Shift device

A shift device, including: a shift body that is operated to change a shift position thereof; a biasing section that causes biasing force to act on the shift body; a retention track that, by placement of the biasing section thereon, causes the shift body to be retained at a shift position; a release track that, by movement of the biasing section thereon from the retention track, causes retention of the shift body at a shift position to be released; and a changer section that, after the biasing section has been moved from the retention track to the release track and moved along the release track, causes the biasing section to be moved from the release track onto the retention track and a shift position of the shift body to be changed by moving the biasing section at a specific occasion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-168237 filed on Aug. 27, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The preferred embodiments relate to a shift device that changes a shift position of a shift body using a changer means.

Related Art

In an operating device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2010-522116, an anchoring pin of a selector lever is placed by biasing force in anchoring recesses of an anchoring track and on a tip track of an anchoring guide member, so as to retain the selector lever at a shift position.

Moreover, after the anchoring pin is moved from an anchoring recess of the anchoring guide member onto a return guide track due to an actuator moving the anchor guide member at a specific occasion and after the anchoring pin has been moved along the return guide track, the anchoring pin is then moved from the return guide track into another of the anchoring recesses, so as to change the shift position of the selector lever.

In such an operating device, the actuator moves the anchoring guide member. The anchoring recesses are provided as recessed shapes to the bottom faces of the anchoring track and the tip track.

SUMMARY

In consideration of the above circumstances, the present disclosure provides a shift device capable of easily changing a shift position of a shift body at a specific occasion.

A shift device of a first aspect of the present disclosure includes: a shift body that is operated to change a shift position thereof; a biasing section that causes biasing force to act on the shift body; a retention track that by placement of the biasing section thereon causes the shift body to be retained at a shift position; a release track that by movement of the biasing section thereon from the retention track causes retention of the shift body at a shift position to be released; and a changer section that, after the biasing section has been made movable and the biasing section has been moved from the retention track to the release track at a specific occasion and been moved along the release track, causes the biasing section to be moved from the release track onto the retention track and a shift position of the shift body to be changed.

A shift device of a second aspect of the present disclosure includes: a shift body that is operated to change a shift position thereof; a biasing section that causes biasing force to act on the shift body; a retention track that is provided with a plurality of indentation shaped retention portions, the shift body being retained at a shift position by the biasing section being placed in the plurality of retention portions; a release track that is provided with a release face continuing smoothly from bottom faces of the retention portions, and on which retention of the shift body at a shift position is released by the biasing section being moved onto the release face from the retention portions; and a changer section that, after the biasing section has been moved from the retention portions onto the release face and moved along the release face, causes the biasing section to be moved from the release face to the retention portions and a shift position of the shift body to be changed by moving at a specific occasion at least one of the biasing section, or the retention track and the release track.

A shift device of a third aspect of the present disclosure is the shift device of the first aspect or the second aspect, further including a release biasing section that is provided to the changer section, and that employs biasing force to move the biasing section from the retention track onto the release track.

A shift device of a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is the shift device of any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, wherein the retention track and the release track are disposed so as to be adjacent and parallel to each other.

A shift device of a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is the shift device of any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, further including a restriction member that by engaging with the shift body and limiting movement along at least one of the retention track or the release track, restricts operation of the shift body and restrict change in a shift position of the shift body.

In the shift device of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the shift body is operated and the shift position of the shift body is changed. Moreover, the shift body is retained at a shift position by the biasing section causing biasing force to act on the shift body and the biasing section being placed on the retention track.

Moreover, retention of the shift body at a shift position is released by the biasing section moving from the retention track onto the release track.

When doing so, by the changer section moving the biasing section at a specific occasion, the biasing section is moved from the release track onto the retention track and the shift position of the shift body is changed after the biasing section has been moved from the retention track to the release track and been moved along the release track.

Thus it is sufficient that the changer section causes the biasing section to move, thereby enabling the shift position of the shift body to be easily changed.

In the shift device of the second aspect of the present disclosure, the shift body is operated and the shift position of the shift body is changed. Moreover, the biasing section causes biasing force to act on the shift body, and the shift body is retained at a shift position by placement of the biasing section in retention portions of the retention track.

Retention of the shift body at a shift position is released by the biasing section being moving from the respective retention portion onto the release face of the release track.

Moreover, by the changer section moving at least one out of the biasing section, or the retention track and the release track at a specific occasion, the biasing section is moved from the release face to the respective retention portion and the shift position of the shift body is changed after the biasing section has been moved from the respective retention portion onto the release face and been moved along the release face.

Note that the release face continues smoothly from the bottom faces of the retention portions. Thus, the biasing section can be easily moved from the retention portion to the release face, enabling the shift position of the shift body to be easily changed.

In the shift device of the third aspect of the present disclosure, the release biasing section is provided to the changer section, and the release biasing section employs biasing force to move the biasing section from the retention track onto the release track. This enables the biasing section to be moved from the retention portion onto the release track with a simple configuration.

In the shift device of the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the retention track and the release track are disposed so as to be adjacent and parallel to each other. Thus, the movement amount of the biasing section between the retention track and the release track, and along the release track can be made small, enabling the shift position of the shift body to be changed even more easily.

In the shift device of the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the restriction member engages with the shift body so as to restrict operation of the shift body and restrict change in the shift position of the shift body.

The restriction member limits movement along at least one out of the retention track or the release track. Thus, operation of the shift body can be effectively restricted when the restriction member is engaged with the shift body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a perspective view illustrating a shift lever device10serving as a shift device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, as viewed obliquely from the rear right, andFIG. 6is a side view illustrating the shift lever device10as viewed from the left. Note that in the drawings, the arrow FR indicates the front of the shift lever device10, the arrow RH indicates the right of the shift lever device10, and the arrow UP indicates the upper side of the shift lever device10.

The shift lever device10according to the present exemplary embodiment is what is called a straight type shift device. The shift lever device10is floor-mounted and installed at a floor section of a vehicle cabin at the vehicle width direction inside of a driver seat (not illustrated in the drawings) of a vehicle (automobile). The front, left, and upper side of the shift lever device10respectively face the front, left, and upper side of the vehicle.

As illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 6, the shift lever device10is provided with a resin, substantially rectangular box shaped housing12(plate) serving as a support body. The housing12is fixed to the floor section of the vehicle cabin, and the shift lever device10is installed to the floor section of the vehicle cabin.

A substantially elongated rod shaped shift lever14, serving as a shift body, is disposed inside the housing12, and circular column shaped support shafts14A are coaxially provided to a left face and a right face of an up-down intermediate portion of the shift lever14. The pair of support shafts14A of the shift lever14are supported inside the housing12so as to be capable of swinging, and the shift lever14extends out from the housing12toward the upper side. A knob (not illustrated in the drawings) serving as a grip portion is provided to an upper end portion (leading end portion) of the shift lever14, and the shift lever14is capable of being swing-operated in the front-rear direction in a state in which an occupant of the vehicle (particularly the driver) has gripped the knob. Accordingly, the shift lever14is capable of swinging to a P position (a park position, a specific shift position), an R position (a reverse position), an N position (a neutral position), a D position (a drive position), and an L position (a low position), serving as shift positions on progression from the front side to the rear side. A button (not illustrated in the drawings), serving as an operation section, is provided to the knob, and the button is capable of being operated by the occupant.

An upper end of a biasing link16, having substantially an inverted triangular plate shape in face-on view and serving as a biasing section, is supported by the up-down direction intermediate portion of the shift lever14, and the biasing link16is disposed on the right side of the shift lever14. The biasing link16is capable of swinging integrally with the shift lever14in the front-rear direction, and the biasing link16is capable of swinging in the left-right direction with respect to the shift lever14. A changer spring (a torsion coil spring, not illustrated in the drawings) serving as a release biasing section configuring a changer section, spans between the shift lever14and the biasing link16, and the coil spring biases the biasing link16to the right side with respect to the shift lever14.

A substantially circular column shaped indexing pin16A, serving as a biasing member, is supported by a lower end portion of the biasing link16. The indexing pin16A is capable of moving in the axial direction (substantially in the up-down direction) with respect to the biasing link16. The indexing pin16A projects out from the biasing link16toward the lower side, and a lower end face of the indexing pin16A is curved in a spherical face shape. An indexing spring (compression coil spring, not illustrated in the drawings), serving as a retention bias section, spans between the indexing pin16A and the biasing link16, and the indexing spring biases the indexing pin16A toward the lower side with respect to the biasing link16.

A substantially rectangular shaped indexing block18, serving as a retention member, is integrally provided inside the housing12at the lower side of the indexing pin16A, and the indexing block18is elongated along the front-rear direction. A retention track20(indexing track) is provided on the left side of an upper face of the indexing block18, and the retention track20is elongated along the front-rear direction. Plural recesses20A (five in the present exemplary embodiment), having inverted trapezoidal cross-section profiles and serving as retention portions, are provided along the retention track20. The plural recesses20A are arrayed along the front-rear direction and respectively open toward the upper side and the right side. The right side of the upper face of the indexing block18is provided with a release track22. The release track22is elongated along the front-rear direction, and a lower face (bottom face) of the release track22is configured by a release face22A. The release face22A is flush with lower faces (bottom faces) of the recesses20A of the retention track20and connected smoothly to the lower faces of the recesses20A. The lower faces of the recesses20A and the release face22A are smoothly inclined in an upward direction on progression toward the right, and are smoothly inclined in a downward direction on progression toward the rear.

A changer mechanism24configuring a changer section is provided inside the housing12at the front side of the shift lever14and the biasing link16. The changer mechanism24is provided with a changer motor26serving as a changer drive section, and the changer motor26is fixed to the inside of the housing12. A changer worm28configuring a changer transmission section is fixed coaxially to an output shaft of the changer motor26, and a changer worm wheel30configuring a changer transmission section meshes with the changer worm28. A changer screw32configuring a changer transmission section is fixed coaxially to the changer worm wheel30. The changer screw32is supported inside the housing12so as to be capable of rotating. The changer screw32extends out from the changer worm wheel30toward the rear, and the changer screw32screws together with and pierces through a front side portion of a changer bar34having an L shaped plate shape in cross-section profile and serving as a changer member. The changer bar34is limited from swinging about the changer screw32inside the housing12. The changer bar34is capable of moving in the front-rear direction. A rear side portion of the changer bar34extends in the front-rear direction and is disposed at the right side of the biasing link16. The rear side portion of the changer bar34limits the biasing link16from swinging toward the right side under biasing force from the changer spring.

The indexing pin16A of the biasing link16is thereby placed on the retention track20of the indexing block18, and, in order to place the shift lever14at a shift position, biasing force from the indexing spring is employed to place the indexing pin16A in the respective recess20A of the retention track20, such that the shift lever14is retained in the respective shift position. When the shift lever14is swing-operated, the indexing pin16A is moved out from a recess20A against biasing force from the indexing spring, and biasing force from the indexing spring is employed to insert the indexing pin16A into other recesses20A, thereby imparting a click feeling to swing-operation of the shift lever14.

A detent groove36serving as a restriction section is formed at a lower end of the shift lever14. The detent groove36is formed with specific indentations and projections along the front-rear direction, and is open toward the lower side and both left and right direction sides.

A restriction mechanism38configuring a restriction section is provided inside the housing12at the lower side of the shift lever14. The restriction mechanism38is provided with a restriction motor40serving as a restriction drive section, and the restriction motor40is fixed to the inside of the housing12. A restriction worm42configuring a restriction transmission section is fixed coaxially to an output shaft of the restriction motor40, and a restriction worm wheel44configuring a changer transmission section meshes with the restriction worm42. A restriction screw46configuring a changer transmission section is fixed coaxially to the restriction worm wheel44. The restriction screw46is supported inside the housing12so as to be capable of rotating. The restriction screw46extends out upward from the restriction worm wheel44, and the restriction screw46screws with the inside of a substantially tube shaped restriction tube48, serving as a support member. A substantially rectangular plate shaped detent pin50, serving as a restriction member, is supported by the restriction tube48. The detent pin50extends out upward from the restriction tube48, and is disposed perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The detent pin50is supported inside the housing12from both front and rear direction sides, on the left side of the indexing block18. Thus, swinging of the restriction tube48and the detent pin50about the restriction screw46is limited. The detent pin50is capable of moving in the up-down direction with respect to the restriction tube48. A restriction spring52(coil spring), serving as a biasing section restrictor, spans between the restriction tube48and the detent pin50. The detent pin50engages with the detent groove36of the shift lever14under biasing force from the compressed restriction spring52. Accordingly, swinging of the shift lever14from the P position to the R position is restricted (locked), and specific swinging from a specific shift position of the shift lever14(swinging from the D position to the L position, swinging from the D position to the N position, swinging from the N position to the R position, and swinging from the R position to the P position) is restricted (locked).

The shift lever14is electrically connected to a vehicle controller54, and a vehicle transmission56(automatic transmission) is electrically connected to the controller54. Accordingly, by changing the shift position of the shift lever14to the P position, the R position, the N position, the D position, or the L position, the shift range of the vehicle transmission56is respectively changed to a P range (parking range, a specific range), an R range (reverse range), an N range (neutral range), a D range (drive range), or an L range (low range) under control of the controller54.

The changer motor26and the restriction motor40are electrically connected to the controller54, and the button of the shift lever14is electrically connected to the controller54. A vehicle brake58is electrically connected to the controller54, and the occupant brakes the vehicle by operating the brake58.

A vehicle engine60and a switch62(engine start/stop switch), serving as a changer operation section, are electrically connected to the controller54, and the switch62is capable of being operated by the occupant. The vehicle engine60is started under control of the controller54when the switch62is operated in a stopped state of the vehicle engine60. The vehicle engine60is stopped under control of the controller54, however, when the switch62is operated in a state in which the vehicle engine60is running.

Next, explanation follows regarding operation of the present exemplary embodiment.

In the shift lever device10configured as described above, when the switch62is operated and the vehicle engine60is started under control of the controller54, the shift lever14is placed at the P position and the vehicle transmission56is placed in the P range. The biasing force of the indexing spring is employed to place the indexing pin16A of the biasing link16in the respective recess20A of the retention track20of the indexing block18.

In the state in which the shift lever14has been placed at the P position, and when at least one applies out of the brake58not being operated, or the button (knob) of the shift lever14not being operated, as illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 6, the detent pin50is engaged with the detent groove36of the shift lever14under the biasing force from the compressed restriction spring52. Thus, swing-operation of the shift lever14from the P position is restricted.

However, in the state in which the shift lever14has been placed at the P position, when the brake58is operated and the button of the shift lever14is also operated, as illustrated inFIG. 7, in the restriction mechanism38, the restriction motor40is forward-driven under control of the controller54, and the restriction worm42, the restriction worm wheel44, and the control screw46are forward-rotated, moving the restriction tube48to the lower side and releasing compression of the restriction spring52, and thereby moving the detent pin50to the lower side. Engagement of the detent pin50with the detent groove36is thereby released, and the shift lever14is thereby permitted to be swing-operated from the P position. Accordingly, as illustrated inFIG. 8, for example, by swing-operating the shift lever14from the P position, the shift position of the shift lever14is changed from the P position, and the shift range of the vehicle transmission56is changed from the P range under control of the controller54.

When the shift lever14is swing-operated, the indexing pin16A of the biasing link16moves out from the recess20A of the retention track20of the indexing block18against the biasing force from the indexing spring. A click feeling is imparted when swing-operating the shift lever14due to the indexing pin16A being inserted into recesses20A under biasing force from the indexing spring. Moreover, when the shift lever14is placed at a shift position, the indexing pin16A is placed in the respective recess20A under biasing force from the indexing spring, such that the shift lever14is retained in the respective shift position.

In a state in which the shift lever14has been placed at a shift position, when operation of the button of the shift lever14is released, the restriction motor40is reverse-driven under control of the controller54, and the restriction worm42, the restriction worm wheel44, and the control screw46are reverse-rotated, moving the restriction tube48and the detent pin50toward the upper side, such that the detent pin50engages with the detent groove36while the restriction spring52is compressed.

In the state in which the shift lever14has been placed at a specific shift position other than the P position, when the button of the shift lever14is not operated, as illustrated inFIG. 2andFIG. 9, for example, the detent pin50engages with the detent groove36of the shift lever14under biasing force from the compressed restriction spring52. Thus, specific swing-operations of the shift lever14from the specific shift position are restricted.

On the other hand, in the state in which the shift lever14has been placed at a specific shift position other than the P position, when the button of the shift lever14is operated, as illustrated inFIG. 8, for example, the restriction motor40is forward-driven under control of the controller54, and the restriction worm42, the restriction worm wheel44, and the control screw46are forward-rotated. Thus, the restriction tube48moves toward the lower side and the compression of the restriction spring52is released, thereby moving the detent pin50toward the lower side. Thus, the engagement of the detent pin50with the detent groove36is released, such that a specific swing-operation of the shift lever14from the specific shift position is permitted. A specific swing-operation of the shift lever14from the specific shift position changes the shift position of the shift lever14from the specific shift position, thereby changing the shift range of the vehicle transmission56from a specific shift range under control of the controller54.

Note that, in the state in which the shift lever14has been placed at a shift position other than the P position, when the switch62is operated and the vehicle engine60is stopped under control of the controller54(a specific occasion), the shift range of the vehicle transmission56is changed to the P range under control of the controller54.

When this is performed, as illustrated inFIG. 3andFIG. 8, for example, the restriction motor40is forward-driven under control of the controller54, and the restriction worm42, the restriction worm wheel44, and the control screw46are forward-rotated such that the restriction tube48moves toward the lower side and compression of the restriction spring52is released, thereby moving the detent pin50toward the lower side. Thus, engagement of the detent pin50in the detent groove36is released, permitting swinging of the shift lever14from the shift position other than the P position.

Moreover, in the changer mechanism24, the changer motor26is forward-driven under control of the controller54, and the changer worm28, the changer worm wheel30, and the changer screw32are forward-rotated, thereby moving the changer bar34toward the front side and placement of the rear side portion of the changer bar34on the right side of the biasing link16is released. Thus, as illustrated inFIG. 4, for example, the biasing link16swings toward the right side under biasing force from the changer spring, thereby moving the indexing pin16A of the biasing link16out from the respective recess20A of the retention track20of the indexing block18onto the release face22A of the release track22. Accordingly, as illustrated inFIG. 5, the indexing pin16A is moved toward the rear side of the release face22A under biasing force from the indexing spring, the biasing link16is thereby swung toward the rear side, and the shift lever14is swung integrally with the biasing link16toward the front side to the P position.

Then, as illustrated inFIG. 7, the changer motor26is reverse-driven under control of the controller54, and the changer worm28, the changer worm wheel30, and the changer screw32are reverse-rotated, moving the changer bar34toward the rear side and placing the rear side portion of the changer bar34on the right side of the biasing link16. Thus, the biasing link16is swung against the biasing force of the changer spring toward the left side by the rear side portion of the changer bar34, such that the indexing pin16A of the biasing link16is moved from the release face22A of the release track22of the indexing block18into the respective recess20A of the retention track20.

Moreover, as illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 6, the restriction motor40is reverse-driven under control of the controller54, and the restriction worm42, the restriction worm wheel44, and the control screw46are reverse-rotated such that the restriction tube48and the detent pin50are moved toward the upper side, and the detent pin50engages with the detent groove36while the restriction spring52is compressed.

Accordingly, in a state in which shift lever14has been placed at a shift position other than the P position, the shift position of the shift lever14can be returned (can be changed) to the P range automatically, and the shift position of the shift lever14and the specific range of the vehicle transmission56can be matched to each other, even when the switch62is operated (when the shift range of the vehicle transmission56has been changed to the P shift range) while the vehicle engine60is stopped.

In order to return the shift position of the shift lever14to the P position automatically, the changer mechanism24, the changer spring, and the indexing spring move the shift lever14and the biasing link16. Thus, in contrast to cases in which the indexing block18is configured so as to be capable of moving and the indexing block18is moved, the shift position of the shift lever14can be easily returned to the P position. Moreover, this enables provision of moving space for the indexing block18to be rendered unnecessary, enabling the shift lever device10to be made more compact.

Moreover, in the indexing block18, the release face22A of the release track22continues smoothly from the lower faces of the recesses20A of the retention track20. Thus, when the shift position of the shift lever14is returned to the P position automatically, the indexing pin16A of the biasing link16can easily move from the lower face of the respective recess20A to the release face22A, enabling the shift position of the shift lever14to be returned to the P position even more easily.

In order to return the shift position of the shift lever14to the P position automatically, the biasing force from the changer spring is employed to move the indexing pin16A of the biasing link16from the lower face of the respective recess20A to the release face22A. This enables the indexing pin16A to be moved from the lower face of the respective recess20A to the release face22A with a simple configuration. Moreover, this enables the need for the changer mechanism24to move the indexing pin16A from the lower face of the respective recess20A to the release face22A to be eliminated, enabling configuration of the changer mechanism24to be simplified.

In the indexing block18, the retention track20and the release track22are disposed so as to be adjacent and parallel to each other. Thus, in order to return the shift position of the shift lever14to the P position automatically, the movement amount of the indexing pin16A between the retention track20(recesses20A) and the release track22(release face22A), and along the release track22(release face22A), can be reduced, thereby enabling the shift position of the shift lever14to be returned to the P position even more easily. Moreover, the space for disposing the retention track20and the release track22can be made smaller, enabling the indexing block18to be made more compact, and thereby enabling the shift lever device10to be made even more compact.

The detent pin50is supported inside the housing12from both front-rear direction sides, and the indexing block18(the retention track20and the release track22) is integrally provided inside the housing12. Thus, even when swing-operation force in the front-rear direction acts on the shift lever14in a state in which the detent pin50has engaged with the detent groove36of the shift lever14, the movement force (tilting force) in the front-rear direction, acting on the detent pin50through the detent groove36, is supported inside the housing12(including the indexing block18). Accordingly, movement of the detent pin50in the front-rear direction can be effectively limited, enabling the swing-operation of the shift lever14in the front-rear direction to be effectively restricted.

The dimension from the support shafts14A (a line through the swing center thereof) of the shift lever14to the detent groove36is made larger according to the dimension from the support shafts14A (a line through the swing center thereof) of the shift lever14to the knob (the position where swing-operation force acts) (for example, is made larger in proportion to the dimension from the support shafts14A of the shift lever14to the knob). Thus, even when swing-operation force acts on the shift lever14in a state in which the detent pin50is engaged with the detent groove36of the shift lever14, friction force between the detent pin50and the detent groove36can be made smaller, enabling a reduction in the load to move the detent pin50toward the lower side. Accordingly, the restriction motor40can be forward-driven under control of the controller54, and the detent pin50can be moved toward the lower side, thereby enabling the engagement of the detent pin50with the detent groove36to be released, and enabling swing-operation of the shift lever14to be permitted.

The button of the knob of the shift lever14is electrically connected to the controller54. This enables the need to mechanically connect the button to the detent groove36or the detent pin50to be eliminated, enabling placement space for a mechanism provided to the knob to be reduced, enabling the number of components of the mechanism to be reduced, and thereby enabling a reduction in the component costs and assembly costs of the knob.

Note that in the present exemplary embodiment, the shift lever14and the biasing link16are moved when the shift position of the shift lever14is returned to the P position automatically. However, the indexing block18may be moved when returning the shift position of the shift lever14to the P position automatically.

Moreover, in the present exemplary embodiment, the shift lever14is moved to the P position automatically at a specific occasion. However, the shift lever14may be moved automatically to a shift position other than the P position at a specific occasion.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the shift lever device10is floor-mounted and installed at a floor section of the vehicle cabin. However, the shift lever device10may be installed to a steering wheel column cover or an instrument panel of the vehicle cabin.