Magnetically aligned transmission shift indicator
AssigneeDelco Electronics Corporation
InventorsHarlan D. Jerro, James L. Kohler, Steven G. Skiver, Timothy J. Candy, Donald F. Wildfong, Morgan D. Murphy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gear range indicator for use with automatic transmissions which is remote from the shift mechanism yet requires minimal adjustment to be made to the mechanical linkage to compensate for variations in the position of the display relative to the shift mechanism. This gear range indicator used has magnetic biasing means to position a pointer to the appropriate transmission gear range symbol on the display.
Claims13
A gear range indicator for an automatic transmission in a vehicle with an operator controlled shift mechanism for shifting the transmission between gear ranges, the gear range indicator comprising:
- a base;
- a display, having a symbol for each transmission gear range, being fixed relative to the base;
- positioning means for slidably displacing a pointer relative to the base, being mechanically connected to the shift mechanism, translating when the transmission is shifted, providing a predetermined amount of lash between the pointer and the positioning means, the lash generally bracketing the symbol for a selected gear range connecting means for mechanically connecting the positioning means to the shift mechanism
- the pointer, being slidably disposed relative to the base and positioning means;
- means for maintaining tension on said connecting means;
- and
- magnetic means for magnetically biasing the pointer toward the symbol corresponding to the selected gear range.
A gear range indicator for an automatic transmission in a vehicle with an operator controlled shift mechanism for shifting the transmission between gear ranges, the gear range indicator comprising:
- a base;
- a display, having a symbol for each transmission gear range, being fixed relative to the base;
- the pointer, being slidably disposed relative to the base and having a magnet fixed to it;
- positioning means for slidably displacing the pointer relative to the base, being mechanically connected to the shift mechanism, translating when the transmission is shifted, providing a predetermined amount of lash between the pointer and the positioning means, the lash generally bracketing the symbol for the selected gear range;
- connecting means for mechanically connecting the positioning means to the shift mechanism;
- means for maintaining tension on said connecting means and
- a magnetically interacting element fixed relative to the base biasing the pointer toward the symbol corresponding to the selected gear range.
A method o installing a gear range indicator having
- a base;
- a display, having a symbol for each transmission gear range fixed relative to the base;
- the pointer, being slidably disposed relative to the base and having a magnet fixed to it;
- positioning means for slidably displacing the pointer relative to the base, being mechanically connected to the shift mechanism, translating when the transmission is shifted, providing a predetermined amount of lash between the pointer and the positioning means, the lash generally bracketing the symbol for the selected gear range;
- a spring disposed between the positioning means and the base;
- and
- a magnetically interacting element fixed relative to the base biasing the pointer toward the symbol corresponding to the selected gear range in a vehicle comprising:
- aligning the positioning means with the symbol corresponding to a preselected gear range;
- installing in the gear range indicator an aligner clip adapted to center the pointer relative to the positioning means in the gear range indicator thereby centering the pointer of the gear range indicator relative to the positioning means;
- mounting the gear range indicator to the vehicle in a location easily seen by a vehicle operator;
- shifting a shift mechanism in the vehicle to the preselected gear range;
- installing a shift cable between the positioning means and the shift mechanism;
- tensioning the shift cable to eliminate slack therein;
- and
- removing the aligner clip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.