Shift system theft protection feature

A steering column assembly includes a jacket assembly, a modular shift assembly, and a mounting bracket. The jacket assembly extends along a first axis. The modular shift assembly includes a shift bracket and a shift gate. The shift bracket is connected to the jacket assembly and defines a shift bracket opening. The shift gate is disposed on the shift bracket. The bracket defines a shift gate opening as well as first and second detents that extend from the shift gate opening. The mounting bracket is disposed on the shift bracket and has a tab that overlaps a portion of the shift gate.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles are provided with a shift system that is operable to select or shift gears of a vehicle transmission. The shift system may be mounted to a vehicle steering column and is operatively connected to the vehicle transmission through a control mechanism. The shift system may include a lever that may be utilized by an unscrupulous person to overload a portion of the shift system to abscond with the vehicle.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a steering column assembly that includes a jacket assembly, a modular shift assembly, and a mounting bracket. The jacket assembly extends along a first axis. The modular shift assembly includes a shift bracket and a shift gate. The shift bracket is connected to the jacket assembly and defines a shift bracket opening. The shift gate is disposed on the shift bracket. The bracket defines a shift gate opening as well as first and second detents that extend from the shift gate opening. The mounting bracket is disposed on the shift bracket and has a tab that overlaps a portion of the shift gate.

Also disclosed is a modular shift assembly for a steering column assembly. The modular shift assembly includes a shift gate and a mounting bracket. The shift gate is disposed on a shift bracket and defines a shift gate opening through which a shift lever clevis tip extends and a first detent arranged to receive the shift lever clevis tip. The mounting bracket is disposed on the shift bracket. The mounting bracket has a tab that extends towards the shift gate opening and is disposed proximate the first detent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a steering column assembly10may be an adjustable steering column assembly that is adjustable along a first axis12or movable relative another axis that is disposed generally transverse to the first axis12. The steering column assembly10includes a jacket assembly20and a modular shift assembly22.

The jacket assembly20extends along the first axis12and may be extendable or collapsible along the first axis12.

The modular shift assembly22is connected to the jacket assembly20. The modular shift assembly22is at least partially offset from the first axis12. The modular shift assembly22is arranged to facilitate the shifting or changing of a transmission state or position. The modular shift assembly22includes a shift bracket30, a shift gate32, a shift lever clevis tip34, and a mounting plate or mounting bracket36.

The shift bracket30is connected to the jacket assembly20. The shift bracket30may be directly connected to the jacket assembly20may be connected to the jacket assembly20through a cable bracket40.

The shift bracket30includes a first shift bracket portion50and a second shift bracket portion52. The first shift bracket portion50defines a shift bracket opening60that extends completely through the first shift bracket portion50. The second shift bracket portion52extends from the first shift bracket portion50.

The second shift bracket portion52defines a first mounting feature62and the second mounting feature64. The first mounting feature62extends along an axis that is disposed generally parallel to the axis along which the shift bracket opening60extends. The second mounting feature64extends along another axis that is disposed generally transverse to the axis along which the shift bracket opening60extends. The second mounting feature64extends along another axis that is disposed generally parallel to the first axis12.

A brake transmission shift interlock device (BTSI)70is connected to the second shift bracket portion52. The BTSI70includes a pin72and a switch74. The pin72extends through the first mounting feature62. The pin72is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The pin72, while in the extended position, inhibits the shift lever clevis tip34from moving out of a park position, as shown inFIGS. 2, 4, and,5. The pin72, while in the retracted position, facilitates or enables the shift lever clevis tip34to move out of the park position, as shown inFIG. 6.

The switch74extends through the second mounting feature64. The end of the shift lever clevis tip34is arranged to selectively engage the switch74, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4-6. Engagement between the shift lever clevis tip34and the switch74provides a signal indicative of the shift lever clevis tip34being in the park position.

The shift gate32may be at least partially disposed between the cable bracket40and the shift bracket30. The shift gate32is disposed on the shift bracket30. The shift gate32may be considered a detent plate that defines a shift gate opening80, a first detent82, a second detent84, a notch86, and a mounting hole88.

The shift gate opening80is disposed over and is proximately aligned with the shift bracket opening60such that the shift lever clevis tip34extends through the shift gate opening80and the shift bracket opening60.

The first detent82and the second detent84each extend from the shift gate opening80towards the mounting bracket36. The first detent82and the second detent84are each arranged to receive a portion of the shift lever clevis tip34. The first detent82may correspond to a park position, P, of a transmission. The second detent84may correspond to a non-park position of a transmission, such as a reverse position, R, a neutral position, N, a drive position, D, and/or another drive position, M/D1.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the notch86extends from a side of the shift gate32towards the shift gate opening80. The notch86is arranged to receive a protrusion90that extends from the first shift bracket portion50, to locate the shift gate32relative to the shift lever clevis tip34.

The mounting hole88is disposed proximate a corner of the shift gate32. The mounting hole88is arranged to receive a fastener102to couple the shift gate32to the first shift bracket portion50of the shift bracket30. In at least one embodiment, an additional fastener may be disposed proximate an opposing corner such that the additional fastener is disposed proximate the shift gate32and a portion of the mounting bracket36.

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, the shift lever clevis tip34extends at least partially through the shift bracket opening60and the shift gate opening80. The shift lever clevis tip34is arranged to be received by or disposed proximate at least one of the first detent82and the second detent84. The shift lever clevis tip34may be provided as a portion of a shift clevis that is operatively connected to or integrally formed with a shift lever. An operator of the vehicle may move the shift lever such that the shift lever clevis tip34moves between the various detents that correspond to various transmission positions.

An interface100is defined between a surface92of the shift gate32that at least partially defines the first detent82and a portion of the shift lever clevis tip34, while the shift lever clevis tip34is at least partially received within the first detent82. The forcible rotation of the shift lever clevis tip34may overload or yield a portion of the shift gate32proximate the interface100enabling the shift lever clevis tip34to be moved from the first detent82towards the second detent84without the pin72of the BTSI70being retracted. The mounting bracket36is provided with a feature that functions as a redundant over travel stop that reinforces the interface100between the shift lever clevis tip34and the surface92of the shift gate32to inhibit the forcible rotation of the shift lever clevis tip34from overloading or yielding portions of the shift gate32.

Referring to the Figures, the mounting bracket36is disposed on the shift bracket30and is connected to the shift bracket30by a fastener106. The mounting bracket36includes a tab110and a weldment112.

The tab110acts as a shift system theft protection feature that inhibits the shift lever clevis tip34from being used to override the BTSI70interlock or blocking features. The tab110overlaps a portion of the shift gate32that is disposed opposite the mounting hole88. The tab110extends towards the shift bracket opening60and towards the shift gate opening80along the first axis12. The tab110is disposed proximate the surface92of the first detent82of the shift gate32. The tab110is arranged to reinforce the interface100and defines a deflection travel stop for at least one of the shift gate32and the shift lever clevis tip34. The deflection travel stop is arranged to inhibit the shift lever clevis tip34from deforming or overloading the shift gate32responsive to the shift lever clevis tip34being forcibly moved from the first detent82towards the second detent84.

As shown inFIG. 3, a radial force114may attempt to lift a corner of the shift gate32opposite the mounting hole88. The tab110creates the deflection travel stop in direction116, which transfers the stress back to the shift lever creating an intentional design fuse that enables the shift lever that is connected to the shift lever clevis tip34to fail or yield prior to the interface100yielding or deforming.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the tab110includes a first surface120, a second surface122that is disposed opposite the first surface120, a pair of side surfaces124that extend between the first surface120and the second surface122, and an end surface126. The second surface122is disposed in a non-parallel and non-perpendicular relationship with the first surface120. The second surface122faces towards and is disposed proximate a surface of the shift gate32. The pair of side surface124are disposed parallel to the surface92of the first detent82of the shift gate32. The end surface126extends between distal ends of the first surface120, the second surface122, and the pair of side surfaces124. A chamfer128extends between the end surface126, a side surface of the pair of side surfaces124, the first surface120, and the second surface122.

The weldment112is spaced apart from the tab110. The weldment112extends along an axis that is disposed transverse to the first axis12such that the weldment112is disposed perpendicular to the tab110. The weldment112is arranged to engage the jacket assembly20.

The tab110of the mounting bracket36of the modular shift assembly22of the present disclosure facilitates the transfer of stresses from an interface100between the shift lever clevis tip34and a surface92of the shift gate32to a lever of the shift lever clevis tip34during a severe high load theft attempt. The tab110structurally reinforces the interface100to prevent override of the pin72of the BTSI70during the severe high load theft attempt. The tab110also restricts movement of the shift lever clevis tip34by engaging the shift lever clevis tip34.