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AssigneeUnited Technologies Automotive, Inc.
InventorsRichard Ratke, Donald E. Ellison
Estimating the term…
A brake/shift interlock for, e.g., a vehicle having a shift mechanism (10) for an automatic transmission. The shift mechanism includes a shift lever (12) and a detent mechanism (24) having a latch (26) and latch plate (28) with a detent notch at the "Park" position. A Park/Lock member (34) is actuable to lock the latch in the Park position (FIGS. 1 and 6). In addition to an ignition lock mechanism (38) for actuating the Park/Lock member based on the status of the ignition switch (36A; FIG. 8), a brake/shift interlock is also provided for actuating the Park/Lock member when the ignition switch is in "Run" position (FIG. 2), except for being released during actuation of a brake switch (82). A solenoid (160; FIGS. 4 and 5), when energized, applies a tensioning force to the Park/Lock member via a cable (44) actuating the P/L member. The solenoid includes a plunger (162) having an centrally located, axial opening (171) through it, through which the cable extends. The plunger opening is stepped, providing a seat (170) into which a laterally extended, mushroom-shaped button (173) affixed to the cable is seated, with the cable and plunger thereby being interfaced for movement in unison. The solenoid can be completely assembled in manufacture before being interfaced in engagement with the button staked to the cable. The brake/shift interlock may be mechanically in series (FIGS. 1-3) or in parallel (FIGS. 6 and 7) with the ignition lock mechanism. In the series arrangement, the cable of the ignition lock mechanism extends axially completely through the solenoid. (Exemplary power circuitry is illustrated in FIG. 8.)
In 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 modes other than Park, 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 of 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 the latch in the 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 the Park/Lock member for actuating the Park/Lock member to a "Lock" position to maintain the latch locked in the 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 the actuation of the vehicle brakes, an improvement in 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 modes other than Park, 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 detent notch coinciding with the Park position of the shift lever and the latch being selectively, manually actuable out of the detented engagement with a respective detent notch, and a Park/Lock member actuable to lock the latch in the 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 the 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 the actuation of the brakes, and a brake/shift interlock comprising a solenoid, a connecting line connecting the solenoid electrically in the power circuit including the brake switch to control operation of the solenoid as a function of the actuation of the brake switch, and a connecting line mechanically connecting the solenoid directly with the Park/Lock member, the solenoid being energizable to tension the connecting line maintaining the Park/Lock member in the Lock position, wherein:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.