Patent ID: 7814810
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. In a park lock/brake transmission shift interlock apparatus including a base, a shifter including a shift lever pivoted to the base for movement between a plurality of gear positions including a park position, a pawl on the shift lever selectively engageable with notches on the base to control movement of the shift lever between the gear positions, at least one lever-position-controlling component, and a control circuit for controlling operation of the shifter based on predetermined vehicle conditions being met, an improvement comprising: an actuator for operating the at least one lever-position-controlling component, the actuator incorporating shape memory alloy wire operably connected to the control circuit and to a drive member for operating the lever-position-controlling component for locking the shift lever in a selected one of the gear positions until the predetermined vehicle conditions are met, the actuator being configured to move the drive member between shifter-locked and shifter-unlocked positions.