CA2096913A1 - One-piece gearshift lever with cold formed end - Google Patents

One-piece gearshift lever with cold formed end

Info

Publication number
CA2096913A1
CA2096913A1 CA 2096913 CA2096913A CA2096913A1 CA 2096913 A1 CA2096913 A1 CA 2096913A1 CA 2096913 CA2096913 CA 2096913 CA 2096913 A CA2096913 A CA 2096913A CA 2096913 A1 CA2096913 A1 CA 2096913A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
lever
functional
shaft
operative
piece
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2096913
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Leonard Neal
Robert Elliott
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Dura Operating LLC
Original Assignee
Tamco Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tamco Ltd filed Critical Tamco Ltd
Priority to CA 2096913 priority Critical patent/CA2096913A1/en
Priority to PCT/CA1994/000255 priority patent/WO1994027836A1/en
Publication of CA2096913A1 publication Critical patent/CA2096913A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60KARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K20/00Arrangement or mounting of change-speed gearing control devices in vehicles
    • B60K20/02Arrangement or mounting of change-speed gearing control devices in vehicles of initiating means
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21KMAKING FORGED OR PRESSED METAL PRODUCTS, e.g. HORSE-SHOES, RIVETS, BOLTS OR WHEELS
    • B21K1/00Making machine elements
    • B21K1/76Making machine elements elements not mentioned in one of the preceding groups
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16HGEARING
    • F16H59/00Control inputs to control units of change-speed-, or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion
    • F16H59/02Selector apparatus
    • F16H59/0217Selector apparatus with electric switches or sensors not for gear or range selection, e.g. for controlling auxiliary devices
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16HGEARING
    • F16H59/00Control inputs to control units of change-speed-, or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion
    • F16H59/02Selector apparatus
    • F16H59/0278Constructional features of the selector lever, e.g. grip parts, mounting or manufacturing
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/02Bases, casings, or covers
    • H01H9/06Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner
    • H01H2009/066Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner having switches mounted on a control handle, e.g. gear shift lever

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Arrangement Or Mounting Of Control Devices For Change-Speed Gearing (AREA)

Abstract

A ONE-PIECE GEARSHIFT LEVER WITH COLD FORMED END

ABSTRACT

A gearshift lever and a method of forming the lever is disclosed. The lever includes a one-piece shaft with a functional end and an operative end, the functional end being cold formed to a specific configuration for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the lever. A channel region is provided along the shaft between the functional and operative ends for running electrical wire between the functional and operative ends, and a shaft covering material surrounds the channel region for containing the electrical wire within the channel region. The cold forming of the functional end of the lever reduces the cost of manufacturing the lever. In an alternative embodiment, the shaft of the lever is provided with a hollow bore along the length of the shaft for enclosing the wires.

Description

A ONE-PIECE GEARSHIFT LEV}:R WITH COLD FORMED END

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to gear shift levers and specifically to levers having a cold formed functional end. The invention also relates to gearshift levers with a channel along the length of the lever for receiving and enclosing wires therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past, there has been a need for a one-piece gearshift lever that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture through cold forming of the functional end of the lever. There has also been a need for a lever formed by this method that enables wires to run along the length of lever between the knob or operative end and the functional end of the lever to enable an electrical switch to be positioned at the operative end of the lever for actuation of an electrical system, for example, an overdrive system.

Past methods of forming gearbox levers with wires along the length of the lever have included drilling the centre of a piece of steel which further requires subsegue~t deburring operations to reduce the risk of wear on the wire by metal burrs created during drilling. Other methods of forming gearshift levers have included complex welding operations. These operations also add to the cost of manufacturing.
U.S. Patent No. 4,162,384 discloses an electrical switch mounted on a knob, with the switch terminal connected to wires which extend down the exterior of the gearshift stick. This patent ,!,.'~', , . . - .
'''~^'''' ' ' ' ' ': : ,, :~

shows a wire extending within the protective sleeve and over the shift stick. In another embodimen~, this patent also shows a wire extending down the hollow interior of stick exiting at the bottom through a slot.

~ - This patent does not disclose a gearshift lever made of a one piece formed metal tube in combination with a cold formed linkage end which is formed to a specific shape. In addition, where the wire extends under a protective sleeve this patent does not disclose a slot through which the electrical wire runs fr~m the switch to the linkage end, running axially along the length of the gearshift lever.

PCT International Application No. WO 91/02912 discloses a lever consisting of a cylindrical pipe inserted in a cavity of a knob. A contact element is part of an electrical switch in the lever and the knob is in contact with an isolated connecting lead.
The contact is connected to an electrical circuit through a connecting lead. Both the contact element and connecting lead are outside of the cylindrical shaped pipe. This patent does not disclose the running of a connecting lead (wiring) through a cylindrical tube from a switch to a gearshift lever linka~e end, or a gearshift lever made of one piece of a formed metal tube in combination with a functional end which is cold formed to a specific shape.

Canadian Patent No. 838,757 discloses an electrical control switch movably mounted on an actuating lever having a tubular housing member within which is located a contact asse~bly.
The end of the lever is received within the wire receiving passage of a housing member and lead wires pass through the lever, from the steering column, to a passage for conneoti~n to the terminal end of l~......... . .
,, . .. : . - ; .

. . :
..^, :.;.~.;. - , . . .

.. ~,~;. . - . . : - . . - -2as6sl3 the contact members of the assembly. This patent does not disclose a gearshift lever made of one piece of a formed metal tube, in combination with a functional end which is cold formed to a ~pecific shape.

SUMMARY OF THE INvENTION

In accordance with the invention, a gearshift lever is provided comprising a one-piece shaft with a functional end and an operative end where the functional end is cold formed to a specific configuration for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the lever, a channel region along the shaft between the functional and operative ends for running electrical wire between the functional and operative ends, and shaft covering material surrounding the channel region for containing the electrical wire within the channel region.

In an alternative embodiment, the gear shift lever is a one-piece metal tube with a functional end and an operative end where the functional end is cold formed to a specific configuration for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the lever, and the tube also provides for the running of electrical wire between the functional end and the operative end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:
~ . .
2~96913 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the shaft with the knob removed from the operative end:

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the functional end of the shaft as seen along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is an end elevation view of the functional end of the shaft shown in Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view as seen along line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the knob and operative end and its attachment to the shaft;

Figure 6 i6 a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention showing the heat shrink cover in partial cutaway.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

! Referring to Figure 1, a gearshift lever 10 is shown ~ having an elongated, contoured shaft 12, an operative end 14i 25 including a knob portion 28 and a functional end 16.

j Shaft 12 may be of relatively small diameter, thick wall steel tubing drawn over a mandrel (DOM tu~ing). The shaft 12 is provided with an internal channel 18 formed during the drawing process and extending between the functional end 16 and operative l end 14 of the shaft 12. The internal channel 18 is also provided ¦ with an exit orifice 26 which may be positioned at the junction 2()96913 between the functional end 16 and the shaft 12 or alternatively, along shaft 12 or within functional end 16. Shaft 12 may be either ~traight or curved in shape depending on the styling requirements of the vehicle concerned as shown in Fig. 2.
The functional end 16 is cold formed to a desired shape for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the gearshift lever 10, for example a manual or automatic gearbox. Cold forming involves squeezing the tubing to form an end of a specific shape. The procedure of cold forming the functional end 16 is less expensive than broaching operations typically employed in producing gearbox levers. The particular configuration of the functional end 16 may be one of a variety of shapes depending upon the specific linkage desired. The cold forming process results in functional end 16 which may be of narrower or wider dimensions relative to the shaft 12 diameter as shown in Figures 3 and 4. A bore 24 (Fig. 3) may be subsequently milled in the functional end 16 if desired.

The operative end 14 of the shaft 12 is adapted for attachment of a knob portion 28 which may be attached thereto by a press-fit or by any suitable method to the operative end 14. Knob portion 28 is of a larger diame~er than shaft 12 and contoured in order to facilitate manual grasping thereof for operation and control of the lever 10. Knob portion 28 is also provided with a push-button switch 22, electrically connected to wires 20 passing through channel 18 and the knob portion 28 as shown in Figure 5.

In another embodiment of the invention, shaft 12 may be formed of a solid rod of steel with a channel 30 milled along the length of the shaft 12 as shown in Figure 6. Wires 20 are passed from the functional end 16 to the operative end 14 through the channel 30. A suitable shaft covering material 32 is applied over 't" 2096913 the shaft 12 to contain the wires 20 within channel 30. Shaft covering material 32 is preferably a single tube of heat shrinkable material or another suitable material such as a tape.

The terms and expressions which have been employed in this specification are used as terms of description and not of limitations, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions to exclude any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

Claims (4)

1. A gearshift lever comprising:

a one-piece shaft with a functional end and an operative end, said functional end being cold formed to a specific configuration for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the lever;

a channel region extending along an exterior surface of the shaft between said functional and operative ends for running electrical wire between said functional and operative ends;
and shaft covering material enclosing said channel region for containing said electrical wire within said channel region.
2. A gearshift lever comprising:

a one-piece metal tube with a functional end and an operative end, said functional end being cold formed to a specific configuration for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the lever, said tube including means for running electrical wire between said functional end and said operative end.
3. A gearshift lever as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2 further comprising a knob portion on said operative end and including switching means attached to said electrical wire at said operative end for switching control of an electrical circuit.
4. A method of manufacturing a one-piece gearshift lever having a shaft with means for running wires between a functional end and an operative end, said operative end having integral electrical actuating means; comprising cold forming said functional end to provide a configuration adapted for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the lever.
CA 2096913 1993-05-25 1993-05-25 One-piece gearshift lever with cold formed end Abandoned CA2096913A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2096913 CA2096913A1 (en) 1993-05-25 1993-05-25 One-piece gearshift lever with cold formed end
PCT/CA1994/000255 WO1994027836A1 (en) 1993-05-25 1994-05-25 A one-piece gearshift lever with cold formed end

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2096913 CA2096913A1 (en) 1993-05-25 1993-05-25 One-piece gearshift lever with cold formed end

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2096913A1 true CA2096913A1 (en) 1994-11-26

Family

ID=4151699

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2096913 Abandoned CA2096913A1 (en) 1993-05-25 1993-05-25 One-piece gearshift lever with cold formed end

Country Status (2)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2096913A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1994027836A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3410248B2 (en) * 1995-04-28 2003-05-26 富士機工株式会社 Harness connection structure of shift lever device
US5788917A (en) * 1997-05-27 1998-08-04 General Motors Corporation Method of making a plastic article
IT1308092B1 (en) * 1999-06-10 2001-11-29 Bava Riccardo Spa COMMAND AUCTION FOR VEHICLE CHANGE

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB252291A (en) * 1925-05-22 1926-05-27 Thomas Blackwood Murray Means for interlocking the actuating members of variable speed gearing
US2272897A (en) * 1939-12-14 1942-02-10 Firestone Tire & Rubber Co Lever for manual operation
US2953674A (en) * 1956-11-08 1960-09-20 Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc Tubular elements with integral end fittings and method of making
FR2071184A5 (en) * 1969-12-19 1971-09-17 Balzac Max
CH633119A5 (en) * 1979-07-13 1982-11-15 Pedrazzoli Spa Manual lever for a machine operating device
US4473318A (en) * 1983-06-23 1984-09-25 The Boeing Company Passive structures tubing connector terminal
GB2191965B (en) * 1986-06-05 1990-06-06 Mitsuboshi Seisakusho Gear-shift lever and method of making it
US5012888A (en) * 1987-11-13 1991-05-07 Macinnis Richard F Shifting method and apparatus
IT1240109B (en) * 1990-02-21 1993-11-27 Sama S.P.A. CONTROL DEVICE FOR SPEED CHANGES OF MOTOR VEHICLES, PARTICULARLY OF AGRICULTURAL TRACTORS.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1994027836A1 (en) 1994-12-08

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FZDE Dead