Column shift type gear selector device for an automatic power transmission of an automotive vehicle

A column shift type gear selector device for an automatic power transmission of an automatic vehicle comprising:

• a manually operable selector lever mounted on a steering column and movable in axial and circumferential directions of said steering column for controlling the shift operation of said automatic power transmission;
• a control rod disposed generally axially parallel to said steering column and movably connected on said steering column, and said control rod being connected at the upper portion thereof to said selector level for movement therewith;
• a linkage connected to the lower portion of said control rod and to a power transmission gear selector mechanism in the automatic power transmission;
• a locking mechanism mounted on said steering column and associated with said control rod, said locking mechanism said control rod to inhibit the shift operation from at least one predetermined transmission gear position, said locking mechanism including an unlocking means associated with said control rod and responsive to axial movement of the latter for unlocking said locking mechanism to allow a shift operation of said control rod from said at least one predetermined transmission gear position to another gear position;
• and
• a click mechanism positioned adjacent said control rod, said click mechanism including a first stationary member secured on said steering column at a position adjacent said control rod and a second movable member movable with said control rod, said second member making clicking engagement with said first member at the control rod positions respectively corresponding to respective transmission gear positions, said first member having an axial length sufficiently long to allow axial movement of said second member while maintaining clicking engagement between said first member and said second member.

A column shift type gear selector device for an automatic power transmission of an automatic vehicle comprising:

• a manually operable selector lever movably mounted on a steering column for controlling the shifting operation of said automatic power transmission into various transmission gear positions;
• a control rod movably supported on said steering column for movement in axial and circumferential directions with said selector lever;
• a linkage connected to said control rod and to a power transmission gear selector mechanism in the automatic power transmission, the transmission gear position being selected corresponding to magnitude of circumferential movement of the control rod;
• a locking mechanism mounted adjacent said control rod, said locking mechanism locking said control rod to inhibit shift operation at a predetermined transmission gear position, said locking mechanism incorporating an unlocking means for unlocking said locking mechanism to allow shift operation of said control rod from said predetermined transmission gear position to another gear position, said unlocking means being selectively actuated by axial movement of said control rod in response to corresponding movement of said selector lever;
• and
• a click mechanism positioned adjacent said control rod, said click mechanism including a first stationary member fixed on said steering column adjacent said control rod and a second movable member movable with said control rod and engageable with said first stationary member, said second member being biased for clicking engagement with said first member at the control rod positions respectively corresponding to respective transmission gear positions, said first member having an axial length sufficiently long to allow axial movement of said second member while maintaining clicking engagement between said first member and said second member.