Abstract:
A shift tower housing for a vehicle transmission that can receive either a push button selector or a lever selector at a comfortable and ergonomic location. The surfaces of both the push button and the lever selectors are at about 15% to the horizontal, which renders surface indicia on the selectors in a comfortable vision range for the operator. The inclined upper surfaces of the selectors also places lever and push buttons at comfortable ergonomic position for the operator. Replacing a single mounting part can make a conversion from a push button selector unit to a push button selector unit. The shift tower also includes mounting mechanism upon which a stand-alone electronic control unit is mounted, that is compatible with either the push button selector or the lever selector control. The vibrations of the shift tower are minimized as a result of mounting it directly to vehicle floor support member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a control tower for a gear select transmission shifter and, more particularly, to a control tower that can be used for either a lever selector or a push button selector. The control tower of this invention has been developed for use with a transmission (part number HD-4560P) and gear selectors (part numbers AS07-113 &amp; AS07-114) manufactured by Allison Transmissions, of XXXX. However, it could be used for other transmissions and gear selectors of comparable size and design. Either the lever selector (part number AS07-114) or the push button selector (part number AS07-114) can shift the same transmission, for example, part number HD-4560P manufactured by Allison Transmissions. In the past, Allison Transmissions offered a lever type gear selector with an integral electronic control unit and a push button type gear selector with an integral electronic control unit. Control towers to accommodate those combined units required additional mounting parts to receive one or the other selectors. Also, when the control tower was used for the push button selector, it was mounted such that it extended from the cab floor at an angle, which resulted in locating the selector at an uncomfortable position for the operator of the vehicle. The special mounting parts increased the complexity and cost of assembly as well as the number of repair parts that must be inventoried. Also, a defective selector unit required replacing the entire selector-electronic control unit combination, which increased considerably the cost of repairing a gear selector, as well as requiring very expensive units to be carried in the replacement parts inventory. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The control tower of this invention can be used for either the lever selector or the push button selector, and only a single additional part is needed for either the lever selector or the push button selector. The shift tower has a generally rectangular cross section, the longitudinal axis of which extends parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis. The front side of the shift tower faces the forward direction of the vehicle and the rear side of the shift tower faces the reverse direction of the vehicle. The vehicle operator is seated to the rear of the vehicle relative to the location of the shift tower such that the operator sees the rear side of the shift tower. The vehicle operator is also located to the left side of the shift tower. The eye level of the vehicle operator is above the top of the shift tower. The top edge of the shift tower is formed by the top edge of a three-sided vertically extending housing and a top brace member that, together, define a gear selector receiving opening. Both the lever selector and the push button selector are sized to be received in the gear selector-receiving opening. The top edge of the shift tower lies in a plane that is elevated from the back side to the front side of the shift tower at an angle of about fifteen degree to the horizontal. This orientates the top surfaces of the lever selector and the push button selector at an inclined angle to the operator&#39;s line of vision which facilitates the operator&#39;s view of the indicia and read-outs contained on the top surfaces of the selectors. As a result to this orientation, the shift tower is located relative to the vehicle operator such that it is comfortable and ergonomic for the operator to reach the lever or push button selectors and to view the indicators on the top surfaces. 
     This invention allows the push button selector to be orientated at an angle of fifteen degrees to the horizontal without the need for additional mounting parts and provides an ergonomically comfortable and desirable design for the operator of the vehicle. In addition, as a result of anchoring the control tower of this invention to a structural floor support, the control tower vibrations have been significantly reduced from that present in the prior design. Furthermore, the control tower of this invention is lighter and costs less to manufacture. For these reasons, the control tower of this invention is a significant improvement over past control towers. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the control shift tower and its vehicle mounting support. (T13-51461) 
     FIG. 2 is an isolated perspective view of the lever selector. 
     FIG. 3 is an isolated perspective view of the push button selector. 
     FIG. 4 is an isolated perspective views of the stand-alone electronic control unit. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shift control tower with the lever selector mounted thereon and with the cover plate removed. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shift control tower with the push button selector mounted thereon and with the cover plate removed. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the shift control tower with the stand-alone electronic control unit mounted thereon and with the cover plate removed. 
     FIG. 8 is a partially exploded perspective view of the shift control tower with the lever control and the stand-alone electronic control unit mounted thereon and also includes the wiring harness for the unit. 
     FIG. 9 is a partially exploded perspective view of the shift control tower with the push button control and the stand-alone electronic control unit mounted thereon and also includes the wiring harness for the unit. 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of a bracket used to mount the push button selector in the control shift tower. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the transmission including the wiring harness that shift controls and the electronic control units are connected to. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     There is shown in FIG. 1 an exploded view of the control shift tower  10  and its vehicle mounting support  20 . The control shift tower  10  and mounting support  20  is used for either the push button control or the lever control. 
     The control shift tower  10  includes a mounting base plate  12 , a three-sided vertically extending housing  14 , a top brace member  16  and a cover plate  18 . The three-sided vertically extending housing  14  has a front side that faces the forward direction of the vehicle and a rear side that faces the reverse direction of the vehicle. The vertical edges of the three-sided vertically extending housing  14  have flanges  17  extending therefrom. Flanges  17  lay in a plane that extends from the front to the back sides of the control shift tower  10 . The top brace member  16  permanently connects the open sides of the three-sided vertically extending housing  14  by welding or the like. The rear side of the three-sided vertically extending housing  14  has an archshaped opening  15  formed therein through which a section of the wiring harness  60  exits the control shift tower  10 . The cover plate  18  can be readily removed for servicing the mechanisms housed in the control shift tower  10 . 
     The bracket  48 , seen in FIG. 1, is used only with the push button selector  40  and will be fully discussed with reference to FIGS. 10 and 1. 
     The vehicle mounting support  20  includes a cab floor plate  22  and a floor support  24 . The cab floor plate  22  is made of heavy gauge sheet metal and is carried by the vehicle frame. The floor support  24  is a rigid channel that is part of the vehicle frame or directly connected to the vehicle frame. As indicated by the dashed lines D, fasteners extend through apertures formed in the mounting base  12  and the cab floor plate  22  to secure the control shift tower  10  to the cab floor plate  22 . Two of the fasteners also extend into apertures  26  formed in the floor support  24  to thereby securely connect the control shift tower  10  to the vehicle frame. This mounting arrangement provides for a much improved mounting for the control shift tower and results in a lower vibration rate for the control shift tower  10 . 
     FIG. 2 shows the lever selector  30  along with its umbilical cord  32  that is connected to the transmission  80  and the electronic control unit  50 , as shall be discussed in greater detail. The lever selector  30  includes a lever  34  having a knob  36  and gear indicator displays  38 . As shall be further discussed, the lever selector  30  will be mounted on the control shift tower  10  at an angle of 15% to the horizontal, which enhances the operator&#39;s view of the gear indicator displays  38  as well as improves the ergonomically qualities of the unit. As previously indicated, this unit is a purchased unit and details of the mechanism that are housed in this unit and to which the lever  34  is connected are not shown in this view. 
     FIG. 3 shows the push button selector  40  along with its umbilical cord  42  that is connected to the transmission  80  and the stand-alone electronic control unit  50  as shall be discussed in greater detail. The push button selector  40  includes a plurality of push buttons  44  and gear indicator displays  46 . As shall be further discussed, the push button selector  40  will be mounted on the control shift tower  10  at an angle of 15% to the horizontal which enhances the operator&#39;s view of the gear indicator displays  46  while the buttons  44  are ergonomically located for the operator&#39;s convenience. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electric control unit  50  that is used in combination with either the lever selector  30  or push button selector  40 . The stand-alone electronic control unit  50  includes mounting slots  52 ,  54  and  56  for securing the unit within the control shift tower  10 . The stand-alone electronic control unit  50  also includes plugs  57 ,  58  and  59  to which portions of the wiring harness  60  are connected. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the control shift tower  10  with the lever selector  30  mounted thereon. In this view, the cover plate  18  is not shown to better show the inside of the control shift tower  10 . Also in this view, the electronic control unit  50  is not shown. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the control shift tower  10  with the push button selector  40  mounted thereon. In this view, the cover plate  18  is not shown to better show the inside of the control shift tower  10 . Also in this view, the electronic control unit  50  is not shown. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the control shift tower  10  with the stand-alone electronic control unit  50  mounted thereon. The stand-alone electronic control unit  50  will be mounted as shown in this view for the embodiment including the lever selector  30  and the embodiment including the push button selector  40 . It should be noted that the stand-alone electronic control unit is hung in the control shift tower  10  such that the plugs  57 ,  58  and  59  are at the bottom. This arrangement renders the electrical system less likely to be damaged if water or other moisture were to accidentally enter the interior of the control shift tower  10 . In this view, the cover plate  18  is not shown to better show the inside of the control shift tower  10 . Also in this view, the lever selector  30 , the push button selector  40  nor the bracket  48  are shown. 
     FIG. 8 is a partially exploded perspective view of the shift control tower  10  with the lever selector  30  and the stand-alone electronic control unit  50  mounted thereon. This view also shows the wiring harness  60  that interconnects the lever selector  30  and stand-alone electronic control unit  50  with the vehicle engine and transmission  80 . 
     Also shown in FIG. 8 is a brace  19  that has an aperture  21  formed in each end thereof. Brace  19  is used only in the embodiment that includes the lever selector  30 . Elongated bolts are inserted through apertures (not shown) formed in the side of the three-sided vertically extending housing  14  that is opposite cover plate  18 . The elongated bolts extend through two sets of aligned apertures  35  formed in the lever selector  30 , see FIG.  2 . The free ends of elongated bolts extend through apertures  21  formed in brace  19 ; apertures  13  formed in flanges  17  and apertures  23  formed in cover plate  18 . The path of the elongated bolts is traced by the dash line identified as B in FIG.  8 . Fasteners, such as nuts or wing nuts, are tightened down on the free ends of the elongated bolts to thus secure the lever selector  30  to the control shift tower  10 . 
     In FIG. 8, the umbilical cord  32  of the lever selector  30  is connected to an end  61  of the wiring harness  60 . Wiring harness  60  extends down to a first bulkhead connector  62 . The wiring harness  60  branches off above the first bulkhead connector  62  into a horizontal section  63  that includes a downwardly extending portion  64  that extends to a second bulkhead connector  65 . An engine wire harness (not shown) plugs into the other bulkhead connector  65 . The wiring harness  60  also includes sections  66  and  67  that extends up and are connected to the electronic control mechanism  50  through two of the plugs  57 - 59 . Another section  68  of wiring harness  60  extends through the arch shaped opening  15  and then to a diagnostic connector box  70  into which diagnostic equipment can be linked. The rear side of the three-sided vertically extending housing  14  carries diagnostic connector box  70 . A branch  69  of the section  68  extends to the vehicle interface module  90  that is secured to the outer surface of the cover plate  18 . 
     FIG. 9 is a partially exploded perspective view of the shift control tower  10  with the push button selector  40  and the stand-alone electronic control unit  50  mounted thereon. This view also shows the wiring harness  60  that interconnects the push button selector  40  and stand-alone electronic control unit  50  with the vehicle engine and transmission  80 . 
     In FIG. 9, the umbilical cord  42  of the push button selector  40  is connected to an end  61  of the wiring harness  60 . Wiring harness  60  extends down to a first bulkhead connector  62 . The wiring harness  60  branches off above the first bulkhead connector into a horizontal section  63  that includes a downwardly extending portion  64  that extends to a second bulkhead connector  65 . The wiring harness  60  also includes sections  66  and  67  that extend up and are connected to the electronic control mechanism  50  through two of the plugs  57 - 59 . Another section  68  of wiring harness  60  extends through the arch shaped opening  15  and then to a diagnostic connector box  70  into which diagnostic equipment can be linked. The three-sided vertically extending housing  14  carries diagnostic connector box  70 . A branch  69  of the section  68  extends to the vehicle interface module  90  that is secured to the outer surface of the cover plate  18 . 
     As seen in FIG. 1, bracket  48  has a large aperture  49  and two small apertures  47  formed therein. The bracket  48  is secured to the top of control shift tower  10  by fasteners that extend through apertures  43  that are formed in the edges of bracket  48  and in the front and rear sides of the three-sided vertically extending housing. The umbilical cord  42  for the push button selector  40  extends through the large aperture  49  and fasteners for the push button selector  40  are received in the small apertures  47  that are used to and are secured in the top of control shift tower  10 . Bracket  48  is used only with the push button selector  40 . A cross-section view of bracket  48  is shown in FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a transmission  80  that is of the type that can be controlled by selectors  30  and  40 . The transmission wiring harness  82  is shown in this view. At the free end of wiring harness  82  is a female connector  84  that plugs into bulkhead connector  62 . An engine wire harness (not shown) plugs into the other bulkhead connector  65 . 
     The foregoing specification describes only preferred embodiments of the invention as shown. Embodiments other than the ones described above may be articulated as well. The terms and expressions therefore serve only to describe the invention by example only and not to limit the invention. It is expected that others perceive differences which, while differing from the foregoing, do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention herein described and claimed.