Patent ID: 7146871
Filing Date: 2006-12-12
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A vehicle running range switching device for switching among a plurality of running ranges of a vehicle transmission, from one of the running ranges to a running range selected by a vehicle driver, responsive to an electric signal, said vehicle running range switching device comprising: a range selection unit for use by the vehicle driver to generate the electric signal; a motor which outputs rotary motion controlled responsive to the electric signal from the range selection unit; a conversion mechanism for converting rotary motion of the motor to linear motion, wherein the conversion mechanism is a ball screw including a ball screw shaft rotated by the motor, a ball nut driven by the ball screw shaft so as to move axially with respect thereto and balls interposed between the ball screw shaft and the ball nut; an intermediate mechanism engaged with and pivoting with linear motion of the ball nut, for converting linear motion obtained by the conversion mechanism to swinging motion; a range switching member, which is movable across a plurality of selection regions corresponding to the plurality of running ranges and which is switched, by the swinging motion, to a specific selection region corresponding to the running range selected by the driver; and a detent mechanism for holding the range switching member in the specific selection region.