PART FOR THE PROVISIONAL FIXATION OF THE SHIFT LEVER OF A MANUAL TRANSMISSION

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a part intended for the temporary immobilization at a selected ratio of a control lever mounted in the casing of a gearbox and such a mechanical gearbox for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle.

[0002] Such a gearbox comprises, in a manner known per se, a casing or housing in which is slidably mounted a control lever allowing the selection, engagement and disengagement of gears of the gearbox, which control lever is connected by cables or control rods to a gear change lever with knob located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0003] The connection of these two levers by the control cables or rods requires a control synchronization adjustment because the gearbox control lever must be correctly positioned at a selected gear, for example second gear, when the gearshift lever in the passenger compartment is also in a selection corridor of its control grid corresponding to this gear.

[0004] For this purpose, it is possible to manipulate the gearbox control lever before connecting it to the gearshift lever in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, but this process may cause the control lever to move to an undesired gear when connecting it to the gearshift lever, in which case the control lever is not correctly positioned when connecting it to the gearshift lever in the passenger compartment.

[0005] Document EP 0 983 893 discloses an immobilizing device for transporting and adjusting a gear lever or selector forming part of a group or assembly to be mounted in the underhood of the vehicle.

[0006] This immobilizer device comprises a plastic part that can be placed on the gear lever or selector group to immobilize and lock the latter relative to the group.

[0007] Thus, this device aims to immobilize the gearshift lever in the underhood of the vehicle and, moreover, it concerns an automatic gearbox.

[0008] In addition, the plastic part that immobilizes the gear lever or selector is of a relatively complex structure.

[0009] Document DE 10 2007 011034 discloses a locking device for a pivoting lever of a gearbox. The locking device is mounted on a pivot axis parallel to the axis of the lever.

[0010] The present invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0011] To this end, the invention relates to a part intended for the temporary immobilization at a selected ratio of a control lever mounted in the casing of a gearbox, comprising at least: a part intended for positioning the immobilizing part relative to an ear secured to the gearbox housing and for locking the immobilizing part to this ear, this part comprising a frame delimiting an opening intended for the passage of the ear and comprising two substantially parallel branches, one of which comprises a locking boss intended to be engaged in an orifice of the ear, the branch comprising the locking boss being able to be elastically separated from the other branch, and a part intended to immobilize the control lever at the selected gear and comprising an arm secured to the frame of the positioning and locking part in extension of the frame and the free end of which is shaped and intended to immobilize the control lever at the selected gear of the gearbox,and a third part consisting of an operating handle secured to the frame of the positioning and locking part opposite the immobilizing part of this part, which operating handle comprises two branches forming a clamp allowing, by bringing one towards the other, to elastically separate the branch with locking boss from the other branch of the frame of the positioning and locking part of the immobilizing part to disengage the locking boss from the orifice of the ear and remove the immobilizing part from the gearbox casing.

[0012] Advantageously, the free end of the immobilizing arm is curved at a right angle.

[0013] Preferably, the immobilizing part is a single piece and made of a plastic material. The invention also relates to a gearbox for a vehicle comprising a gearbox housing, a control lever mounted in the gearbox housing, and an ear secured to the housing, this ear having an orifice, this gearbox further comprising a temporary immobilizing part as previously described.

[0014] Advantageously, the free end of the immobilizing arm is curved at a right angle and the control lever comprises a bent end held in abutment on the internal face of the end curved at a right angle of the immobilizing arm.

[0015] Preferably, the immobilizing part is a single piece and is made of a plastic material.

[0016] Preferably, the gearbox is of the mechanical type.

[0017] Preferably, the control lever is slidably mounted in the housing.

[0018] The invention will be better understood, and other aims, characteristics, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the explanatory description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings given solely by way of example illustrating an embodiment of the invention and in which: There figure 1 is a partial perspective view from above of a gearbox for a motor vehicle and comprising the immobilizing part according to the invention; the figure 2 is a perspective view of the immobilizing part intended to immobilize the gearbox control lever of the figure 1 ; there figure 3 is a partial perspective side view of the gearbox showing the step of installing the immobilizing part in one ear of the gearbox housing; figure 4 is a top view of the immobilization part following arrow IV of the figure 3 ; and the figure 5 is a perspective view similar to that of the figure 3 and showing the immobilizing part removably fixed to the ear of the gearbox housing to immobilize the gearbox control.

[0019] Referring to the figures, reference 1 designates a gearbox, partially shown, for a vehicle, in particular an automobile. Preferably, the gearbox is of the mechanical type.

[0020] The gearbox 1 comprises a control lever 2 slidably mounted in the casing or housing 3 of the gearbox 1 and allowing the selection, engagement and disengagement of gears.

[0021] The control lever 2 is intended to be controlled by a gearshift lever with knob, not shown, located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0022] The control lever 2 and the gearshift lever are connected to each other by control cables or rods, not shown, and which require a control synchronization adjustment, because the control lever 2 must be correctly positioned in selection of a gear ratio such as second gear, when the gearshift lever in the passenger compartment is also in the corresponding selection corridor of its control grid.

[0023] For this purpose, according to the invention, the gearbox 1 comprises a part 4 removably fixed to a part of the casing 3 of the gearbox 1 and making it possible to temporarily immobilize the control lever 2 at a selected gear, for example the second gear, of the gearbox.

[0024] The immobilizing part 4 comprises three separate parts, respectively an operating part 5, an immobilizing part 6 for immobilizing the control lever 2 in the desired position and a central positioning and locking part 7 located between the operating parts 5 and immobilizing parts 6.

[0025] The central positioning and locking part 7 is in the form of a generally rectangular frame delimiting an opening intended for the passage of an ear 8 secured to the casing 3 of the gearbox 1 cooperating with the central part 7 of the immobilizing part 4 to position the immobilizing part 6 of the part 4 relative to the casing 3 in a relative position allowing the control lever 2 to be held in position at the selected gear, such as the second gear of the gearbox 1.

[0026] The frame of the positioning and locking part 7 comprises in particular two substantially parallel branches 9, one of which comprises a locking boss 10 which can be removably engaged in an orifice 11 of the lug 8 when the latter is introduced through the opening of the frame of the positioning and locking part 7. The orifice 11 can be constituted by a bore passing through the lug 8.

[0027] The locking boss 10 is secured to the inner face of a protrusion 12 of the corresponding branch 9 above it, the locking boss 10 being turned towards the other branch 9 of the frame of the positioning and locking part 7.

[0028] As shown, the locking boss 10 is cross-shaped, but it can have any other shape, such as for example a hemispherical shape.

[0029] The protrusion 12 comprising the locking boss 10 is integral with a free end of the corresponding branch 9 which is thus flexible.

[0030] The operating part 5 of the immobilizing part 4 is constituted by a handle secured to a branch 13 of the frame of the positioning and locking part 7 and perpendicular to the two branches 9.

[0031] The operating handle 5 comprises two branches 14 forming a clamp allowing, by bringing one towards the other, the flexible branch 9 with locking boss 10 to be elastically separated from the other branch 9 of the frame of the positioning and locking part 7 of the immobilizing part 4.

[0032] The part of the branch 13 of the frame of the positioning and locking part 7 located between the two branches 14 of the operating handle 5 is thinned and serves to pivot one of the branches 14 relative to the other to cause the elastic separation of the flexible branch 9 carrying the locking boss 10 from the other branch 9 of this frame.

[0033] The immobilizing part 6 of the part 4 comprises a rigid arm 15 secured to the branch 16 of the frame of the positioning and locking part 7 and located opposite the parallel branch 13 from which the operating handle 5 projects.

[0034] The free end 17 of the arm 15 is shaped to immobilize the control lever 2 in the selected gear, for example the second gear, of the gearbox 1. As shown, the free end 17 of the immobilizing arm 15 is curved at a right angle relative to the longitudinal direction of this arm.

[0035] The control lever 2 comprises a cylindrical axis 2a ending in an end portion 2b bent at right angles to the axis 2a.

[0036] The immobilizing part 4 has a generally planar configuration, that is to say that its three operating parts 5, immobilizing parts 6 and positioning and locking parts 7 are located in the same plane. Preferably, the immobilizing part 4 is in one piece and is made of a plastic material, for example based on synthetic resin.

[0037] As represented in the figures 3 à 5 , the two branches 14 of the operating handle 5 can be provided respectively with two fins 18 projecting from the same side of the handles 14 to facilitate gripping of the latter. The two fins 18 can be produced in a single piece with the immobilizing part 4.

[0038] If necessary, the immobilizing part 4 can also be provided with two positioning feet 19, only one of which is clearly visible, projecting from the connecting part of the immobilizing arm 15 to the frame of the positioning and locking part 7 in a direction perpendicular to the immobilizing arm 15 and shaped to bear respectively on two parallel end corners of the lug 8. The presence of these two feet 19 makes it easier to position the immobilizing part 4 relative to the lug 8.

[0039] As represented in the figures 3 And 4, the positioning of the immobilizing part 4 on the casing 3 of the gearbox 1 is carried out by elastically bringing together the two branches 14 of the operating handle 5 using the two fins 18 as symbolized by the arrows F1 in these figures to cause the elastic separation of the flexible branch 9 carrying the locking boss 10 relative to the other branch 9 as symbolized by the arrow F2 in figure 4then the immobilizing part 4 is brought closer to the casing 3 above the ear 8 as symbolized by the arrow F3 to engage the latter in the opening of the frame of the positioning and locking part 7 until the locking boss 10 is located opposite the orifice 11 of the ear 8, which boss is then engaged in this orifice by releasing the two handles 14 which move away elastically from each other with concomitant return of the flexible branch 9 to its rest position, thus locking the immobilizing part 4 to the ear 8. The latter is thus arranged between the two substantially parallel branches 9.

[0040] The control lever 2 is then moved until its bent end 2b comes to bear on the internal face of the bent end 17 of the immobilizing arm 15, the length of which will be determined so that by this immobilizing position of the control lever relative to this arm this lever occupies the selected gear, such as for example the second gear of the gearbox.

[0041] Thus, the immobilizing part 4 immobilizes the control lever 2 of the gearbox 1 in a given speed ratio.

[0042] It should be noted that the two feet 19, which are supported respectively in the two corresponding corners of the ear 8 in the position of fixing the immobilizing part 4 to the casing 3 of the gearbox 1, contribute to the precision of positioning of the part 4 relative to the ear 8 and, consequently, to the precision of immobilizing the control lever 2 relative to the casing 3 at the given speed ratio of the gearbox 1.

[0043] To disengage the immobilizing part 4 from the casing 3 of the gearbox 1 once the control lever 2 has been correctly connected to the gear change lever in the passenger compartment of the vehicle by means of the control cables or rods, it is sufficient to grasp the two branches 14 of the operating handle 5 using the fins 18 to elastically bring these two branches closer together and cause the elastic separation of the flexible branch 9 relative to the lug 8 in order to disengage the locking boss 10 from the orifice 11 of the lug 8 and then the immobilizing part 4 is moved from above the lug 8 to remove it from the latter.

[0044] It should be noted that the operation of immobilizing the control lever 2 at the selected speed ratio can be carried out by moving this lever relative to the casing of the gearbox 1 at this ratio and then by removably fixing the immobilizing part 4 to the ear 8 so that the bent end 17 of the immobilizing arm 15 comes into sliding support on the bent end 2b of this lever during this fixing.

[0045] The immobilizing part 4 is placed on the gearbox housing at the end of assembly of the latter and must remain in place until the external control constituted by the gearshift lever in the passenger compartment of the vehicle is connected to the control lever of this gearbox. Once this connection has been made, the immobilizing part 4 is removed from the gearbox housing 1 and, in any case, before using the vehicle.

[0046] In principle, the immobilizer part 4 is discarded after use, but it can be reused during after-sales interventions on the gearbox requiring disassembly of the cables or control rods connecting the gearbox control lever and the gearshift lever in the vehicle passenger compartment.

[0047] The invention as described above guarantees the correct positioning of the gearbox control lever from the end of manufacturing of the latter in the mechanical factory, until the connection with the vehicle control in the final factory. It eliminates any risk of error in the adjustment of control synchronization between the gearbox control lever and the gear change lever in the passenger compartment of the vehicle and limits the adjustments of the overall gearbox and vehicle control, thus saving time and improving assembly precision.

[0048] According to an example outside the invention, the immobilizing part 4 may not include an operating part 5. In this case, the immobilizing part 4 will be removably fixed to the lug 8 of the casing 3 of the gearbox 1 by positioning the frame of the positioning and locking part 7 above the lug 8 and then manually exerting pressure on the two branches 9 until the locking boss 10 elastically engages in the orifice 11 of the lug 8 by the flexible branch 9. To remove the immobilizing part 4 from the lug 8, a tool, such as a screwdriver, will be introduced under the frame of the locking positioning part by exerting an upward force relative to the casing 3 of the gearbox 1 to elastically disengage the locking boss 10 from the orifice 11 of the lug 8. Such disengagement can be facilitated by making the locking boss 10 following a hemispherical shape.According to another variant, the protuberance 12 carrying the boss 10 of hemispherical shape could be flexible relative to its support branch 9 which would be rigid to elastically engage the boss 10 in the orifice 11 of the ear 8 or elastically disengage it from this orifice using the tool.

Claims

1. Part (4) intended for temporary immobilization at a selected ratio of a lever control unit (2) mounted in the housing (3) of a gearbox (1), comprising at least: - a part (7) intended for positioning the immobilizing part (4) relative to an ear (8) secured to the casing (3) of the gearbox (1) and to the locking of the immobilizing part (4) to this ear, this part (7) comprising a frame delimiting an opening intended for the passage of the ear (8) and comprising two substantially parallel branches (9), one of which comprises a locking boss (10) intended to be engaged in an orifice (11) of the ear (8), the branch (9) comprising the locking boss (10) being able to be elastically separated from the other branch (9), and - a part (6) intended to immobilize the control lever (2) at the selected gear and comprising an arm (15) integral with the frame of the positioning and locking part (7) extending from the frame and the free end (17) of which is conformable and intended to immobilize the control lever (2) at the selected gear of the gearbox. speeds (1), characterized in that it comprises a third part (5) consisting of an operating handle integral with the frame of the positioning and locking part (7) opposite the immobilizing part (6) of this part, which operating handle (5) comprises two branches (14) forming a clamp allowing, by bringing one closer to the other, to elastically separate the branch (9) with locking boss (10) from the other branch (9) of the frame of the part (7) for positioning and locking the immobilizing part (4) to disengage the locking boss (10) from the orifice (11) of the ear (8) and to remove the immobilizing part (4) from the casing (3) of the gearbox (1).

2. Immobilization part according to claim 1, characterized in that the end free arm (17) of the immobilizing arm (15) is curved at a right angle.

3. Immobilization part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a single piece and made of a plastic material.

4. Gearbox (1) for a vehicle comprising a gearbox housing (3) gears (1), a control lever (2) mounted in the housing (3) of the gearbox (1), and an ear (8) secured to the housing (3), this ear (8) having an orifice (11), characterized in that it comprises a temporary immobilization part (4) according to one of the preceding claims.

5. Gearbox according to claim 4, characterized in that the free end (17) of the immobilizing arm (15) is curved at a right angle and the control lever (2) has a bent end (2b) held in abutment on the internal face of the right-angled curved end (17) of the immobilizing arm (15).

6. Gearbox according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the immobilizing part (4) is in one piece and made of a plastic material.

7. Gearbox according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that it is of the mechanical type.

8. Gearbox according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the control lever (2) is slidably mounted in the housing (3).