WO1994027836A1 - A one-piece gearshift lever with cold formed end - Google Patents

A one-piece gearshift lever with cold formed end Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1994027836A1
WO1994027836A1 PCT/CA1994/000255 CA9400255W WO9427836A1 WO 1994027836 A1 WO1994027836 A1 WO 1994027836A1 CA 9400255 W CA9400255 W CA 9400255W WO 9427836 A1 WO9427836 A1 WO 9427836A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
lever
functional
shaft
operative
functional end
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CA1994/000255
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Leonard Neal
Robert Elliott
Original Assignee
Tamco Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tamco Limited filed Critical Tamco Limited
Publication of WO1994027836A1 publication Critical patent/WO1994027836A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K20/00—Arrangement or mounting of change-speed gearing control devices in vehicles
    • B60K20/02—Arrangement or mounting of change-speed gearing control devices in vehicles of initiating means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21K—MAKING FORGED OR PRESSED METAL PRODUCTS, e.g. HORSE-SHOES, RIVETS, BOLTS OR WHEELS
    • B21K1/00—Making machine elements
    • B21K1/76—Making machine elements elements not mentioned in one of the preceding groups
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H59/00—Control inputs to control units of change-speed-, or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion
    • F16H59/02—Selector apparatus
    • F16H59/0217—Selector apparatus with electric switches or sensors not for gear or range selection, e.g. for controlling auxiliary devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H59/00—Control inputs to control units of change-speed-, or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion
    • F16H59/02—Selector apparatus
    • F16H59/0278—Constructional features of the selector lever, e.g. grip parts, mounting or manufacturing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/02—Bases, casings, or covers
    • H01H9/06—Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner
    • H01H2009/066—Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner having switches mounted on a control handle, e.g. gear shift lever

Definitions

  • This invention relates to gear shift levers and specifically to levers having a cold formed functional end.
  • the invention also relates to gearshift levers with a channel along the length of the lever for receiving and enclosing wires therein.
  • Past methods of forming gearbox levers with wires along the length of the lever have included drilling the centre of a piece of steel which further requires subsequent deburring operations to reduce the risk of wear on the wire by metal burrs created during drilling.
  • Other methods of forming gearshift levers have included complex welding operations. These operations also add to the cost of manufacturing.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,162,384 discloses an electrical switch mounted on a knob, with the switch terminal connected to wires which extend down the exterior of the gearshift stick.
  • This patent shows a wire extending within the protective sleeve and over the shift stick.
  • this patent also shows a wire extending down the hollow interior of stick exiting at the bottom through a slot.
  • This patent does not disclose a gearshift lever made of a one piece formed metal tube in combination with a cold formed linkage end which is formed to a specific shape.
  • this patent does not disclose a slot through which the electrical wire runs from the switch to the linkage end, running axially along the length of the gearshift lever.
  • PCT International Application No. WO 91/02912 discloses a lever consisting of a cylindrical pipe inserted in a cavity of a knob.
  • a contact element is part of an electrical switch in the lever and the knob is in contact with an isolated connecting lead. The contact is connected to an electrical circuit through a connecting lead. Both the contact element and connecting lead are outside of the cylindrical shaped pipe.
  • This patent does not disclose the running of a connecting lead (wiring) through a cylindrical tube from a switch to a gearshift lever linkage end, or a gearshift lever made of one piece of a formed metal tube in combination with a functional end which is cold formed to a specific shape.
  • a gearshift lever comprising a one-piece shaft with a functional end and an operative end where the functional end is cold formed to a specific configuration for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the lever, a channel region along the shaft between the functional and operative ends for running electrical wire between the functional and operative ends, and shaft covering material surrounding the channel region for containing the electrical wire within the channel region.
  • the gear shift lever is a one-piece metal tube with a functional end and an operative end where the functional end is cold formed to a specific configuration for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the lever, and the tube also provides for the running of electrical wire between the functional end and the operative end.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the shaft with the knob removed from the operative end;
  • Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the functional end of the shaft as seen along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;
  • Figure 4 is an end elevation view of the functional end of the shaft shown in Fig. 3 ;
  • Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view as seen along line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the knob and operative end and its attachment to the shaft;
  • Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention showing the heat shrink cover in partial cutaway.
  • a gearshift lever 10 having an elongated, contoured shaft 12, an operative end 14 including a knob portion 28 and a functional end 16.
  • Shaft 12 may be of relatively small diameter, thick wall steel tubing drawn over a mandrel (DOM tubing) .
  • the shaft 12 is provided with an internal channel 18 formed during the drawing process and extending between the functional end 16 and operative end 14 of the shaft 12.
  • the internal channel 18 is also provided with an exit orifice 26 which may be positioned at the junction between the functional end 16 and the shaft 12 or alternatively, along shaft 12 or within functional end 16.
  • Shaft 12 may be either straight or curved in shape depending on the styling requirements of the vehicle concerned as shown in Fig. 2.
  • the functional end 16 is cold formed to a desired shape for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the gearshift lever 10, for example a manual or automatic gearbox.
  • Cold forming involves squeezing the tubing to form an end of a specific shape.
  • the procedure of cold forming the functional end 16 is less expensive than broaching operations typically employed in producing gearbox levers.
  • the particular configuration of the functional end 16 may be one of a variety of shapes depending upon the specific linkage desired.
  • the cold forming process results in functional end 16 which may be of narrower or wider dimensions relative to the shaft 12 diameter as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
  • a bore 24 (Fig. 3) may be subsequently milled in the functional end 16 if desired.
  • the operative end 14 of the shaft 12 is adapted for attachment of a knob portion 28 which may be attached thereto by a press-fit or by any suitable method to the operative end 14.
  • Knob portion 28 is of a larger diameter than shaft 12 and contoured in order to facilitate manual grasping thereof for operation and control of the lever 10.
  • Knob portion 28 is also provided with a push-button switch 22, electrically connected to wires 20 passing through channel 18 and the knob portion 28 as shown in Figure 5.
  • shaft 12 may be formed of a solid rod of steel with a channel 30 milled along the length of the shaft 12 as shown in Figure 6. Wires 20 are passed from the functional end 16 to the operative end 14 through the channel 30.
  • a suitable shaft covering material 32 is applied over the shaft 12 to contain the wires 20 within channel 30.
  • Shaft covering material 32 is preferably a single tube of heat shrinkable material or another suitable material such as a tape.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Arrangement Or Mounting Of Control Devices For Change-Speed Gearing (AREA)

Abstract

A gearshift lever (10) and a method of forming the lever is disclosed. The lever includes a one-piece shaft (12) with a functional end (16) and an operative end (14), the functional end (16) being cold formed to a specific configuration for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the lever. The channel region (18) is provided along the shaft between the functional (16) and operative (14) ends for running electrical wire (20) between the functional and operative ends, and a shaft covering material (32) surrounds the channel region (18) for containing the electrical wire within the channel region. The cold forming of the functional end (16) of the lever reduces the cost of manufacturing the lever. In an alternative embodiment, the shaft of the lever is provided with a hollow bore (18) along the length of the shaft for enclosing the wires.

Description

A ONE-PIECE GEARSHIFT LEVER WITH COLD FORMED END
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to gear shift levers and specifically to levers having a cold formed functional end. The invention also relates to gearshift levers with a channel along the length of the lever for receiving and enclosing wires therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the past, there has been a need for a one-piece gearshift lever that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture through cold forming of the functional end of the lever. There has also been a need for a lever formed by this method that enables wires to run along the length of lever between the knob or operative end and the functional end of the lever to enable an electrical switch to be positioned at the operative end of the lever for actuation of an electrical system, for example, an overdrive system.
Past methods of forming gearbox levers with wires along the length of the lever have included drilling the centre of a piece of steel which further requires subsequent deburring operations to reduce the risk of wear on the wire by metal burrs created during drilling. Other methods of forming gearshift levers have included complex welding operations. These operations also add to the cost of manufacturing.
U.S. Patent No. 4,162,384 discloses an electrical switch mounted on a knob, with the switch terminal connected to wires which extend down the exterior of the gearshift stick. This patent shows a wire extending within the protective sleeve and over the shift stick. In another embodiment, this patent also shows a wire extending down the hollow interior of stick exiting at the bottom through a slot.
This patent does not disclose a gearshift lever made of a one piece formed metal tube in combination with a cold formed linkage end which is formed to a specific shape. In addition, where the wire extends under a protective sleeve this patent does not disclose a slot through which the electrical wire runs from the switch to the linkage end, running axially along the length of the gearshift lever.
PCT International Application No. WO 91/02912 discloses a lever consisting of a cylindrical pipe inserted in a cavity of a knob. A contact element is part of an electrical switch in the lever and the knob is in contact with an isolated connecting lead. The contact is connected to an electrical circuit through a connecting lead. Both the contact element and connecting lead are outside of the cylindrical shaped pipe. This patent does not disclose the running of a connecting lead (wiring) through a cylindrical tube from a switch to a gearshift lever linkage end, or a gearshift lever made of one piece of a formed metal tube in combination with a functional end which is cold formed to a specific shape. Canadian Patent No. 838,757 discloses an electrical control switch movably mounted on an actuating lever having a tubular housing member within which is located a contact assembly. The end of the lever is received within the wire receiving passage of a housing member and lead wires pass through the lever, from the steering column, to a passage for connection to the terminal end of the contact members of the assembly. This patent does not disclose a gearshift lever made of one piece of a formed metal tube, in combination with a functional end which is cold formed to a specific shape.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, a gearshift lever is provided comprising a one-piece shaft with a functional end and an operative end where the functional end is cold formed to a specific configuration for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the lever, a channel region along the shaft between the functional and operative ends for running electrical wire between the functional and operative ends, and shaft covering material surrounding the channel region for containing the electrical wire within the channel region. In an alternative embodiment, the gear shift lever is a one-piece metal tube with a functional end and an operative end where the functional end is cold formed to a specific configuration for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the lever, and the tube also provides for the running of electrical wire between the functional end and the operative end. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the shaft with the knob removed from the operative end;
Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the functional end of the shaft as seen along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;
Figure 4 is an end elevation view of the functional end of the shaft shown in Fig. 3 ;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view as seen along line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the knob and operative end and its attachment to the shaft;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention showing the heat shrink cover in partial cutaway.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figure 1, a gearshift lever 10 is shown having an elongated, contoured shaft 12, an operative end 14 including a knob portion 28 and a functional end 16.
Shaft 12 may be of relatively small diameter, thick wall steel tubing drawn over a mandrel (DOM tubing) . The shaft 12 is provided with an internal channel 18 formed during the drawing process and extending between the functional end 16 and operative end 14 of the shaft 12. The internal channel 18 is also provided with an exit orifice 26 which may be positioned at the junction between the functional end 16 and the shaft 12 or alternatively, along shaft 12 or within functional end 16. Shaft 12 may be either straight or curved in shape depending on the styling requirements of the vehicle concerned as shown in Fig. 2.
The functional end 16 is cold formed to a desired shape for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the gearshift lever 10, for example a manual or automatic gearbox. Cold forming involves squeezing the tubing to form an end of a specific shape. The procedure of cold forming the functional end 16 is less expensive than broaching operations typically employed in producing gearbox levers. The particular configuration of the functional end 16 may be one of a variety of shapes depending upon the specific linkage desired. The cold forming process results in functional end 16 which may be of narrower or wider dimensions relative to the shaft 12 diameter as shown in Figures 3 and 4. A bore 24 (Fig. 3) may be subsequently milled in the functional end 16 if desired.
The operative end 14 of the shaft 12 is adapted for attachment of a knob portion 28 which may be attached thereto by a press-fit or by any suitable method to the operative end 14. Knob portion 28 is of a larger diameter than shaft 12 and contoured in order to facilitate manual grasping thereof for operation and control of the lever 10. Knob portion 28 is also provided with a push-button switch 22, electrically connected to wires 20 passing through channel 18 and the knob portion 28 as shown in Figure 5. In another embodiment of the invention, shaft 12 may be formed of a solid rod of steel with a channel 30 milled along the length of the shaft 12 as shown in Figure 6. Wires 20 are passed from the functional end 16 to the operative end 14 through the channel 30. A suitable shaft covering material 32 is applied over the shaft 12 to contain the wires 20 within channel 30. Shaft covering material 32 is preferably a single tube of heat shrinkable material or another suitable material such as a tape.
The terms and expressions which have been employed in this specification are used as terms of description and not of limitations, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions to exclude any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

Claims

WE CLAIM:
1. A gearshift lever comprising: a one-piece shaft with a functional end and an operative end, said functional end being cold formed to a specific configuration for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the lever; a channel region extending along an exterior surface of the shaft between said functional and operative ends for running electrical wire between said functional and operative ends; and shaft covering material enclosing said channel region for containing said electrical wire within said channel region.
2. A gearshift lever comprising: a one-piece metal tube with a functional end and an operative end, said functional end being cold formed to a specific configuration for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the lever, said tube including means for running electrical wire between said functional end and said operative end.
3. A gearshift lever as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2 further comprising a knob portion on said operative end and including switching means attached to said electrical wire at said operative end for switching control of an electrical circuit.
4. A method of manufacturing a one-piece gearshift lever having a shaft with means for running wires between a functional end and an operative end, said operative end having integral electrical actuating means; comprising cold forming said functional end to provide a configuration adapted for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the lever.
PCT/CA1994/000255 1993-05-25 1994-05-25 A one-piece gearshift lever with cold formed end WO1994027836A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2,096,913 1993-05-25
CA 2096913 CA2096913A1 (en) 1993-05-25 1993-05-25 One-piece gearshift lever with cold formed end

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1994027836A1 true WO1994027836A1 (en) 1994-12-08

Family

ID=4151699

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CA1994/000255 WO1994027836A1 (en) 1993-05-25 1994-05-25 A one-piece gearshift lever with cold formed end

Country Status (2)

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CA (1) CA2096913A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1994027836A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0739779A2 (en) * 1995-04-28 1996-10-30 Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd. Wiring-harness connection structure of transmission shift-lever device
EP0881052A1 (en) * 1997-05-27 1998-12-02 General Motors Corporation Method of making a plastic article
EP1059471A1 (en) * 1999-06-10 2000-12-13 Bava Riccardo S.P.A. A motor vehicle gear selector rod

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB252291A (en) * 1925-05-22 1926-05-27 Thomas Blackwood Murray Means for interlocking the actuating members of variable speed gearing
US2272897A (en) * 1939-12-14 1942-02-10 Firestone Tire & Rubber Co Lever for manual operation
US2953674A (en) * 1956-11-08 1960-09-20 Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc Tubular elements with integral end fittings and method of making
FR2071184A5 (en) * 1969-12-19 1971-09-17 Balzac Max
CH633119A5 (en) * 1979-07-13 1982-11-15 Pedrazzoli Spa Manual lever for a machine operating device
US4473318A (en) * 1983-06-23 1984-09-25 The Boeing Company Passive structures tubing connector terminal
GB2191965A (en) * 1986-06-05 1987-12-31 Mitsuboshi Seisakusho Gear-shift lever and method of making it
US5012888A (en) * 1987-11-13 1991-05-07 Macinnis Richard F Shifting method and apparatus
EP0443992A1 (en) * 1990-02-21 1991-08-28 SAME S.p.A. A control device for motor vehicle gearboxes particularly for agricultural tractors

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB252291A (en) * 1925-05-22 1926-05-27 Thomas Blackwood Murray Means for interlocking the actuating members of variable speed gearing
US2272897A (en) * 1939-12-14 1942-02-10 Firestone Tire & Rubber Co Lever for manual operation
US2953674A (en) * 1956-11-08 1960-09-20 Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc Tubular elements with integral end fittings and method of making
FR2071184A5 (en) * 1969-12-19 1971-09-17 Balzac Max
CH633119A5 (en) * 1979-07-13 1982-11-15 Pedrazzoli Spa Manual lever for a machine operating device
US4473318A (en) * 1983-06-23 1984-09-25 The Boeing Company Passive structures tubing connector terminal
GB2191965A (en) * 1986-06-05 1987-12-31 Mitsuboshi Seisakusho Gear-shift lever and method of making it
US5012888A (en) * 1987-11-13 1991-05-07 Macinnis Richard F Shifting method and apparatus
EP0443992A1 (en) * 1990-02-21 1991-08-28 SAME S.p.A. A control device for motor vehicle gearboxes particularly for agricultural tractors

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0739779A2 (en) * 1995-04-28 1996-10-30 Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd. Wiring-harness connection structure of transmission shift-lever device
EP0739779A3 (en) * 1995-04-28 1999-03-31 Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd. Wiring-harness connection structure of transmission shift-lever device
EP0881052A1 (en) * 1997-05-27 1998-12-02 General Motors Corporation Method of making a plastic article
EP1059471A1 (en) * 1999-06-10 2000-12-13 Bava Riccardo S.P.A. A motor vehicle gear selector rod

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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