that can be moved from a parking position to selected gear ratio positions and a directional control lever having the positions for forward, neutral and of reverse. A system is provided to cause the directional control lever to automatically move to its neutral position when the shift control lever moves to its parking position.