WO2005025916A1

WO2005025916A1 - Device for locking a gear lever in a position and for releasing the gear lever from the locking under load

Info

Publication number: WO2005025916A1
Application number: PCT/SE2004/001309
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bengt Hermansson; Frank Dankbaar
Original assignee: Kongsberg Automotive Ab
Priority date: 2003-09-16
Filing date: 2004-09-13
Publication date: 2005-03-24
Also published as: SE0302498L; WO2005025916A8; SE0302498D0; SE525782C2

Abstract

Device for locking a gear lever in a position and for releasing the gear lever from the locking even if the gear lever is under load, the device comprising a guide part and an engaging part, the guide part being designed to be capable of controlled movement between a first and a second position and to be capable of being held in these positions, the different positions corresponding to said locking and release. The guide part has means of carrying the engaging part with it between a first and a second position, and the engaging part comprises a first locking section, which is designed to engage in a correspondingly shaped second locking section in or fixed to a gear lever. The first locking section is designed so that when the gear lever is moved the first locking section will be forced out of engagement with the second locking section, and the device comprises means of reducing the friction as the guide part carries the engaging part between said positions. The means of reducing friction are designed so that in the interaction with the guide part and the engaging part said means lock the engaging part in the locking position.

Description

TITLE

Device for locking a gear lever in a position and for releasing the gear lever from the locking under load

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for locking a gear lever in a position and for releasing the gear lever from the locking under load. The invention allows a gear lever, primarily in controls for automatic gear boxes, to be locked in more positions than has hitherto been possible, whilst at the same time making operation easier since it can be released under load. It is furthermore possible to use less complex parts than hitherto, which permits cost reductions compared to the prior art.

PRIOR ART In vehicles having automatic gearboxes, it is desirable for the gear lever to be locked in the P-position until one or more conditions are fulfilled, for example until the brake pedal is depressed, and where appropriate, until a button on the gear lever has been depressed. Since the gear lever must be capable of remaining in the P-position regardless of the forces that occur when the driver attempts to move the gear lever if the conditions are not fulfilled, there is a need for parts which are fairly robust, which in turn makes the parts relatively expensive and raises the requirements with regard to the size of the components. In hitherto known controls for automatic gearboxes the driver must furthermore refrain from placing any load on the gear lever until the conditions are fulfilled, that is to say pressure must first be exerted on the brake pedal, for example, and the gear lever then brought out of the P- position, and the gear lever cannot be brought out of the P-position if the lever is under load when the brake pedal is depressed.

Recently, a requirement has begun to emerge for a gear lever in a vehicle with automatic gearbox which can be locked in positions other than the P- position, for example in the N position, until the aforementioned (or other) conditions have been fulfilled. In addition to what has already been described, this also places demands on other types of structures, since the P-position is the "end position" of the gear lever, which means that the lever in the locked position only needs to be capable of withstanding force in one direction, which is not the case if the lever is to be locked in the N-position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is therefore a need and a requirement for a construction which will allow a gear lever in a vehicle having an automatic gearbox to be locked in more than one position, the construction at the same time allowing the gear lever to be released under load. There is furthermore a requirement that the construction should permit the use of smaller and less expensive components than the present construction. One way of being able to use smaller and less expensive components than in the present construction is to facilitate the movement(s) in the device so that a component which performs economical electromechanical movements can be used, such as a solenoid.

The present invention meets the aforementioned needs in that the invention provides a device for locking a gear lever in a vehicle in a position, and for releasing the gear lever from the locking regardless of whether or not the gear lever is under load.

The device comprises a guide part and an engaging part, the guide part being designed to be capable of controlled movement between a first and a second position and to be capable of being held in these positions, the different positions corresponding to said locking and release, and the guide part having a means of carrying the engaging part between a first and a second position of the engaging part.

The engaging part comprises a first locking section, which is designed to engage in a correspondingly shaped second locking section in or fixed to a gear lever, and the first locking section is designed so that when the gear lever is moved, the first locking section will be forced out of engagement with the second locking section. The device further comprises means of reducing the friction as the guide part carries the engaging part between said positions, and the means of reducing friction are designed so that in the interaction with the guide part and the engaging part said means lock the engaging part in its locked position.

Because the means of reducing friction lock the engaging part through interaction with other parts in the device, the outer means used to actuate the guide part does not have to absorb more than a small proportion of the forces that occur, whereas if said outer means were responsible for the locking it would be were required to absorb all the force.

From the following detailed description, it will be appreciated how the invention outlined above affords these and other advantages over the prior art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings attached, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a general overview of a system with a gear lever that is locked and released by a device according to the invention, and

Fig. 2 shows, in more detail, a device according to the invention for locking a gear lever, and

Fig. 3 shows a close-up of a part of the locking mechanism, and

Fig. 4 shows a guide part, and

Fig. 5 shows an engaging part, and

Fig. 6 shows the engaging part in a particular embodiment, and Fig. 7 shows the release of a device according to the invention, and

Fig. 8 shows a close-up of a release sequence, and Fig. 9 shows the released position in a device according to the invention, and Fig. 10 shows an element for fixing in a gear lever, which can be used for locking.

EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows a general overview of a device 100 according to the invention, and how this can be used in a gear lever system. A gear lever 110 (which is not a part of the invention) is rigidly connected to a so-called lever body 120, the design of which is covered by one aspect of the invention. The gear lever 110 can be moved in the directions indicated by the two-directional arrow A (a right - left swivel movement in the "plane of the paper"), carrying the lever body with it. This movement occurs about an axis or pivot point 130.

The object of the invention, to be able to lock the movement of the lever 110 in one or more positions, and to release the lever from said locking regardless of whether or not the driver is placing any load on the lever (in the direction indicated by the arrow A), is achieved by the device 100 according to the invention, the function and main parts of which are as follows:

In order to be able to achieve the actual locking engagement, the device comprises an engaging part 140, which is guided by a guide part 150. By swivelling about a joint 207, the guide part can be made to move between a first and a second position, the positions respectively corresponding to a locking and non-locking position of the gear lever.

The guide part comprises means of carrying the engaging part with it in its movement between said positions, in a manner that will be described in more detail below. In moving to the locking position, a part of the engaging part, a first locking section, will engage in a second locking section in the lever body, for example a notch or opening, thereby providing the locking function. According to the invention, the first locking section is designed so that when the gear lever is moved (movement here relates to movement in the relevant direction in a control for automatic gearboxes, that is to say the direction of movement indicated by the two-directional arrow A in Fig. 1 ), the first locking section will be forced out of engagement with the second locking section.

According to the invention, the first locking section is for this purpose designed as a projecting heel, which tapers towards the gear lever/lever body. The term "projecting" here relates to a projection in the direction of the lever body.

In the example shown, the engagement is made in a lever body which is fixed to the gear lever, but it would also be feasible, for example, to have the engagement occurring directly on the gear lever, or to have an element which in some other way, by way of the engaging part, firmly locks the gear lever in a chosen position.

In a manner that will be described in more detail below, this design ensures that the first locking section is forced out of engagement with the second locking section, the entire engaging part also be forced out. When the heel has been forced out of engagement, the engaging part should be moved further away from the lever body, a function which is achieved in that the guide part, by its movement out of the locking position into a release position, also carries the engaging part with it. This is also described in more detail below.

Fig. 2 shows the device in a locking position and illustrates, in more detail, the interaction between the guide part 150 and the engaging part 140: both the guide part and the engaging part each have a first opening 201 and 203 respectively. The guide part and the engaging part are arranged so that their respective first openings at least partially coincide with one another, that is to say one coherent opening is formed. The openings 201 , 203 in the guide part and the engaging part are suitably but not necessarily through-openings, which means that the opening which they together form is also a through- opening.

Arranged in the common opening is a locking part 205, which in the example shown is a part of a cylindrical rod, a roller, and which is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the cylinder is perpendicular to a plane in which the movements of the guide part are performed (in other words the longitudinal direction of the cylinder is perpendicular to the "plane of the paper"). The locking part 205 assists the locking action by means of a characteristic of the elements of the invention most readily apparent from Fig. 3, in which the area around the openings 201 , 203 in the guide part 150 and the engaging part 140 are shown greatly enlarged:

The edges of each of the coincident openings are formed so that a part of the edge of the opening in the guide part 150 forms a part of a first circle radius 303, and a part of the edge of the opening in the engaging part 140 forms a part of a second circle radius 305. In the locking position (shown in Fig. 3) the guide part and engaging part will be so positioned in the device that the first circle radius 303 and the second circle radius 305 are concentric and have an imaginary radial line 307 which extends through the joint 207 of the guide part. In the locking position (shown) the locking part, the roller 205, will be situated in direct contract with the respective edge parts which form parts of said first and second circle radii. This location of the roller means that by interaction with the parts of the guide part and engaging part having said radial configuration, the roller will absorb the forces acting on the lever when the driver tries to move the lever in the locked position. This, in turn, allows the load on the outer means (not part of the invention) that has been used to bring the guide part to the locked position to be considerably reduced in comparison with what would have otherwise been required, which allows smaller and less expensive elements to be used than have hitherto been used for acting on the guide part. Fig. 4 shows the guide part 150 greatly enlarged: visible from the figure are the first opening 201 in the guide part, and the part 402 of the opening 201 that forms a part a first circle radius 303. Also visible in the figure are a number of other elements of the guide part: an opening for the joint 207, about which the guide part can be made to rotate, an opening 403 which is a fixing facility for external members which cause the guide part to rotate about the joint 207, and an opening or fixing facility 405, which can be used by the external means which set the guide part in motion.

Fig. 5 shows the engaging part 140 greatly enlarged: the first opening 203, and the part of the edge 502 of the opening which forms a part of a second circle radius 305 can be seen from the figure. Also visible in the figure are two further openings 501 and 503, the function of which is as follows: this is an opening or equivalent fixing point for an axis about which the engaging part moves. The axis is fixed in an element (not shown) in the vehicle, for example a cover for the gear lever arrangement. In addition to assisting in the rotation of the engaging part, the axis has another function, namely to absorb forces when a load is applied to the lever. For a better understanding of the function, the rotation about this axis is shown by a two-directional arrow B in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 also shows the part 505 of the engaging part 140 which is intended to engage in a corresponding notch in a lever body or to lock the movement of the gear lever in some other way. As stated, the part 505 is designed as a heel which projects out from the rest of the engaging part, the heel having sides which close in towards the "short side" of the heel, that is to say the heel tapers towards the gear lever.

Fig. 6 shows another view of one feasible embodiment of the engaging part: instead of being formed in an essentially plane plate, the engaging part in Fig. 6 is formed in a solid piece, with the shape shown in Fig. 5, but with a recess in the middle of the piece, in which recess the engaging part 140 can be arranged so that the two plates run on either side of the guide part 150, which is then in turn formed in an essentially plane plate.

Fig. 7 shows how the device according to the invention is released from the locking position shown in Fig. 1 and 2: the pre-conditions for release referred to in the introductory part are fulfilled, that is to say the brake pedal has been depressed etc. By means of an external mechanism (not shown) the guide part 150 is made to rotate about the joint 207 in the direction indicated by an arrow in the drawing. Said external mechanism is not part of the invention, but in a preferred embodiment may consist, for example, of a solenoid which causes the guide part to rotate in different directions about the joint 207, depending on whether locking or release is to be effected. Other mechanisms can obviously also be used to actuate the guide part, but solenoids are to be preferred, since they provide an electromechanical movement at a relatively low cost.

It will also be appreciated from Fig. 7 and the earlier description that the roller 205, which in the locking position assists in the locking function, will have another function in the release movement: through its contact with the inner edges of the openings in the respective parts, the roller 205 will reduce the friction in the release movement, which facilitates the execution of the movement considerably. The engaging part will be forced out of engagement with the lever body in the manner that has been described above, but according to the invention in the process of release the engaging part will be moved further from the lever body, as is shown in Fig. 9.

From the description hitherto, however, an important function of the invention will be apparent, namely that release can be undertaken with a load acting on the lever, something which has not previously been possible but which is a desired requirement on the part of motor vehicle manufacturers. Where release is not to be effected whilst under load, the load is easily absorbed by the device, and where release is to be undertaken under load, the load quite simply assists in the release in that the engaging part is forced out of engagement with the lever body since, as will be seen from Fig. 7 and also with reference to Fig. 2, the movement of the lever body in the direction of the two-directional arrow A (the same as in Fig. 1) means that the locking section in the engaging part is forced out of engagement with the lever body by virtue of the fact that the locking section is designed as a heel with closing edges.

Fig. 8 shows in more detail how friction is reduced, that is to say how the roller 205 facilitates rotation of the guide part when releasing: the guide part 150 rotates about the joint 207, and thereby moves in the direction indicated by small arrows. In the locking position, the roller 205 is, as stated, in mechanical contact with the two edge parts which each form the radius of a circle, and under the rotation of the guide part will therefore rotate in the direction indicated by arrows in Fig. 8, that is to say an inverse direction to the direction of rotation of the guide part. Owing to the direction of rotation and the mechanical contacts between the parts, the engaging part will be made to rotate in a direction "out of engagement with the lever body. As will have been apparent from previous figures, the first opening 201 in the guide part is essentially "L-shaped", the roller in the locking position resting against a short end of the L, and at the same time being in contact with the edge which has the said radial form. In the rotational movement of the roller as shown in Fig. 8, the roller will after a brief interval move over the bend in the L-shape, and carry the engaging part with it out of engagement with the lever body.

Fig. 9 finally shows a device according to the invention in the released position, that is to say a position in which the movement of the gear lever/ lever body is not prevented by the device: by means of an external mechanism, such as the solenoid referred to, for example, the guide part 150 has been made to rotate in the direction shown in Fig. 8 about the joint 207, that is clockwise in the drawings. Under the effect of the movement of the lever body, the heel on the engaging part 140 has been brought out of engagement with the lever body, which has facilitated the interaction of the roller 205 with the edges of the openings 201 and 203 in the guide part and the engaging part, and will have moved out of engagement with the lever body/gear lever.

Referring again to Fig. 5, it will be seen that there is a second, reniform opening 501 in the engaging part. In the guide part there is a corresponding part, a pin, which in the open position as shown in Fig. 9 bears against one end of the reniform opening 501 , thereby preventing the engaging part from rotating in towards the engaged position. The pin therefore serves as a means of holding the engaging part in place in the released position.

However, the pin has one further function in the device: referring to Fig. 7 it will be seen that in the process of release the lever body will only force the heel out of engagement with the lever body, but the engaging part will be carried a distance further away from the lever body by means of said pin in the reniform slot: as the guide part rotates (see Fig. 8) in the release movement, the pin will come into contact with one end of the slot, and will therefore carry the engaging part further in the release direction. The contact between the pin and one end of said slot will occur at approximately the same time that the roller 205 "trips over the edge" in its L-shaped slot in the guide part. As stated, the contact between the pin and the one end of the slot will moreover assist in retaining the engaging part in the release position.

When releasing in the absence of any load, that is to say if the driver, for example, presses on the brake pedal without placing any load on the gear lever, the engaging part will not be forced out of its engagement by the lever body, since the lever body is not under load. What happens instead in this case is that the engaging part remains in engagement with the lever body, and the guide part rotates about its axis 207, so that the pin will come into contact with said edge in the reniform slot, thereby bringing the engaging part out of engagement.

The description above has outlined how the device according to the invention functions in the transition from a locked position to a released position. It should also have been apparent, however, how the opposite transition comes about, that is to say from the released to the locked position: with the aid of external means, such as a solenoid, for example, the guide part is made to rotate about the joint 207 in the opposite to that shown, that is to say "anticlockwise in the drawing". Through its contact with the edges of the respective openings in the guide part and engaging part, the roller 205 will cause the engaging part to move towards engagement with the lever body.

Fig. 10 finally shows a design of a lever body according to one embodiment of the invention: the lever body 10 in Fig. 10 is suitably used together with the locking/release mechanism that has been described above, and has an outer edge 12 and in this an opening 11 for engagement, said opening having bevelled edges, and the bevel being such that the size of the opening becomes greater the closer one gets to the outer edge of the device 10.

The invention is not limited to the examples of embodiment shown but can be freely modified without departing from the scope of the following patent claims. For example, the design of the heel in the engaging part and the corresponding surfaces on the lever body can be formed in some other way that provides an equivalent function. Furthermore, it is quite feasible, for example, to reverse the positions of the concentric circle surfaces in the inner edges of the openings, so that the guide part has a circular edge section which lies outside a corresponding circular edge section in the engaging part.

It will probably have also been made apparent how locking in a number of positions is achieved by means of a device according to the invention: Fig. 1 and 7 show a number of similarly shaped openings in the lever body, each opening corresponding to a desired locking position. The number of openings and positions may obviously be modified as required without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Device (100) for locking a gear lever (110) in a vehicle in a position and for releasing the gear lever from the locking regardless of whether or not the gear lever is under load, the device comprising a guide part (150) and an engaging part (140), the guide part being arranged to be capable of controlled movement between a first and a second position, and to be capable of being held in these positions, the different positions corresponding to said locking and release, and the guide part having means of carrying the engaging part between a first and a second position of the engaging part, characterized in that:

- the engaging part (140) comprises a first locking section (505), which is designed to engage in a correspondingly shaped second locking section in or fixed to a gear lever, - the first locking section is designed so that when the gear lever is moved the first locking section will be forced out of engagement with the second locking section,

- the device comprises means (205) of reducing the friction as the guide part carries the engaging part between said positions, - the means of reducing friction are designed so that in the interaction with the guide part (150) and the engaging part (140), said means lock the engaging part in its locked position.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking section (505) of the engaging part is designed as a projecting heel, which tapers towards the gear lever.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the movement of the guide part between said first and second position occurs through rotation about a joint (207).

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide part (150) and the engaging part (140) each have at least one opening (203, 201), and the guide part and the engaging part are arranged so that their respective openings at least partially coincide with one another, the means of reducing friction consisting of a cylindrical roller (205) which extends through both of said openings.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the longitudinal direction of the roller (505) is perpendicular to a plane in which movements of the guide part are performed, and said locking action of the roller interacting with the guide part and the engaging part is achieved in that:

- the edges of each of the coincident openings are formed so that a part of the edge of the guide part forms a part of a first circle radius (303), and a part of the edge of the engaging part forms a part of a second circle radius (305), - in the locking position, the first and the second circle radius will be concentric, and will have an imaginary radial line that extends through said joint of the guide part,

- in the locking position, the roller will be situated in direct contact with the respective edge parts which form parts of said first and second circle radii.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means of the guide part (150) for carrying the engaging part with it comprise a pin which moves in a slot in the engaging part.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movements of the guide part (150) are produced by the action of a solenoid.

8. Device (120) for fixing to a gear lever so as to be able to lock the gear lever (110) in a position, the locking preferably being achieved by the device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the device (120) having an outer edge (12) with an opening (11) therein for engagement, characterized i n that said opening has bevelled edges, the bevel being such that the size of the opening becomes greater the closer one gets to the outer edges of said device.