Vehicle Shift Lever Detent Design to Prevent Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shift lever devices in automatic transmissions can lead to recognition errors and potential accidents due to jamming or sticking, which affects the proper transmission of shifting operations and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A jamming protection apparatus for the shift lever, featuring a rotatable shift lever with an elastically behaving bullet and a detent portion, a behavior generator, and a controller that detects abnormal positions and operates the behavior generator to relieve friction and prevent jamming, ensuring smooth gear shifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a detent structure is provided to give a shifting feeling, then the shifting feeling is improved, but the shift lever may be stuck or jammed at abnormal positions
Solution Approach 1:
The detent portion is configured to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. When the shift lever is rotated, the detent portion can move to accommodate the bullet, preventing jamming while still providing detent engagement at proper gear positions to maintain the shifting feeling.
Solution Approach 2:
A behavior generator (such as a vibration motor or eccentric shaft mechanism) is introduced to generate vibrational motion that acts on the detent portion. This vibration helps prevent the bullet from becoming stuck in the grooved bottom by creating periodic movements that overcome static friction and misalignment, thereby preventing jamming while preserving the detent structure's shifting feeling function.
2Productivity
If the shift lever is rotated to shift gears, then gear changing is achieved, but recognition errors may occur when the shift lever is stuck
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor is installed to detect the position of the shift lever and provide feedback signals to a controller. The controller compares the detected position with expected positions for various gear ranges. When jamming is detected (abnormal position or unexpected停留 time), the controller activates the behavior generator to correct the position, ensuring accurate gear position recognition and preventing recognition errors.
3Force
If the bullet is elastically biased in the guide hole, then the contact with detent portion is improved, but the bullet may stick at abnormal positions
Solution Approach 1:
The behavior generator produces vibrational motion that is transmitted to the detent portion and bullet assembly. This vibration reduces the effective contact force between the bullet and grooved bottom by creating periodic separation and re-engagement, preventing the bullet from sticking at abnormal positions while maintaining sufficient contact force for proper detent engagement during normal operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents the shift lever from being stuck or jammed at abnormal positions, ensuring precise shifting to the desired gear range, thereby enhancing operational safety and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
A contact portion is provided in the shift lever and is provided with an elastically behaving bullet
Implementation Method 2
The behavior generator may be provided to be brought in contact with the detent portion in the housing, and may be configured to generate vibration such that the detent portion is moved in a contact direction of the bullet
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment method of operating a vehicle comprises detecting a first position of a shift lever, determining whether the first position of the shift lever is in a normal state or an abnormal state, and, in response to the first position of the shift lever being in the abnormal state, moving a detent portion of a housing relative to a contact portion of the shift lever in accordance with pre-stored position data.