Actively restorable gear shifting device and gear shifting method using the same

An actively restorable gear shifting device and a gear shifting method using the same are provided. The gear shifting device includes a gear shifting lever unit that is moved from an initial position to an operating position by external operating force and is connected to a restoring mechanism to be restored to the initial position when the operating force is eliminated. A driving gear is connected to the gear shifting lever unit to be rotated by a motion of the gear shifting lever unit. A driven gear engages with an outer tooth portion of the driving gear, connects to a gear shifting cable, and implements gear shifting by pushing or pulling the gear shifting cable by a rotation of the driving gear. The gear shifting lever unit is connected to the driving gear by a pawl, and the pawl has a first joining position and a second joining position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 201910062449.3 filed on Jan. 23, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an actively restorable gear shifting device and a gear shifting method using the same, and more particularly, to a gear shifting device capable of maintaining stability of mechanical gear shifting and implementing an electronic gear shifting mode such as shift by wire (SBW).

(b) Description of the Related Art

Recently, many vehicles use mechanical gear shifting such as a shift by cable (SBC) gear shifting system. The mechanical gear shifting implements gear shifting through power transmission between mechanical structures and has high stability and reliability. With the development of smart vehicles and as the technological advances, electronic gear shifting (shift by wire, SBW) has begun to be applied to high-grade passenger vehicles. The electronic gear shifting implements the gear shifting using an electronic control operation without requiring mechanical power transmission mechanisms. In the electronic gear shifting mode, a driver may complete the gear shifting for each gear position by minimally pushing or pulling a gear shifting lever. After the gear shifting, the gear shifting lever automatically returns to an initial position.

The electronic gear shifting has an advantage in that the electronic gear shifting reduces a driver's operating effort to enable the driver to more easily and conveniently perform the gear shifting, and an external appearance of the electronic gear shifting lever appears more technically sensible. When the SBW is applied instead of the mechanical gear shifting, an actuator is required to be added to a transmission, and a wire harness system also needs to be changed correspondingly, and as a result, costs of the electronic gear shifting system are increased. In addition, the electronic gear shifting depends on control of electrical signals. Accordingly, stability and reliability of the electronic gear shifting are also lower than those of the mechanical gear shifting, and as a result, there is a safety risk such as a risk that the vehicle is unable to operate normally in the event of a power and circuit failure.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides an actively restorable gear shifting device and a gear shifting method using the same, which are capable of maintaining stability of mechanical gear shifting and implementing an electronic gear shifting mode such as shift by wire (SBW).

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an actively restorable gear shifting device that may include: a gear shifting lever unit configured to be moved from an initial position to an operating position by external operating force and connected to a restoring mechanism to be restored to the initial position when the operating force is eliminated; a driving gear coupled to the gear shifting lever unit to be rotated by a motion of the gear shifting lever unit; and a driven gear which engages with an outer tooth portion of the driving gear, connects to a gear shifting cable, and implements gear shifting by pushing or pulling the gear shifting cable using a rotation of the driving gear. The gear shifting lever unit may be coupled to the driving gear via a pawl, and the pawl may have a first joining position and a second joining position.

When the pawl is coupled to the driving gear at a first joining position, the driving gear may rotate in a first rotation direction by first directional operating force applied to the gear shifting lever unit, the driven gear may rotate in a second rotation direction, and the gear shifting cable may be pushed. When the pawl is coupled to the driving gear at a second joining position, the driving gear may rotate in the second rotation direction by second directional operating force applied to the gear shifting lever unit, the driven gear may rotate in the first rotation direction, and the gear shifting cable may be pulled. In particular, the first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other, and the first rotation direction and the second rotation direction are also opposite to each other.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the gear shifting lever unit may include: a handle mounted on an upper portion of the gear shifting lever; and a rotating plate mechanism having a rotating plate main body, and a rotating plate shaft installed on a first axially lateral surface of the rotating plate main body and connected to a lower portion of the gear shifting lever. The rotating plate mechanism may be rotated in the first rotation direction from the initial position by the first directional operating force applied to the handle, and the rotating plate mechanism may be rotated in the second rotation direction from the initial position by the second directional operating force applied to the handle.

Additionally, the restoring mechanism may include a guide member and an elastic restoring contactor both fixedly installed at an outer portion of the rotating plate mechanism, a first guide groove, a second guide groove, and a position fixing groove may be disposed in a lateral surface of the guide member that faces the rotating plate mechanism. The position fixing groove may be disposed between the first guide groove and the second guide groove and connected to the first guide groove and the second guide groove. A first end of the elastic restoring contactor may be elastically joined to the rotating plate mechanism, and a second end of the elastic restoring contactor may be positioned and fixed in the position fixing groove by elastic force when the rotating plate mechanism does not rotate.

The elastic restoring contactor may be moved from the position fixing groove along the first guide groove or the second guide groove by operating force applied to the handle along with the rotation of the rotating plate mechanism. When the operating force is eliminated, the elastic restoring contactor may be restored to the position fixing groove from the first guide groove or the second guide groove, and the rotating plate mechanism, the gear shifting lever, and the handle may return to the initial position.

Further, each of the first guide groove and the second guide groove may have a gradient to be inclined toward the rotating plate mechanism and/or each of the first guide groove and the second guide groove may have a degree of curvature to be curved toward the rotating plate mechanism.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the rotating plate mechanism may further include an elastic contactor mounting holder, and the elastic restoring contactor may be elastically mounted, by a restoring spring, on the elastic contactor mounting holder. The pawl may include a rotation base portion, and a first pawl arm and a second pawl arm which protrude from the rotation base portion and define a predetermined angle therebetween. The driving gear may have an annular shape, an inner tooth portion may be disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the driving gear, and tooth portions, which correspond to the inner tooth portion, may be disposed at a free end of the first pawl arm and a free end of the second pawl arm, respectively.

Additionally, a pawl mounting holder may be installed on a second axially lateral surface of the rotating plate main body. The pawl mounting holder may include a mounting recess which is matched with the rotation base portion of the pawl. The pawl mounting holder may further include a first joining surface and a second joining surface disposed at both sides of the mounting recess and define a predetermined angle therebetween, and the rotation base portion may be rotatable in the mounting recess.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the angle between the first pawl arm and the second pawl arm may be less than the angle between the first joining surface and the second joining surface. The first pawl arm and the second pawl arm may be positioned between the first joining surface and the second joining surface. A length of the first pawl arm and a length of the second pawl arm may satisfy a condition in which at the first joining position, the tooth portion at the free end of the first pawl arm and the inner tooth portion of the driving gear engage with each other, but the tooth portion at the free end of the second pawl arm and inner tooth portion of the driving gear do not engage with each other, and a lateral surface of the first pawl arm is joined to the first joining surface, and at the second joining position, the tooth portion at the free end of the second pawl arm and the inner tooth portion of the driving gear engage with each other, but the tooth portion at the free end of the first pawl arm and the inner tooth portion of the driving gear do not engage with each other, and a lateral surface of the second pawl arm is joined to the second joining surface. The pawl may further include an intermediate position, and the first pawl arm and the second pawl arm may not engage with the driving gear at the intermediate position.

The actively restorable gear shifting device may further include a rotating member installed on the second axially lateral surface of the rotating plate main body and positioned between the first pawl arm and the second pawl arm, an elastic rotating contactor, elastically in contact with the pawl and elastically coupled to the rotating member. The pawl may be positioned at the intermediate position when the elastic rotating contactor of the rotating member abuts the first pawl arm and the second pawl arm between the first pawl arm and the second pawl arm. Additionally, the pawl may be positioned at the first joining position when the rotating member rotates and the elastic rotating contactor abuts the first pawl arm, and the pawl may be positioned at the second joining position when the rotating member rotates and the elastic rotating contactor abuts the second pawl arm.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a button may be installed on the handle and may be connected to the rotating member via a power transmission pin and a connecting member and may be configured to adjust the rotation of the rotating member. The elastic rotating contactor of the rotating member may abut the first pawl arm and the second pawl arm between the first pawl arm and the second pawl arm and the pawl may be positioned at the intermediate position when the button is disengaged. The rotating member may rotate in the first rotation direction to allow the elastic rotating contactor to abut the first pawl arm and the pawl may be positioned at the first joining position when a lower portion of the button is pushed. The rotating member may rotate in the second rotation direction to allow the elastic rotating contactor to abut the second pawl arm and the pawl may be positioned at the second joining position when an upper portion of the button is pushed.

The gear shifting lever may have a vertically long groove to mount the power transmission pin is mounted therein. A first end of the power transmission pin may be connected to the button via a connecting member installed in the gear shifting lever, and a second end of the power transmission pin may protrude outward from the gear shifting lever through the long groove and connect to the rotating member. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a fork member for coupling the power transmission pin may be connected to the rotating member via a rotating shaft that penetrates the rotating plate main body, and the fork member may have a slot into which the power transmission pin may be inserted.

Further, the power transmission pin may be positioned at an middle portion of the long groove when the button is disengaged. The power transmission pin may move downward along the long groove from the middle portion of the long groove to allow the rotating member to rotate in the first rotation direction when the lower portion of the button is pushed. Additionally, the power transmission pin may move upward along the long groove from the middle portion of the long groove to allow the rotating member to rotate in the second rotation direction when the upper portion of the button is pushed.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a gear shifting method using the actively restorable gear shifting device, the gear shifting method may include: positioning the pawl at the first joining position or the second joining position; implementing gear shifting by rotating the driving gear in the first rotation direction to rotate the driven gear in the second rotation direction and push the gear shifting cable by applying the first directional operating force to the gear shifting lever unit when the pawl is coupled to the driving gear at the first joining position, or implementing gear shifting by rotating the driving gear in the first rotation direction to rotate the driven gear in the second rotation direction and pull the gear shifting cable by applying the second directional operating force to the gear shifting lever unit when the pawl is coupled to the driving gear at the second joining position; and restoring the gear shifting lever unit from the operating position to an initial position by eliminating the operating force when the gear shifting is complete.

The following effects may be obtained by the present invention with combinations of the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments and structures and operational relationships between the structures which will be described below. The present invention may implement the gear shifting function and maintain stability of the mechanical gear shifting, and as a result, it may be possible to implement the electronic gear shifting mode such as shift by wire (SBW) by changing the gear shifting device without changing other members in the mechanical gear shifting system (e.g., the shift by cable (SBC) gear shifting system) in the related art. Accordingly, the present invention improves a user's driving experience and decreases costs in comparison with the SBW.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated inFIG. 1, an actively restorable gear shifting device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: a gear shifting lever unit1configured to be moved from an initial position to an operating position by external operating force and connected to a restoring mechanism6to be restored to the initial position when the operating force is eliminated; a driving gear2coupled to the gear shifting lever unit1to be rotated by a motion of the gear shifting lever unit1; and a driven gear4which engages with an outer tooth portion21of the driving gear2, connects to a gear shifting cable5, and implements gear shifting by pushing or pulling the gear shifting cable5by a rotation of the driving gear2. The gear shifting device may maintain stability of mechanical gear shifting, and enable the gear shifting lever unit1to be actively restored to the initial position without a separate operation after completing the gear shifting, like electronic gear shifting.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the gear shifting lever unit1may include: a handle101mounted on an upper portion of the gear shifting lever102; and a rotating plate mechanism103having a rotating plate main body1031, and a rotating plate shaft1032installed on a first axially lateral surface of the rotating plate main body1031and connected to a lower portion of the gear shifting lever102. A sleeve104may be connected to the rotating plate shaft1032, and a lower portion of the gear shifting lever102may be mounted in the sleeve104. When operating force is applied by a driver to the handle101, the rotating plate main body1031may be rotated. The rotating plate mechanism103may be rotated counterclockwise by forward operating force applied to the handle101based on the initial position, and the rotating plate mechanism103may be rotated clockwise by rearward operating force applied to the handle101based on the initial position.

The driving gear2may be rotatably supported by the rotating plate main body1031and a gear cover8which are positioned at both axial sides of the driving gear2. Rotation grooves, which correspond to the rotating plate main body1031and the gear cover8, respectively, may be disposed in both surfaces of the driving gear2, and the gear cover8may be fixed to the rotating plate mechanism103by screws9or other fastening mechanisms. The initial position refers to a position at which the handle101, the gear shifting lever102, and the rotating plate mechanism103are in a natural state when no operating force is applied.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the restoring mechanism6may include a guide member601and an elastic restoring contactor602both fixedly installed at an outer portion of the rotating plate mechanism103. The guide member601may be fixedly installed by a support (not illustrated). In the present exemplary embodiment, the guide member601may be fixedly installed at a rear side of the rotating plate mechanism103based on the gear shifting lever102, but the position of the guide member601is not limited thereto.

A first guide groove6011, a second guide groove6012, and a position fixing groove6013may be provided in a lateral surface of the guide member601that faces the rotating plate mechanism103. The position fixing groove6013may be disposed between the first guide groove6011and the second guide groove6012and connected to the first guide groove6011and the second guide groove6012. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the first guide groove6011may be disposed at an upper side of the position fixing groove6013, and the second guide groove6012may be disposed at a lower side of the position fixing groove6013. A first end of the elastic restoring contactor602may be elastically coupled to the rotating plate mechanism103.

The rotating plate mechanism103may further include an elastic contactor mounting holder107, and the elastic contactor mounting holder107may include a mounting aperture. The elastic restoring contactor602may be elastically mounted, by a restoring spring603, in the mounting aperture of the elastic contactor mounting holder107. A first end of the restoring spring603may be supported, by a spring seat604, on the elastic restoring contactor602, and a second end of the restoring spring603may be supported on the elastic contactor mounting holder107. When the rotating plate mechanism103does not rotate, the second end of the elastic restoring contactor602may be positioned and fixed, by elastic force, in the position fixing groove6013.

When the forward operating force (e.g., in a direction toward a front side based onFIG. 1that corresponds to a direction toward a front side of a vehicle) is applied to the handle101, the rotating plate mechanism103may be configured to rotate counterclockwise, and the elastic restoring contactor602may move from the position fixing groove6013along the first guide groove6011together with the rotation of the rotating plate mechanism103. When the rearward operating force (e.g., in a direction toward a rear side based onFIG. 1that corresponds to a direction toward a rear side of a vehicle) is applied to the handle101, the rotating plate mechanism103may be configured to rotate clockwise, and the elastic restoring contactor602may move from the position fixing groove6013along the second guide groove6012together with the rotation of the rotating plate mechanism103.

Each of the first guide groove6011and the second guide groove6012may have a gradient to be inclined toward the rotating plate mechanism103. In addition, each of the first guide groove6011and the second guide groove6012may have a gradient and a degree of curvature to be inclined and curved toward the rotating plate mechanism103. Alternatively, each of the first guide groove6011and the second guide groove6012may have only a degree of curvature to be curved toward the rotating plate mechanism103. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the first guide groove6011and the second guide groove6012define an approximate V shape.

When the operating force is eliminated, the gradients and the degrees of curvature of the first guide groove6011and the second guide groove6012and elastic restoring force of the spring act together, and thus, the elastic restoring contactor602may return to the position fixing groove6013from the first guide groove6011or the second guide groove6012, and as a result, the rotating plate mechanism103, the gear shifting lever102, and the handle101may return to an initial position. Therefore, the mechanical gear shifting structure having a stable operating performance according to the present invention enables the gear shifting lever to actively return to the initial position after completing the gear shifting, similar to the electronic gear shifting, thereby improving a user's driving experience.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 to 3C, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the gear shifting lever unit1may be coupled, by a pawl3, to the driving gear2. The pawl3may have an intermediate position (as illustrated inFIG. 3A), a first joining position (as illustrated inFIG. 3B), and a second joining position (as illustrated inFIG. 3C).

As illustrated inFIG. 3B, when the pawl3is coupled to or engaged with the driving gear2at the first joining position, the driving gear2may be rotated counterclockwise by the forward operating force applied to the handle101, and thus, the driven gear4may push the gear shifting cable5while rotating clockwise. As illustrated inFIG. 3C, when the pawl3is coupled to or engaged with the driving gear2at the second joining position, the driving gear2may be rotated clockwise by the rearward operating force applied to the gear shifting lever unit1, and thus, the driven gear4may pull the gear shifting cable5while rotating counterclockwise.

The pawl3may further include a rotation base portion303, and a first pawl arm301and a second pawl arm302which protrude from the rotation base portion303and define a predetermined angle therebetween. For example, an angle of about 105 degrees may be defined between the first pawl arm301and the second pawl arm302, and an outer circumference of the rotation base portion303may define a ⅔ of a circle. The driving gear2may have an annular shape, and an inner tooth portion22may be disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the driving gear2. A free end of the first pawl arm301and a free end of the second pawl arm302may have tooth portions3011and3021, respectively, that correspond to the inner tooth portion22.

A pawl mounting holder105may be disposed on a second axially lateral surface of the rotating plate main body1031. The pawl mounting holder105may include a mounting recess1053matched with the rotation base portion303of the pawl3, and a first joining surface1051and a second joining surface1052disposed at both sides of the mounting recess1053and define a predetermined angle therebetween. The mounting recess1053may have a circular shape that is less than a ⅔ of a circle. For example, an angle of about 132 degrees may be defined between the first joining surface1051and the second joining surface1052. The rotation base portion303may rotate in the mounting recess1053. Screw apertures configured to fix the gear cover8may be provided in the pawl mounting holder105.

The angle between the first pawl arm301and the second pawl arm302may be less than the angle between the first joining surface1051and the second joining surface1052. The first pawl arm301and the second pawl arm302may be positioned between the first joining surface1051and the second joining surface1052. A length of the first pawl arm301and a length of the second pawl arm302may satisfy the following conditions.

As illustrated inFIG. 3B, at the first joining position, the tooth portion3011at the free end of the first pawl arm301and the inner tooth portion22of the driving gear2engage with each other, but the tooth portion3021at the free end of the second pawl arm302and the inner tooth portion22of the driving gear2do not engage with each other, and a lateral surface of the first pawl arm301may be coupled to or engaged with to the first joining surface1051.

As illustrated inFIG. 3C, at the second joining position, the tooth portion3021at the free end of the second pawl arm302and the inner tooth portion22of the driving gear2engage with each other, but the tooth portion3011at the free end of the first pawl arm301and the inner tooth portion22of the driving gear2do not engage with each other, and a lateral surface of the second pawl arm302may be coupled to or engaged with (e.g., connected) the second joining surface1052.

As illustrated inFIG. 3A, at the intermediate position, the tooth portion3011at the free end of the first pawl arm301and the tooth portion3021at the free end of the second pawl arm302do not engage with the driving gear2, the lateral surface of the first pawl arm301is not joined to the first joining surface1051, and the lateral surface of the second pawl arm302is not coupled to or engaged with the second joining surface1052.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 4, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the actively restorable gear shifting device may further include a rotating member7. The rotating member7may be installed on the second axially lateral surface of the rotating plate main body1031and positioned between the first pawl arm301and the second pawl arm302. An elastic rotating contactor701, which is elastically in contact with the pawl3, may be elastically coupled to the rotating member7. A first end of the elastic rotating contactor701may be elastically mounted, by a compressive spring702, in a mounting aperture of the rotating member7, and a second end of the elastic rotating contactor701may abut the pawl3.

When the elastic rotating contactor701of the rotating member7abuts the first pawl arm301and the second pawl arm302between the first pawl arm301and the second pawl arm302, the pawl3may be positioned at the intermediate position, as illustrated inFIG. 3A. When the rotating member7rotates and the elastic rotating contactor701abuts the first pawl arm301, the pawl3may be positioned at the first joining position, as illustrated inFIG. 3B. When the rotating member7rotates and the elastic rotating contactor701abuts the second pawl arm302, the pawl3may be positioned at the second joining position, as illustrated inFIG. 3C.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a button108may be installed on the handle101, and the button108may be connected to the rotating member7via a power transmission pin106and a connecting member11and may be configured to adjust the rotation of the rotating member7. When the button108is not pushed or is disengaged, the elastic rotating contactor701of the rotating member7may abut the first pawl arm301and the second pawl arm302between the first pawl arm301and the second pawl arm302, and the pawl3may be positioned at the intermediate position, as illustrated inFIG. 3A. When a lower portion of the button108is pushed or otherwise engaged, the rotating member7may be configured to rotate counterclockwise to allow the elastic rotating contactor701to abut (e.g., come into close contact with) the first pawl arm301, and the pawl3may be positioned at the first joining position, as illustrated inFIG. 3B. When an upper portion of the button108is pushed, the rotating member7may be configured to rotate clockwise to allow the elastic rotating contactor701to abut the second pawl arm302, and the pawl3may be positioned at the second joining position, as illustrated inFIG. 3C.

A vertically long groove13may be provided in the gear shifting lever102to mount the power transmission pin106therein. A first end of the power transmission pin106may be connected to the button108via the connecting member11installed in the gear shifting lever102, and a second end of the power transmission pin106may extend outward from the gear shifting lever102through the long groove13and connect to the rotating member7. The sleeve104for connecting the gear shifting lever102may also include a groove that corresponds to the long groove13.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a fork member703for connecting the power transmission pin106may be connected to the rotating member7via a rotating shaft704that penetrates the rotating plate main body1031. The fork member703may have a slot705in which the power transmission pin106may be, and the slot705may have a U shape.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5A and 5B, a first end of the power transmission pin106may be connected to the button108via the connecting member11installed in the gear shifting lever102. The connecting member11may include a power transmission lever109, an insertion connecting member110, and an operating member111. Both ends of the power transmission lever109may be supported, by support springs112, at an upper end of the handle101and a lower end of the gear shifting lever102, respectively. The power transmission pin106may be connected to a lower portion of the power transmission lever109. The insertion connecting member110may be connected to an upper portion of the power transmission lever109through an insertion connecting groove in the power transmission lever109. The operating member111may be pivotally connected to the button108and the insertion connecting member110.

When the upper portion of the button108is pushed, the operating member111may pivot clockwise to move the insertion connecting member110and pull the power transmission lever109upward, thereby moving the power transmission pin106upward. When the lower portion of the button108is pushed, the operating member111may pivot counterclockwise to move the insertion connecting member110and push the power transmission lever109downward, thereby moving the power transmission pin106downward. The power transmission structure including the button, the connecting member, and the power transmission pin is not limited to the above-mentioned illustrative structure, and it may be possible to operate the button and the power transmission pin together using other structures known in the related art.

A gear shifting method using the actively restorable gear shifting device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: positioning the pawl3at the first joining position (e.g., first connecting position) or the second joining position (e.g., second connecting position); implementing gear shifting by rotating the driving gear2counterclockwise to rotate the driven gear4clockwise and push the gear shifting cable5by applying first directional operating force to the gear shifting lever unit1when the pawl3is connected to the driving gear2at the first joining position, or implementing gear shifting by rotating the driving gear2clockwise to rotate the driven gear4counterclockwise and pull the gear shifting cable5by applying second directional operating force to the gear shifting lever unit1when the pawl3is connected to the driving gear2at the second connecting position; and restoring the gear shifting lever unit1from the operating position to an initial position by eliminating the operating force when the gear shifting is completed.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the button108is not pushed or is disengaged, the power transmission pin106may be positioned at an middle portion of the long groove13, the pawl3may be positioned at the intermediate position, as illustrated inFIG. 3A, and the gear shifting lever unit1may be positioned at the initial position.

When the lower portion of the button108is pushed, the power transmission pin106may move downward along the long groove from the middle portion of the long groove13, the rotating member7may be configured to rotate counterclockwise, the elastic rotating contactor701may abut the first pawl arm301together with the rotation of the rotating member7, the first pawl arm301may be connected (e.g., joined, coupled, engaged) to the first joining surface1051of the pawl mounting holder105by the operation of the elastic rotating contactor701, and the tooth portion3011at the free end of the first pawl arm301may engage with the inner tooth portion22of the driving gear2, to position the pawl3at the first joining position, as illustrated inFIG. 3B. In particular, the clockwise rotation of the driving gear2may be restricted, and the force for rotating the rotating plate mechanism103counterclockwise may be transmitted to the first pawl arm301through the first joining surface1051, and thus, the first pawl arm301may also rotate counterclockwise, and the driving gear2, which engages with the first pawl arm301, may rotate counterclockwise.

Therefore, when the handle101is operated and the lower portion of the button108is pushed, the pawl3may be positioned at the first joining position, and then when the handle101is pushed forward, the rotating plate mechanism103rotates counterclockwise, the driving gear2also rotates counterclockwise, the driven gear4rotates clockwise, and the gear shifting cable5may be pushed, and thus, a process of performing gear shifting from a drive (D) gear position to a neutral (N) gear position, from the N gear position to a rear (R) gear position, or from the R gear position to a park (P) gear position is implemented. When the handle101is released after the gear shifting is completed, the entire gear shifting lever unit1may be actively restored to the initial position, the pawl3may return to the intermediate position, the button108protrudes outward in a state in which the button108is not pushed by the operation of the rotating member7, and the driving gear2, the driven gear4, and the gear shifting cable5may be stopped at positions when the gear shifting is completed.

When the upper portion of the button108is pushed, the power transmission pin106may move upward along the long groove13from the middle portion of the long groove13, the rotating member7may be configured to rotate clockwise, the elastic rotating contactor701may abut the second pawl arm302together with the rotation of the rotating member7, the second pawl arm302may be connected to the second joining surface1052of the pawl mounting holder105by the operation of the elastic rotating contactor701, and the tooth portion3021at the free end of the second pawl arm302may engage with the inner tooth portion22of the driving gear2, and thus, the pawl3may be positioned at the second joining position, as illustrated inFIG. 3C. In particular, the counterclockwise rotation of the driving gear2may be restricted, and the force for rotating the rotating plate mechanism103clockwise may be transmitted to the second pawl arm302through the second joining surface1052, and thus, the second pawl arm302may also rotate clockwise, and the driving gear2, which engages with the second pawl arm302, may rotate clockwise.

Therefore, when the handle101is operated and the upper portion of the button108is pushed, the pawl3may be positioned at the second joining position, and then when the handle101is pulled rearward, the rotating plate mechanism103rotates clockwise, the driving gear2also rotates clockwise, the driven gear4rotates counterclockwise, and the gear shifting cable5is pulled, and thus, a process of performing gear shifting from the P gear position to the R gear position, from the R gear position to the N gear position, or from the N gear position to the D gear position may be implemented. When the handle101is released after the gear shifting is completed, the entire gear shifting lever unit1may be actively restored to the initial position, the pawl3may return to the intermediate position, the button108protrudes outward in a state in which the button108is not pushed by the operation of the rotating member7, and the driving gear2, the driven gear4, and the gear shifting cable5may be stopped at positions when the gear shifting is completed.

The gear shifting method using the actively restorable gear shifting device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the example related to the gear shifting “from the N gear position to the D gear position”, as illustrated inFIGS. 6A to 6D. As illustrated inFIG. 6A, the gear shifting lever unit1may be positioned at the initial position, and the pawl3may be positioned at the intermediate position. As illustrated inFIG. 6B, when the upper portion of the button108is pushed, the elastic rotating contactor701may push the second pawl arm302, the second pawl arm302may be connected to the second joining surface1052, and the tooth portion3021at the free end of the second pawl arm302may engage with the gear, and thus, the pawl3may be positioned at the second joining position.

As illustrated inFIG. 6C, when the handle101is pulled rearward, the rotating plate mechanism103may be configured to rotate clockwise, the pawl3may move and rotate the driving gear2clockwise, the driven gear4may be configured to rotate counterclockwise, and the gear shifting cable5may be pulled, and thus, the gear shifting from the N gear position to the D gear position may be implemented. As illustrated inFIG. 6D, when the handle101is released after the gear shifting is completed, the entire gear shifting lever unit1may be actively restored to the initial position, the pawl3may return to the intermediate position, the button108protrudes outward in a state in which the button108is not pushed by the operation of the rotating member7, and the driving gear2, the driven gear4, and the gear shifting cable5may be stopped at the D gear position.

The present invention may implement the gear shifting function and maintain stability of the mechanical gear shifting, and as a result, it may be possible to implement the electronic gear shifting mode such as shift by wire (SBW) only by changing the gear shifting device without changing other members in the mechanical gear shifting system (e.g., the shift by cable (SBC) gear shifting system) in the related art. Accordingly, the present invention may improve a user's driving experience and decrease costs in comparison with the SBW. The gear shifting device according to the present invention may have the gear shifting mode such as electronic gear shifting and may prevent instability of the electronic gear shifting (e.g., a vehicle cannot be normally operated in the event of a power and circuit failure) and a safety risk.

As the foregoing, the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments may be modified without departing from the principle and the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and the equivalent thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS