Park lock actuator with manual release and shipping position

A method of manually releasing an actuator having a housing mounted to a vehicle driveline component, the method comprising:

• a) manipulating a handle that is mounted to a release shaft between one of at least three positions, which include an actuator installation position, an actuator operating position and an actuator release position, wherein the handle manipulating step includes:
• a1) lifting the handle relative to at least one detent to translate the release shaft along its axis, wherein the lifting step selectively positions an end of the release shaft in a first desired axial position relative to one of a gear train and an output shaft;
• a2) rotating the handle relative to at least one detent to rotate the release shaft about its axis to one of the at least three positions;
• and
• a3) releasing the handle to translate the release shaft along its axis and position an end of the release shaft in a second desired axial position relative to the one of the gear train and the output shaft;
• and
• b) maintaining the end of the release shaft in the desired position in the second desired axial position;
• and
• comprising a step of manually releasing the actuator wherein step a2) includes rotating the handle to a protrusion, and comprising the steps of a2.1) lifting the handle above the protrusion, a2.2) rotating the handle past the protrusion, step a3) includes engaging the one of the gear train and the output shaft with the end of the release shaft, and comprising step c) includes continuing to rotate the handle with the end of the release shaft engaged with the one of the gear train and the output shaft.

An actuator for a vehicle driveline component, comprising:

• a motor;
• a housing;
• a gear train arranged in the housing and coupled to the motor;
• an output shaft arranged in the housing and coupled to the gear train, the output shaft configured to move between multiple positions in response to rotational drive from the motor via the gear train, the output shaft configured to be operatively connected to the vehicle driveline component;
• and
• a manual release assembly comprising at least three positions, including:
• an actuator installation position in which the manual release assembly is operatively coupled to the output shaft such that the output shaft is fixed in a clocked orientation to mate with the vehicle driveline component when installing the actuator onto the driveline component;
• an actuator operating position in which the manual release assembly is decoupled from the output shaft and the gear train to permit rotation of the output shaft in response to the motor via the gear train;
• an actuator release position in which the manual release assembly is operatively coupled to the output shaft to permit rotation of the output shaft via the manual release assembly;
• and
• wherein the first, second and third positions are different than one another;
• and
• wherein the manual release assembly includes:
• a head secured to the housing;
• a release shaft from an end internal to the housing and an opposing end external to the housing, the release shaft slidably supported by the head for translation along and rotation about an axis of the release shaft;
• and
• a spring arranged between the internal end and the head, the spring configured to bias the internal end toward the one of the gear train and the output shaft.