Patent ID: 6324932
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
An automatic transmission shifter unit for installation on a mounting block of an automotive vehicle, said unit comprising:a gate plate having an attachment flange for connection to said mounting block and further having a side plate with a plurality of gate detents formed thereon corresponding to the different operations of the transmission;an annular and axially projecting pocket formed in said gate plate;a ball bearing unit supported in said pocket having an annular outer race operatively engaging the inner annular side wall of said gate plate defining the peripheral wall of said pocket, said ball bearing unit having an inner annular race and an endless train of balls operatively mounted between the outer and inner races;a rotatable shifter member mounted for limited rotation about an axis transverse to said gate plate, said rotatable shifter member having an axially extending hub disposed within said pocket and supported by said inner race of said ball bearing unit;an attachment member extending through said gate plate and into said shifter member for securing said rotatable shifter member in operative position with respect to said gate plate, a manual shift lever operatively carried by said rotatable shifter member to different predetermined positions corresponding to the different operations of said automatic transmission; anda spring for urging said lever into a fixed position with respect to said gate plate and for yielding in response to a release movement of said lever so that said lever and said rotatable shifter member can be subsequently turned to change the operating condition of said transmission.