Vehicle shift lever system and method

A shift lever assembly for a vehicle transmission can include an escutcheon body having a first guide rail and a second guide rail where the first and second guide rails are spaced apart from each other and are substantially parallel to each other. A slider body can be provided and can be movable with respect to the escutcheon body and include at least one spring member. The at least one spring member can include a contact structure, and a compression force can be applied via the contact structure to maintain the contact structure in compression with the guide rails.

BACKGROUND

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to shift levers for vehicle transmissions and, more particularly, to a system and method for reducing or eliminating vibration and/or rattling in the shift lever assembly of a vehicle transmission.

2. Brief Description of the Related Art

In most vehicles, a transmission assembly is provided in the drive train between the engine and the driven wheels. A transmission assembly typically includes a plurality of gears which are selectively engaged to provide various speed reduction gear ratios between the input and the output of the transmission. A control member within the transmission is moved (automatically in an automatic transmission) through a plurality of gear ratio positions for selecting the desired speed reduction. As a result, acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle can be achieved in a smooth and efficient manner.

The control member that is located within the vehicle is typically configured as a gear shift or automatic shift lever type structure. An escutcheon body (also referred to as an ESCN body) can be provided to house or at least cover a portion of the gears, linkage, and/or other components of the gear shifter. A slider body is typically formed over the escutcheon body and includes the above-noted shift lever type structure which can be displaced by a driver to change the transmission settings. In one type of automatic transmission, the shift lever is coupled to a lower member which moves within the gear shifter. Thus, when the shift lever is displaced, the slider body moves over the escutcheon body and the lower member engages the transmission components so that the transmission settings are changed. An escutcheon cover may be formed over both the escutcheon body and the slider body to seal and/or cover the components of the transmission assembly.

The escutcheon body typically includes a guide rail on which a portion of the slider body rides when the shift lever is moved. There can be a small gap between the slider body and the escutcheon guide rail to prevent shift load increases due to friction and to generally allow the shift lever to slide freely into various positions.

When the vehicle is operated, the transmission and other components of the drive train of the vehicle vibrate to a certain extent. In addition, vibrations are generated by the vehicle engine itself during operation, and due to operation/actuation of the lever itself. The gap interface between the slider body and the escutcheon body sometimes creates additional rattling and/or squeak noises. These vibrations can possibly be sensed by the vehicle driver in some circumstances and are deemed undesirable noise. To reduce the amount of this undesirable noise, the driver compartment of the vehicle can be lined with acoustical insulating material. However, the vibration and/or rattling at the interface of the escutcheon body and the shift body may still be transmitted through the shift lever and into the driver compartment, thus defeating the acoustical insulation.

Thus, it would be desirable to provide a transmission assembly and shift lever system that is inexpensive in construction and which reduces and/or eliminates the rattling caused at the interface of the escutcheon body and the slider.

SUMMARY

The disclosed subject matter addresses at least some of the drawbacks in the conventional transmission assemblies described above by providing a shift lever assembly that reduces and/or eliminates rattling and squeaking caused by vehicle vibration and/or actuation of the shift lever assembly. The transmission assembly and shift assembly according to the disclosed subject matter can provide a light weight, low cost solution that can be implemented in a variety of vehicle transmission systems. According to an aspect of the disclosed subject matter, a shift lever assembly for a vehicle transmission can include an escutcheon body including a first guide rail and a second guide rail, the first and second guide rails spaced apart from each other and substantially parallel to each other; and a slider body including at least one spring member, the at least one spring member including at least one contact structure, wherein the at least one contact structure is maintained in compression with at least one of the first and second guide rails.

According to another aspect of the disclosed subject matter, a shift lever assembly for a vehicle transmission can include an escutcheon body including at least one guide rail having a first surface. A shift lever can be located adjacent the escutcheon body and configured to move relative to the escutcheon body. A slider body can be configured to move with respect to the escutcheon body, the slider body including at least one spring member having at least one contact structure, wherein the at least one spring member is configured to apply a substantially continuous compression force between the contact structure of the slider body and the first surface of the guide rail such that the contact structure is maintained in contact with the first surface during movement of the shift lever relative to the escutcheon body.

According to another aspect of the disclosed subject matter, a shift lever assembly for a vehicle transmission can include a shift lever. A first body can be located adjacent the shift lever and having a first edge and a second edge and an opening through which the shift lever extends, the first edge substantially parallel to the second edge, the first edge having a first guide rail and the second edge having a second guide rail, and the first body configured to cover vehicle transmission components. A second body can be located adjacent the shift lever and having a first side edge and a second side edge and an opening through which the shift lever extends, the first side edge being substantially parallel to the second side edge, the first side edge having a first spring member, the second side edge having a second spring member, the second body configured to be movable with respect to the first body. The first spring member can have a first extension body extending in a direction substantially parallel to the first side edge of the second body and the second spring member has a second extension body extending in a direction substantially parallel to the second side edge of the second body, and the first spring member can include a contact that engages the first guide rail of the first body and the second spring member can include a contact that engages the second guide rail of the first body.

According to yet another aspect of the disclosed subject matter, a shift lever assembly for a vehicle transmission can include an escutcheon body having an upper surface, the escutcheon body including at least one guide rail having a lower surface. A shift lever can be located adjacent the escutcheon body and configured to move relative to the escutcheon body. A slider body can include a bottom surface and an opposed contact structure configured to contact the lower surface of the at least one guide rail of the escutcheon body, the slider body configured to move relative to the escutcheon body. The slider body can also include means for continuously applying a compression force between the contact structure of the slider body and the lower surface of the guide rail such that the contact structure is maintained in contact with the lower surface during movement of the shift lever relative to the escutcheon body and such that the bottom surface of the slider body is biased towards the upper surface of the escutcheon body.

According to another aspect of the disclosed subject matter, the slider body includes a first row of spring members and a second row of spring members, the first row of spring members formed adjacent the first guide rail and the second row of shift members formed adjacent the second guide rail.

According to still another aspect of the disclosed subject matter, each of the spring members includes a contact structure and the contact structures formed along the first row of spring members ride along the first guide rail and the contact structures formed along the second row of spring members ride along the second guide rail.

According to another embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, at least one spring member is formed as a flexible guide leg a contact structure is formed on a distal end of the flexible guide leg.

According to still another embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, a method for reducing vibration transmission in a vehicle shifter lever assembly can include providing an escutcheon body including at least one guide rail having a first surface, a shift lever located adjacent the escutcheon body and configured to move relative to the escutcheon body, and providing a slider body located adjacent and configured for movement with respect to the escutcheon body, the slider body including at least one contact structure configured to contact the first surface of the at least one guide rail of the escutcheon body during movement of the slider body with respect to the escutcheon body, the slider body including an adjacent portion and an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion located between the contact structure and the adjacent portion. The method can include moving the contact structure of the slider body relative to the adjacent portion of the slider body such that the intermediate portion of the slider body elastically deforms and provides a compression force between the contact structure and the first surface of the at least one guide rail during movement of the shift lever relative to the escutcheon body.

Still other aspects, features, and attendant advantages of the disclosed subject matter will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of embodiments constructed in accordance therewith, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The disclosed subject matter provides a vehicle shift lever system and method for use with a transmission assembly that minimizes transmission of rattling, vibration, and/or noise caused by actuation of the shift lever and/or due to typical vehicle vibration. The system according to the disclosed embodiments may be employed in conventional transmission systems.

Referring to the drawing figures, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements throughout the several figures.

FIG. 1illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a shift lever assembly100according to the principles of the disclosed subject matter.FIG. 1shows the shift lever assembly100including a shift lever105having a shift knob110. A slider body130can be located immediately adjacent and, if necessary, in contact with the shift lever. The slider body130can be configured to move with the shift lever105as the shift lever105is actuated. An escutcheon body125can be provided which may be mounted to the frame of the vehicle or other portions of the interior of the vehicle. The escutcheon body125can be shaped and configured to finish or hide the connection between the shift lever105and the vehicle cabin and can provide the vehicle with a uniform, aesthetic and/or other designed vehicle interior quality. The escutcheon body125also includes a pair of guide rails145that can each be located at a respective one of the edges127of the escutcheon body125. An escutcheon cover115can be provided to cover the escutcheon body125and a portion of the slider body130and to further finish the interior of the vehicle and hide transmission and shift lever components. An escutcheon cover opening120can be provided in the escutcheon cover115such that the shift lever can move between its various shift lever positions (e.g., park, reverse, neutral, drive, low gears, etc.). The slider body130can also include a plurality of spring members135each having a contact structure140. The spring members135can be located along a first edge137of the slider body130and along a second edge137of the slider body130. As shown more clearly inFIG. 5, the spring members135can each include a first portion131that extends perpendicularly from the bottom surface138of the slider body130and also extends downward from the edge137of the slider body130. The spring member135can include a second portion133extending substantially perpendicularly from the first portion131. The second portion133can run substantially parallel with the edge137and bottom surface138of the slider body130. The contact structure140can be located at an end of the second portion133and can extend inward towards a central portion139of the slider body130such that the contact structure140extends underneath a guide rail145of the escutcheon body125to sandwich the escutcheon body125between the contact structure140and the bottom surface138of the slider body130. The guide rail145can include an upper surface145aand an opposed lower surface145b. In the embodiment shown, the lower surface145bof the guide rail145is in contact with the contact structure140of the slider body130.

The first portion131and second portion133of the spring member135are configured such that they can be elastically deformed and flex relative to the bottom surface138and/or central portion139of the slider body130. Thus, the spring members135are configured to be flexed by/against the guide rail145and apply a compressive force against the guide rails145to bias the slider body130towards the escutcheon body125. This compressive force can be applied throughout the motion of the slider body130relative to the escutcheon body125such that actuation of the shift lever105can be accomplished with little noise and/or vibration, and transmission of other vibration through the shift lever assembly100is also reduced.

In operation, a vehicle operator shifts the shift lever105in either direction shown by the arrow inFIG. 1in order to change the transmission settings. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, shifting the shift lever105will also move the slider body130along the escutcheon body125. The spring members135move as the slider body130moves, and the contact structures140also move with the slider body130. The contact structures140are configured to be compressed against the guide rail145and they ride along the guide rail145as the shift lever is moved. The contact structures140firmly contact and/or grip the guide rails145so that the slider body130is maintained firmly in contact or at least biased towards the escutcheon body125without increasing shift load so as to control any looseness of the slider body130so that rattling is reduced and possibly eliminated.

In one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, as shown inFIG. 1, the spring members135are formed as flexible guide legs. The contact structures140are formed on a distal end of the flexible guide legs as elongate members with rounded top surfaces to minimize the contact area and yet provide the spring/compression force for biasing the slider body130towards the escutcheon body125.

FIG. 2is a side view of the shift lever assembly100shown inFIG. 1. The shift lever105and the shift knob110are moved as shown when the operator switches gears in the transmission. The movement of the shift lever105causes the slider body130to move with the shift lever105which results in a uniform appearance, and provides a continuous cover over any gap that would otherwise be located between the shift lever105and the vehicle interior and, in this case, the escutcheon body125. The escutcheon body125is mounted to the frame or other structure of the vehicle and includes guide rails145that can be semi-arcuate and follow the contour of the bottom surface138of the slider body130. The slider body130includes the plurality of spring members135each having contact structures140. The contact structures140are compressed against the guide rails145so that the slider body130is maintained firmly in contact with the escutcheon body125during relative movement and/or sliding so that rattling is prevented of these structures with each other is prevented.

In operation, a vehicle operator will shift the shift lever105in the directions shown by the arrow inFIG. 2. Shifting the shift lever105causes the slider body130to move over the escutcheon body125. The spring members135also move as the slider body130moves. The contact structures140also move along as the slider body130moves. The contact structures140can be continuously compressed against the guide rail145, riding along the guide rail145as the shift lever105is moved. Thus, the contact structures140allow the slider body130to be maintained firmly in contact with the escutcheon body125without increasing shift load so as to control looseness of the slider body130so that rattling, vibration, etc., is/are reduced and even eliminated.

FIG. 3shows a close-in cross section view of the shift lever assembly100taken along section line B-B ofFIG. 2. The slider body130includes contact structures140which are parallel to each other and which extend underneath the guide rail145to sandwich the guide rail145of the escutcheon body125between the bottom surface138of the slider body130and the contact structures140located on the spring members135of the slider body130. The slider body130is positioned over the escutcheon body125and rides or slides over the top of the escutcheon body125during shifting operations. When the slider body130is moved during operation and the contact structures140ride along the guide rails145, the slider body130is firmly held in place with respect to the escutcheon body125so as to reduce and/or eliminate rattling, etc., between the escutcheon body125and slider body130. Furthermore, vibration from the engine, transmission, and other components of the vehicle can be prevented from traveling into the interior of the vehicle by the above-described structural arrangement between the slider body130and escutcheon body125. Additionally, the contact structures140are compressed firmly against the guide rails145so that there is little or no space between the contact structures140and the guide rails145throughout operation of the shift lever assembly100. The escutcheon body125can be secured to the frame of the vehicle or other structure located within the vehicle interior. Thus, the slider body130moves relative to the vehicle interior and is the structure that will appear to move with movement of the shift lever105.

FIG. 4shows a close-in cross-sectional view of the shift assembly taken along line C-C ofFIG. 2.FIG. 4shows the slider body130which includes spring members135. The slider body130is positioned over the escutcheon body125so that the spring members135move along the escutcheon body125as the slider body130is moved. The portion of the spring members135shown inFIG. 4is adjacent to but not in contact with the guide rails145. As described above, the contact structures140(not shown inFIG. 4) are located at distal ends of the spring members135, and these contact structures140ride along and compress the guide rails145.

FIG. 5shows a close-in view of the shift assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.FIG. 5shows the shift lever105which can be moved by an operator of the vehicle. The shift lever105is coupled to the slider body130either integrally or by contact, and causes the slider body130to move as the shift lever105is moved. The slider body130includes the spring members135which move as the slider body130moves. Contact structures140are disposed at ends of the spring members135and are in contact with and ride along the guide rails145as the slider body130moves. The guide rail145is disposed on the escutcheon body125. In the embodiment ofFIG. 5, the spring members135are formed as flexible guide legs which extend in a direction of the guide rails. The contact structures140are located at a distal end of the spring members135and extend inwardly to sandwich the guide rail145as described above.

It should be noted that several of the disclosed structures that make up the shift assembly100can be varied in terms of shape, size, material, connections, etc., without departing from the spirit and scope of the presently disclosed subject matter. For example, the spring members135could be other structures which are capable of exerting a compressive force on the guide rails145, such as a coil spring device, a leaf spring, a top side spring, etc. It should also be understood that the configuration of the contact structures, spring members and guide rails could be inverted. For example, in an alternate embodiment, the escutcheon body125could be configured to include the contact structures140and spring members135, while the slider body could130be configured to include the guide rails145. The physical architectural design of the spring members135can also vary widely depending on many factors, including the space in which the shift lever assembly is being installed, the amount of spring force desired, etc. For example, the second portion133of the spring members135could be arcuately curved and still provide the elasticity for compressing the contact structure140against the guide rail145. Additional or different extension portions can be included in the spring members135, and each of the spring members135is not required to be identically shaped or composed. A single rail145instead of the disclosed double rail145structure is also contemplated as falling within the scope of the disclosed subject matter. Additionally, although the slider body130and escutcheon body125are shown as having mating and generally arcuate structural shapes in side view, these structures could be formed in parallel planes or in other shapes and can include various different structures located therebetween or thereon. For example, a lighted transmission gear indicator could be built into one or both of the escutcheon body125and slider body130.

The shifter assembly could also be used in a manual transmission shifter by including additional slider body or bodies and/or including other escutcheon plates or bodies that would allow side to side movement of the shifter105relative to the longitudinal axis of the slider body130and escutcheon body125. Thus, the slider body130and the escutcheon body could be formed in multiple parts for a manual transmission application of the disclosed subject matter or for other applications in automatic transmission assemblies.