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AssigneeUnited Technologies Automotive, Inc.
InventorsRichard Ratke, Donald E. Ellison
Estimating the term…
A brake/shift interlock is provided in, or for use in, a vehicle having a shift mechanism for an automatic transmission. The shift mechanism includes a shift lever and a detent mechanism having a latch and latch plate. The latch plate has a detent notch at a Park position. A Park/Lock member is actuable to lock the latch in the Park position. In addition to an ignition lock mechanism for actuating the Park/Lock member as a function of the status of the ignition switch, a brake/shift interlock is also provided for actuating the Park/Lock member while the ignition switch is in the Run position except for being released during actuation of a brake switch. A solenoid is energized to apply a tensioning force to the Park/Lock member via a cable to thereby actuate the member. The brake/shift interlock may be mechanically in series or in parallel with the ignition lock mechanism. In the series mechanical arrangement, the solenoid may have the cable of the ignition lock mechanism extending axially through its hollow plunger in fixed engagement therewith.
A brake/shift interlock for use in a vehicle having a shift control mechanism for an automatic transmission, the transmission having a Park mode and non-Park modes, the shift control mechanism having a shift lever for controlling selection of the transmission modes, a detent mechanism having a latch and latch plate, the latch being adapted to be in detented engagement with respective detent notches in the latch plate, one said detent notch coinciding with a Park position of the shift lever, and the latch being selectively, manually actuable out of said detented engagement with a respective said detent notch, and a Park/Lock member actuable to lock said latch in said Park position detent notch, the vehicle having an ignition switch having Off and Run positions, an ignition lock mechanism associated with the ignition switch and connected with said Park/Lock member for actuating said Park/Lock member to a Lock position to maintain said latch locked in said Park position detent notch when the ignition switch is in its Off position, and a brake switch connected in an electrical power circuit and adapted to be actuated in conjunction with actuation of vehicle brakes, the brake/shift interlock comprising:
In combination in a vehicle having brakes, an ignition switch having Off and Run positions and a shift control mechanism for an automatic transmission having a Park mode and non-Park modes, the shift control mechanism having a shift lever for controlling selection of the transmission modes, a detent mechanism having a latch and a latch plate, the latch being adapted to be in detented engagement with respective detent notches in the latch plate, one said detent notch coinciding with a Park position of the shift lever and the latch being selectively, manually actuable out of said detented engagement with a respective detent notch, and a Park/Lock member actuable to lock said latch in said Park position detent notch, an ignition lock mechanism associated with the ignition switch and connected with said Park/Lock member for actuating said Park/Lock member to a Lock position to maintain said latch lock in said Park position detent notch when the ignition switch is in its Off position, a brake switch connected in an electrical power circuit and adapted to be actuated in conjunction with actuation of the brakes, and a brake/shift interlock comprising a solenoid, means connecting the solenoid electrically in said power circuit including said brake switch to control operation of said solenoid as a function of said actuation of said brake switch, and means for mechanically connecting said solenoid directly with the Park/Lock member, said solenoid being energizable to tension said connecting means and thereby maintain said Park/Lock member in said Lock position.
In combination, a solenoid and a connecting cable, the solenoid including a housing, a bobbin assembly fixedly positioned in the housing, the bobbin assembly including a central bobbin having a hollow core, a tubular plunger axially movable in the hollow core of the bobbin, the plunger having an opening extending axially therethrough, the housing being open at axially opposite ends in register with the opening in said plunger, the connecting cable extending continuously through said solenoid via said openings in said housing and said opening in said plunger, said plunger being in fixed engagement with said cable for reciprocation in unison relative to said solenoid housing, said solenoid plunger having a first outside diameter at its axially outer end which is less than a second outside diameter axially inward thereof to form an axially facing stop surface at the transition therebetween, said plunger axially outer end extending through a particular said opening in said solenoid housing, and the diameter of said plunger stop surface being greater than said particular opening in said plunger housing to limit outward travel of said plunger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.