Vehicle Shifter Assembly Selective Retention Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shifter assemblies for vehicles are complex and costly due to the need for duplicate components to prevent inadvertent movement from park and neutral states, requiring a more efficient solution for selective retention of transmission states.
Innovation Solution
A shifter assembly utilizing a housing with detent tracks and a locking member that moves between positions to selectively retain the shift lever in park and neutral states, reducing the number of moving components and complexity by using a unitary locking member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two lever arms and two detents are used independently to retain the shift lever in park and neutral states, then the transmission can be prevented from inadvertent movement, but the device complexity and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate detent mechanisms (park detent and neutral detent) into a single integrated detent structure. The shift lever has one detent portion that engages with either the park detent feature or neutral detent feature on the transmission housing, eliminating the need for separate lever arms and detents for each state. This merging reduces component count while maintaining the reliability of preventing inadvertent movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The single detent portion on the shift lever serves multiple functions: it can engage with the park detent feature to prevent movement when parked, or engage with the neutral detent feature to prevent inadvertent gear selection when towed. This multi-functional design allows one component to replace what would traditionally require two separate mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If duplicate components are used for park and neutral retention, then selective retention of transmission states is achieved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the park retention mechanism and neutral retention mechanism into a single integrated system. Instead of manufacturing and assembling separate lever arms and detents for each function, the design uses one shift lever with a single detent portion that can selectively engage with either the park detent feature or neutral detent feature, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The detent portion on the shift lever is designed as a universal component that can perform both park retention and neutral retention functions. This eliminates the need to produce duplicate specialized components for each function, thereby reducing production costs while maintaining the ability to selectively retain the transmission in either park or neutral state.
3Device complexity
If a single locking member is used to retain the shift lever in multiple positions, then the number of components is reduced, but the locking member must perform multiple functions
Solution Approach 1:
The shift lever's detent portion is designed as a universal locking element that can engage with multiple different detent features (park detent and neutral detent) on the transmission housing. This single detent portion performs multiple retention functions, allowing the system to maintain fewer components while still providing reliable retention for multiple transmission states through its ability to adapt to different engagement positions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A shifter assembly selects one of at least two states of a transmission. A first detent pin is disposed within a first channel in a locked position when a shift lever is in a first lever position and is spaced from the first channel in an unlocked position. A locking member is aligned with the first detent pin in the locked position when in a first position. A second detent pin of the locking member is disposed within a second channel when the shift lever is in the second lever position and the locking member is in a second position. A method of selectively preventing movement from each of the at least two states of the transmission includes the steps of aligning the locking member with the first detent pin in the first channel, moving the locking member, and disposing the second detent pin in the second channel.