Patent ID: 8109376

Claim:
A device ( 1 ) for operating a shifting element 2 of a drive mechanism 21 the device 1 comprising a piston element ( 4 ) that is positioned in a piston space ( 3 ) in a displaceable arrangement between a first end position and a second end position, and depending upon a hydraulic pressure in the piston space ( 3 ) and a resetting force of a resetting mechanism ( 5 ), acting on the piston element ( 4 ) and opposing an activating force that is equivalent to the hydraulic pressure present in the piston space ( 3 ), the piston element ( 4 ) being operated hydraulically such that a transmission capacity of the shifting element ( 2 ) is reduced by a total force component acting in a direction of the first end position on the piston element ( 4 ) and is increased by a total force component acting in a direction of the second end position on the piston element ( 4 ), and the piston element ( 4 ) being held, by a mechanical holder ( 8 ), against the total force component acting in the direction of the first end position on the piston element ( 4 ) in at least one preset position which is different from the first end position; the piston element ( 4 ) being retained in place by at least one locking element ( 9 ) that interacts with a housing ( 7 ), which encloses the piston space ( 3 ), in at least one preset position, and the at least one locking element ( 9 ), in a piston-blocking state penetrates the housing ( 7 ) to be in active connection with the piston element ( 4 ); the at least one locking element ( 9 ) being biased by an actuator ( 12 ) at least from a piston releasing state toward a piston blocking state; the actuator ( 12 ) having at least one cam unit ( 13 ) being in active connection with the locking element ( 9 ) such that movement of the actuator ( 12 ) in one direction causes movement of the locking element ( 9 ); during activation of the locking element ( 9 ), the cam unit ( 13 ) changing a direction of movement of the actuator ( 12 ) into a direction of movement of the locking element ( 9 ); rotational motion of the actuator ( 12 ) biasing the locking element ( 9 ) along an axis, via the cam ( 13 ); and the axis along which the locking element ( 9 ) is biased, is parallel to an axis about which the actuator ( 12 ) rotates.