United States Patent (19) 11 Patent Number: 4,458,549

Tani et al. 45 Date of Patent: Jul. 10, 1984

54 SELECT RETURN MECHANISM FOR A 56) References Cited
TRANSMISSION U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
75) Inventors: Akira Tani; Yasuo Kito, both of 1,030,229 6/1912 Cheney ........................... 267/150 X
Okazaki, Japan 3,793,901 2/1974 Muller et al. ... 74/473 R
4,143,560 3/1979 Kinkade ..... .74/476 x
4,269,081 5/1981 Peterson et al. ................ 267/150 X
73) Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki 4,299,135 11/1981 Gens ............... ... 74/473 RX
Kaisha; Manno Kogyo Company, 4,333,360 6/1982 Simmons ............................. 267/150
Limited, both of Aichi, Japan 4,350,055 9/1982 Pinomaki ........................ 267/150 X
Primary Examiner-Allan D. Herrmann
(21) Appl. No.: 342,415 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Parkhusrt & Oliff
57 ABSTRACT
22 Filed: Jan. 25, 1982
The essential feature of the invention includes that both
30) Foreign Application Priority Data ends of a single torsion spring are elongated to form
both arms which are engaged with a swinging lever
Aug. 12, 1981 JP Japan ................................ 56-127031 actuated by the select operation and a fixed lever in
Aug. 28, 1981 JP Japan ................................ 56-135885 such a manner that select return force at high and low
gear position in select operation is equalized. Further
51) Int. Cl............................ G05G 9/16; F16F 1/06 feature of the invention is that a select return spring is
52 U.S. C. .................................. 74/473 R; 267/150; provided at an area defined independently from the
267/155 select shaft and a bell crank shaft.
58) Field of Search ..................... 74/473 R, 475, 476,
74/477; 267/150, 155 6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures
U.S. Patent Jul. 10, 1984 Sheet 1 of 4 4,458,549
U.S. Patent Jul. 10, 1984 Sheet 2 of 4 4,458,549
U.S. Patent Jul. 10, 1984 Sheet 3 of 4 4,458,549
U.S. Patent Jul. 10, 1984 Sheet 4 of 4 4,458,549
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1. 2
FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the essential part of
SELECT RETURN MECHANISM FOR A FIG. 1;
TRANSMISSION FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the V-V
line in FIG. 4;
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the
This invention relates to a select return mechanism VI-VI line in FIG. 4;
used mostly for a transmission of a remote control type FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of the essential part of
in an internal combustion engine. another embodiment according to the invention;
In general, the select return mechanism of this type is FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the VIII
provided with individual springs in order to obtain O -VIII line in FIG. 7; and
return forces at high and low select operations. With FIG. 9 is a side view of the essential part of still an
other embodiment which is modified from the embodi
this arrangement, a deviation of acting points of each ment shown in FIG. 7.
spring on a designed portion of the select return mecha
nism is apt to be created at high and low select opera 15 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
tions, resulting in unstableness in select return forces. PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The individual springs are engaged with a rotational Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, a shift lever retainer 2 is
member at its one end and with a fixed member at its fixed to a floor 1 of an automotive body by a plurality of
other end, resulting in a deviation from a designed act bolts 19. An upright member 3, which is generally of
ing points at both ends of each spring and a variation in 20 U-shaped configuration in a plan view, is mounted onto
select return forces, and thereby rendering a possibility the retainer 2. A select shaft 7 is supported to the up
of undue force to be applied to the spring itself. right member 3 at its both ends. A boss 4a of a shift
Further, such springs are typically provided at a lever support 4 is pivotally supported on the select shaft
limited area such as on a support shaft of a member 7. The shift lever support 4 is provided with an arm 5
rotatable by select operation, and as the result, a space 25 extending upwardly from the boss 4a and with a lever 6
for mounting the springs is apt to be limited and opera extending downwardly from the boss 4a and having a
tional efficiency in assembling the select return mecha groove 6a at its lower end. A shift shaft 10 is supported
nism will be reduced. Additionally, these factors may to the arm 5 of the support 4. A boss 8a of a shift lever
lead to a large structure of the select return mechanism. 8 is pivotally supported on the shift shaft 10. The shift
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 30 lever 8 is integrally formed with a shifting lever 9 ex
tending downwardly from the boss 8a. A pin 9a is inte
Accordingly, a primary object of the present inven grally projected from one end of the shifting lever 9.
tion is to provide a select return mechanism wherein As shown in FIG. 3, a select bell crank 11 is provided
select return forces at high and low gear positions in on the shift lever retainer 2. A boss 1a of the bell crank
select operation are equalized. 35 11 is pivotally supported on a bell crankshaft 18 extend
Another object of the present invention is to provide ing upwardly from the retainer 2. As seen in the struc
a select return mechanism wherein an undue force such ture of the bell crank 11, an arm 12 extending from the
as a twisting moment does not act on a torsion spring. boss 11a is formed to provide a spherical portion 12a at
A further object of the present invention is to provide its one end. The spherical portion 12a is received into
a select return mechanism which may be skillfully in the groove 6a formed at the lower end of the lever 6 of
stalled in the existing space. the shift lever support 4 in a ball joint fashion (See FIG.
Yet another object of the present invention is to pro 2.), while at one end of another arm 13 extending from
vide a select return mechanism wherein the structure is the boss 11a, a pin 13a is integrally formed with the arm
simplified and the operational efficiency in assembling 13 and projected therefrom.
the same is improved. 45 A hook 22 is formed at one end of an inner cable rod
According to the present invention, a single torsion 21 of a shifting cable 20 using a push-pull cable. The
spring is used and both ends of the single torsion spring hook 22 is connected to the pin 9a of the shifting lever
are elongated to form both arms which are engaged 9. Similarly, a hook 25 is formed at one end of an inner
with a swinging lever actuated by the select operation cable rod 24 of a selecting cable 23 using a push-pull
and a fixed lever in such a manner that select return 50 cable. The hook 25 is connected to the pin 13a of the
forces at high and low gear positions in select operation arm 13. In a shift operation as depicted by an arrow
are equalized. A further feature of the present invention A-A in FIG. 1 wherein the shift lever 8 is swung about
is that a single torsion spring is provided at an area the shift shaft 10, the inner cable rod 21 of the shifting
independent of a select shaft and a bell crank shaft. cable 20 is pushed and pulled through the motion of the
Various general and specific objects, advantages and 55 shifting lever 9, thereby providing a desired shift posi
aspects of the invention will become apparent when tion in a transmission (not shown). On the contrary, in a
reference is made to the following detailed description select operation as depicted by an arrow B-B in FIG.
considered in conjunction with the accompanying 2 wherein the shift lever 8 is swung about the select
drawings. shaft 7 together with the shift lever support 4, the select
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS bell crank 11 is operatively swung about the bell crank
shaft 18, coacting with the lever 6 of the support 4. This
FIG. 1 is a side view, partially in section, of a support causes the inner cable rod 24 of the selecting cable 23 to
portion of a shift lever of a transmission of remote con be alternately pushed and pulled, thereby providing a
trol type; desired select position in a transmission.
FIG. 2 is a rear elevation, partially in section, viewed 65 In such a transmission, there is normally provided a
from a right hand side in FIG. 1; select return mechanism which is effective to return the
FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 1, the shift lever being shift lever to a neutral position or a select return posi
broken away; tion. Referring particularly to FIGS. 4-6 for purposes
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3
of explanation of the select return mechanism, a swing the shift lever retainer 2 with a bolt 31 by utilizing a
ing lever 14 is provided at the boss 4a of the shift lever space defined in the lower area of the boss 4a of the shift
support 4. The swinging lever 14 is mounted on the boss lever support 4. A coiled torsion spring 34 used as a
4a and extends integrally downwardly therefrom and select return spring is inserted about the set shaft 30.
bends forwardly (in the left hand direction in FIGS. 4 5 Both ends of the spring 34 are extended upwardly from
and 5), while a fixed lever 15 is provided at the upright a nearly central point of the axial length of the spring 34
member 3 of the shift lever retainer 2 and is formed to to form a pair of arms 35 and 35.
project rearwardly (in the right hand direction in FIGS. An angle shaped lever 32 is fixed to the set shaft 30
4 and 5) under the swinging lever 14. As should be and its forwardly (in the left hand direction in FIG. 7)
apparent in FIG. 5, when the shift lever 8 is in its neutral 10 extending portion is positioned between both arms 35
position, the fixed lever 15 is positioned directly under and 35' of the spring 34. A swinging lever 33 is inte
the swinging lever 14. In other words, the recess 14a grally formed with and projects downwardly from the
formed at both side edges of the swinging lever 14 and undersurface of the boss 4a of the shift lever support 4
the both side edges 15a of the fixed lever 15 are in the and is also positioned between both arms 35 and 35 of
same two vertical planes. 15 the spring 34. In other words, when the shift lever 8 is
A coiled torsion spring 16 used as a select return in the neutral position, the fixed lever 32 is positioned
spring is inserted on the outer circumference of the boss directly opposite to or directly under the swinging lever
4a of the shift lever support 4. Both ends of the spring 33 and both arms 35 and 35 of the spring 34 firmly bias
16 are extended downwardly to from a pair of arms 17 against both side edges of the fixed lever 32 and the
and 17. As will be apparent in FIGS. 4 and 6, both of 20 swinging lever 33 by the preset resilient force of the
these arms 17 and 17 extend downwardly from a nearly spring 34. The acting points (or the abutting points) of
central point of the axial length of the spring 16. The both arms 35 and 35' on both levers 32 and 33 are in
both arms 17 and 17" are biased against the both recesses alignment condition.
14a of the swinging lever 14 and the both side edges 15a In a similar manner as described with reference to the
of the fixed lever 15 by the preset spring force. (See 25 previous embodiment, when the shift lever 8 is select
FIGS. 5 and 6.) Both acting points or abuting points of operated in the high or low gear position and corre
both arms 17 an 17" on the swinging lever 14 are in the spondingly the swinging lever 33 moves in the direction
directly opposite positions of the swinging lever 14. as depicted by an arrow P in FIG. 8, the arm 35 of the
In the select operation of the shift lever 8 as depicted spring 34 moves in the same direction, coacting with the
by an arrow B-B in FIG. 2, the shift lever 8 is swung 30 swinging lever 33. However, the arm 35' of the spring
about the select shaft 7", coacting with the support 4. 34 biases against the side edge of the fixed lever 32 and
The rotation of the support 4 causes the swinging lever is retained at the previous position. This causes a tor
14 formed integrally with the boss 4a to swing about the sional moment to be applied to the spring 34 and a
select shaft 7. For example, in the case that the shift moment in the return direction to be created. As the
lever 8 is select-operated to a high gear position (or a 35 result, when a select operational force is relieved from
low gear position) and correspondingly the swinging the shift lever 8 in this state, the shift lever 8 returns to
lever 14 moves in the direction as depicted by an arrow the neutral position by the resilient force of the spring .
P in FIGS. 5 and 6, the arm 17 of the torsion spring 16
moves with the swinging lever 14. However, the arm On the contrary, in the event that the swinging lever
17 firmly abuts against the side edge 15a of the fixed 33 moves in the reverse direction of the arrow P, the
lever 15, so that it is retained at the previous position. arm 35' moves with the swinging lever 33 and the arm
As the result, a torsional moment is exerted to the spring 35 is retained at the previous position, thereby provid
16 and a moment in the return direction is created. ing a select return action by the spring 34 in the same
Accordingly, when a select operational force is relieved way as described in the above. Other functions associ
from the shift lever 8, the shift lever 8 is forced to return 45 ated with this embodiment is similar to the previous
to the neutral position by a resilient force of the spring embodiment, and therefore the detailed description
16. On the contrary, in the event that the swinging lever thereof is omitted.
14 moves in the reverse direction of the arrow P, the Especially in this embodiment, each member for ob
arm 17 is retained at the previous position by the fixed taining the select return force is assembled in an extra
lever 15, and the arm 17" moves with the swinging lever 50 space defined in the lower area of the boss 4a of the shift
14, thereby providing a select return action in the same lever support 4. This eliminates provision for larger
way as in the previously mentioned case. structure of the select return mechanism and permits an
Since the acting points of both arms 17 and 17" of the assembling operation to be readily made.
torsion spring 16 on the swinging lever 14 are in the In the event that there is no space for installing the
directly opposite positions of the swinging lever 14 as 55 select return mechanism inside of the upright member 3
herein before described, the select return force exerted of the shift lever retainer 2 or it is difficult to install the
by the spring 16 is stably equalized at the high and low select return mecahnism inside of the upright member 3,
gear positions. Furthermore, the alignment of the acting the set shaft 30, torsion spring 34 and other associated
points of both arms 17 and 17, in other words, the member may be installed outside of the upright member
arrangement such that the forces of arms 17 and 17 at 60 3. In this case, the swinging lever 33 is designed so as to
their acting points on the swinging lever 14 and the extend from a part of the shift lever support 4 to the
fixed lever 15 exist in a same plane, and the provision of outer portion of the upright member 3.
the torsion spring 16 about the select shaft 7 prevent the Having thus described the preferred embodiments of
excessive force such as a twisting moment from being the invention, it should be understood that numerous
applied to the spring 16. 65 structural modifications and adaptations may be re
Referring next to FIGS. 7 and 8 which illustrate sorted to without departing from the spirit of the inven
another embodiment of the present invention, a cylin tion.
drical set shaft30 is fastened to the upright member 3 of What is claimed is:
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4,458,549 6
1. In combination with a transmission for automobiles a torsion spring provided on one of said shift lever
of the type wherein a shift lever support is pivotably support and said fixed means, said torsion spring
mounted on a select shaft attached to a shift lever re being effective to apply resilient forces to said
tainer for effecting a select operation and a shift lever is swinging means and said fixed means in such a
pivotably mounted on said shift lever support for effect manner that the resilient forces act in the same
ing a shift operation, a select return mechanism com plane at high and low gear positions of said shift
prising: lever, said torsion spring being arranged about a
a swinging means secured to said shift lever support boss of said shift lever support.
for moving with said support; 4. In combination with a transmission for automobiles
a fixed means secured on said shift lever retainer for 10 of the type wherein a shift lever support is pivotably
being stationary relative to said swinging means; mounted on a select shaft attached to a shift lever re
and tainer for effecting a select operation and a shift lever is
a torsion spring provided on one of said shift lever pivotably mounted on said shift lever support for effect
support and said fixed means, said torsion spring ing a shift operation, a select return mechanism com
being effective to apply resilient forces to said 15 prising:
swinging means and said fixed means in such a a swinging means secured to said shift lever support
manner that the resilient forces act in the same for moving with said support;
plane at high and low gear positions of said shift a fixed means secured on said shift lever retainer for
lever. being stationary relative to said swinging means;
2. In combination with a transmission for automobiles 20 and
of the type wherein a shift lever support is pivotably a torsion spring provided on one of said shift lever
mounted on a select shaft attached to a shift lever re support and said fixed means, said torsion spring
tainer for effecting a select operation and a shift lever is being effective to apply resilient forces to said
pivotably mounted on said shift lever support for effect swinging means and said fixed means in such a
ing a shift operation, a select return mechanism com 25 manner that the resilient forces act in the same
prising: plane at high and low gear positions of said shift
a swinging means secured to said shift lever support lever, said torsion spring being arranged about a set
for moving with said support; shaft provided at a space defined independently
a fixed means secured on said shift lever retainer for from the swinging means.
being stationary relative to said swinging means; 30 5. The select return mechanism as defined in claim 4
and wherein said set shaft is provided at a space defined
a torsion spring provided on one of said shift lever under said select shaft of said shift lever support.
support and said fixed means, said torsion spring 6. In a transmission shift assembly including a shift
being effective to apply resilient forces to said lever retainer, a select shaft supported by said shift lever
swinging means and said fixed means in such a 35 retainer, a shift lever support coupled for rotatable
manner that the resilient forces act in the same movement about said select shaft, a shift lever coupled
plane at high and low gear positions of said shift to said shift lever support for effecting a shift operation,
lever, said torsion spring having two ends extended and a means for returning said shift lever to a neutral
to form a pair of arms and said both arms are ar position, the improvement in said means for returning
ranged bias against a lever member projecting from said shift lever to a neutral position comprising:
said swinging means and said fixed means. a swinging lever coupled to and extending from said
3. In combination with a transmission for automobiles shift lever support;
of the type wherein a shift lever support is pivotably a fixed lever coupled to and extending from said shift
mounted on a select shaft attached to a shift lever re lever retainer, said swinging lever and said fixed
tainer for effecting a select operation and a shift lever is 45 lever being in alignment in said neutral position;
pivotably mounted on said shift lever support for effect and
ing a shift operation, a select return mechanism com a torsion spring means for providing resilient forces
prising: to said swinging lever and said fixed lever in re
a swinging means secured to said shift lever support sponse to shift lever movements so that substan
for moving with said support; 50 tially equal forces are applied to return said shift
a fixed means secured on said shift lever retainer for lever to the neutral position upon movement of said
being stationary relative to said swinging means; shift lever in either of two shift directions.
and k sk sk :k

55

60

65