# US 10,502,316 B2 · Range switching apparatus of shift-by-wire system

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- Number: US 10,502,316 B2
- Document ID: US10502316B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/495,242
- Filed: 2017-04-24
- Published: 2018-05-10
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2016-11-04
- Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Inventors: Kazuhisa Kurita; Chiaki Sugano; Masayuki Aota
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502316B2

## CPC

- F16H 61/32: Electric motors {, actuators or related electrical control means} therefor
- F16H 61/12: Detecting malfunction or potential malfunction, e.g. fail safe (in control of hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4192) {; Circumventing or fixing failures}
- F16H 2061/122: {Avoiding failures by using redundant parts}
- F16H 2061/1292: {the failing part is the power supply, e.g. the electric power supply}
- F16H 2061/2884: {Screw-nut devices}
- F16H 2061/2892: {other gears, e.g. worm gears, for transmitting rotary motion to the output mechanism}
- F16H 2061/326: {Actuators for range selection, i.e. actuators for controlling the range selector or the manual range valve in the transmission}
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

A range switching apparatus of a shift-by-wire system has: a main motor; a deceleration mechanism that amplifies torque generated by the main motor; an output shaft that outputs the torque amplified by the deceleration mechanism; an auxiliary motor; and an emergency drive mechanism. The emergency drive mechanism is disposed on the auxiliary motor shaft of the auxiliary motor, and that is connected to or disconnected from the deceleration mechanism by driving of the auxiliary motor. The emergency drive mechanism transfers output of the auxiliary motor to the deceleration mechanism, and rotates the output shaft by being connected to the deceleration mechanism.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A range switching apparatus of a shift-by-wire system, comprising:
a main motor;
a deceleration mechanism that amplifies torque generated by the main motor;
an output shaft that outputs the torque amplified by the deceleration mechanism;
an auxiliary motor that includes an auxiliary motor shaft; and
an emergency drive mechanism disposed on the auxiliary motor shaft, that is connected to or disconnected from the deceleration mechanism by driving of the auxiliary motor, and that transfers the output of the auxiliary motor to the deceleration mechanism and rotates the output shaft by being connected to the deceleration mechanism,
wherein the emergency drive mechanism includes:
a feed screw disposed on the auxiliary motor shaft; and
an auxiliary gear body that surrounds the feed screw and moves along the auxiliary motor shaft by the rotation of the auxiliary motor shaft, and
wherein a gear portion that engages with a gear of the deceleration mechanism is disposed in the auxiliary gear body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The range switching apparatus of a shift-by-wire system according to claim 1, wherein
the emergency drive mechanism further includes a gripping member, and a guide rail that guides move of the gripping member along the auxiliary motor shaft and restricts rotation of the gripping member,
the gripping member includes a gripping portion that grips the auxiliary gear body, and
the auxiliary gear body moves along the auxiliary motor shaft by the rotation of the auxiliary motor shaft, as the rotation of the auxiliary gear body is inhibited by the gripping force of the gripping portion applied to the auxiliary gear body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The range switching apparatus of a shift-by-wire system according to claim 2, wherein
a fitting protrusion is disposed on either one of the outer periphery surface of the auxiliary gear body and the gripping portion, and
a fitting hole, which the fitting protrusion fits into, is disposed on the other of the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary gear body and the gripping portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The range switching apparatus of a shift-by-wire system according to claim 1, wherein
the emergency drive mechanism includes a receive member that rotatably holds a tip portion of the auxiliary motor shaft, and
a flange portion, to which an end face of the auxiliary gear body contacts, is disposed in the receive member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The range switching apparatus of a shift-by-wire system according to claim 1, wherein
the gear portion is a worm gear.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The range switching apparatus of a shift-by-wire system according to claim 1, wherein
the gear portion is a spur gear.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The range switching apparatus of a shift-by-wire system according to claim 1, wherein
an electric supply system of the auxiliary motor is different from an electric supply system of the main motor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The range switching apparatus of a shift-by-wire system according to claim 1, wherein
the auxiliary motor is a motor of which torque is lower than that of the main motor.