Patent ID: 6689014
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A park position locking system for an automatic transmission shifter for a mobile vehicle, the vehicle having a chassis and an operators cab, the vehicle having an automatic transmission engaged to a chassis of the vehicle for driving an axle, the transmission engaged to an engine of the vehicle, and the engine engaged to the chassis of the vehicle, comprising:a vehicle electrical system with a common data bus; an electronic system controller electrically engaged to communicate on said common data bus through a standard multiplexing communications protocol; said electronic controller is an electronic system controller of the vehicle for managing an engine controller of the vehicle; a transmission controller engaged to the transmission to control and monitor transmission operation and mode; said transmission controller electrically engaged to said common data bus to communicate along said common data bus through a standard communications protocol; a service brake applied switch in communication with said electronic system controller; a gearshift, located within the cab; said gearshift for changing transmission operating mode, one mode being a PARK mode; a shift solenoid engaged to a gearshift handle of said gearshift, said shift solenoid engaged to a locking mechanism for locking and unlocking said gearshift handle; said locking mechanism comprising a male plunger that inserts into a hole in said gearshift handle upon locking; said electronic system controller in electrical communication with and for controlling said shift solenoid; said electronic system controller in electrical communication with a vehicle ignition circuit for detecting whether said vehicle ignition is in a RUN mode; and said electronic system controller programmed to send a signal to said shift solenoid to operate said locking mechanism to unlock said gearshift handle allowing said gearshift handle to be moved out of PARK mode when said vehicle ignition is in RUN, said service brake is applied, and said transmission operating mode is PARK mode; and said electronic system controller programmed to send a signal to said shift solenoid to operate said locking mechanism to lock said gearshift handle in PARK if said gearshift handle is in PARK or subsequently moved to PARK when said vehicle ignition not in RUN, said service brake not being applied, or said transmission operating mode not being in PARK.