DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to gear lever mechanisms in vehicles and more particularly, but not exclusively to gear lever mechanism having a shift and selector tower actuating means for actuating the shift and selector tower assembly, and a cable that serves as both gear selector cable and gear shifter cable in vehicles.

BACKGROUND
[002] Generally, a gear lever mechanism is used in a manual transmission system (MT) of a vehicle for manually selecting the respective gears which are required for various driving conditions of the vehicle. A conventional gear lever mechanism includes a gear lever, a gear selector cable, a gear shifter cable, a shift and selector tower assembly, shift forks, synchronizer units and gears. The shift and selector tower assembly includes a selector shaft, a relay lever, cam lever, selector plates, shift fingers and may include other standard components. One end of the gear selector cable is connected to the gear lever and the other end of the gear selector cable is connected to the relay lever. One end of the gear shifter cable is connected to the gear lever and the other end of the gear shifter cable is connected to the cam lever. In operation, when the gear lever is moved by the driver in the corresponding gear selector gate (i.e., the left-right movement of the gear lever in the selector gate), the gear selector cable moves to enable the selector shaft of the shift tower assembly to move up/down along the axis of the selector shaft thereby locating corresponding shift finger on the selector shaft in the corresponding selector plate by which corresponding gear is to be engaged. Now, when the gear lever is moved by the driver in the corresponding gear shift gate (up-down movement of the gear lever in the shift gates), the gear shifter cable moves to turn the selector shaft thereby enabling the shift finger to move the selector plate which in turn causes the selector shaft to drive the shift fork to engage corresponding gear. The aforementioned gear lever mechanism is complex in design and is subjected to increased shifter effort and incurs high cost due to various child parts which are involved in assembly of the gear selector cable and the gear shifter cable.
[003] Therefore, there exists a need for a gear lever mechanism for a vehicle, which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks. Further, there exists a need for a gear lever mechanism for a vehicle, which uses a cable that serves as both gear selector cable and gear shifter cable in the vehicle.

OBJECTS
[004] The principal object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a gear lever mechanism for a vehicle, which comprises a cable that serves as both gear shifter cable and gear selector cable, and a shift and selector tower actuating means for actuating the shift and selector tower assembly in the vehicle.
[005] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[006] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[007] FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of a portion of a gear lever mechanism for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[008] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the portion of the gear lever mechanism, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[009] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a clevis of the gear lever mechanism, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0010] FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a shift and selector tower actuating means of the gear lever mechanism, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0011] FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of a mounting bracket of the gear lever mechanism, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0012] FIG. 6 depicts a photographic view of the shift and selector tower actuating means and, shift and selector tower assembly in assembled condition, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0014] The embodiments herein achieve a gear lever mechanism for a vehicle, which comprises a cable that serves as both gear shifter cable and gear selector cable, and a shift and selector tower actuating means for actuating the shift and selector tower assembly in the vehicle. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 6, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0015] FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of a portion of a gear lever mechanism 100 for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. The gear lever mechanism 100 includes a gear lever 102 (as shown in fig. 1 and fig. 2), a clevis 104 (as shown in fig. 1, fig. 2 and fig. 3), a cable 106 (as shown in fig. 1, fig. 2 and fig. 6), a shift and selector tower actuating means 108 (as shown in fig. 1, fig. 2, fig. 4 and fig. 6), a mounting bracket 110 (as shown in fig. 1, fig. 2 and fig. 5), a shift tower assembly T (as shown in fig. 6), a plurality of shift forks (not shown), a plurality of shift rails (not shown), a plurality of synchronizer units (not shown), a plurality of gears (not shown) and may include other standard components as present in standard gear lever mechanism.
[0016] The gear lever 102 is operated (pushed or pulled) by the driver driving the vehicle for selecting respective gears which are required for various driving conditions of the vehicle.
[0017] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a clevis 104 of the gear lever mechanism 100, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the clevis 104 is used to move the cable 106 in response to the movement of the gear lever 102. In an embodiment, the clevis 104 includes a first portion 104a and a plurality of second portions 104b. The first portion 104a of the clevis 104 is connected to the gear lever 102. The first portion 104a of the clevis 104 defines an opening 104c adapted to receive a fastener (not shown) or any other locking element (not shown) therein to removably connect the clevis 104 to the gear lever 102. In an embodiment, each second portion 104b of the clevis 104 is used for moving the cable 106 in response to the movement of the gear lever 102. Each second portion 104b extends from the first portion 104a of the clevis 104, where one second portion 104b is in-line to the first portion 104a and the other second portion 104b is substantially parallel to the first portion 104a of the clevis 104. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide the clevis 104 with only the second portion 104b that is in-line to the first portion 104a or the second portion 104b that is parallel to the first portion 104a for connecting the cable 106 to the clevis 104. Each second portion 104b of the clevis 104 defines an opening 104d adapted to receive a locking element (not shown) therein to connect a first portion 106a (as shown in fig. 1) of the cable 106 to the clevis 104.
[0018] The cable 106 serves as both gear selector cable and gear shifter cable to facilitate selection and shifting of gears (not shown). The cable 106 includes a first portion 106a (as shown in fig. 1) and a second portion 106b (as shown in fig. 1). The first portion 106a of the cable 106 is disposed between each second portion 104b of the clevis 104. The second portion 106b of the clevis 104 is connected to a third portion 108c (as shown in fig. 4) of the shift and selector tower actuating means 108.
[0019] FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a shift and selector tower actuating means 108 of the gear lever mechanism 100, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the shift and selector tower actuating means 108 is used to actuate the shift and selector tower assembly T on engagement of the gear lever 102. In an embodiment, the shift and selector tower actuating means 108 includes a base 108a, a plurality of first portions 108b and a third portion 108c. The base 108a of the shift and selector tower actuating means 108 is rotatably connected to at least one rotatable member R (as shown in fig. 6) of the shift and selector tower assembly T. The base 108a defines a plurality of openings 108d adapted to receive fasteners (not shown) or any other locking element therein to secure the shift and selector tower actuating means 108 to the shift and selector tower assembly T. Each second portion 108b is transversely extending from the base 108a of the shift and selector tower actuating means 108. Each second portion 108b is used to support the third portion 108c of the shift and selector tower actuating means 108. The third portion 108c is disposed above each second portion 108b of the shift and selector tower actuating means 108. The third portion 108c includes a portion P that is away from each second portion 108b of the shift and selector tower actuating means 108. The portion P of the third portion 108c defines an opening 108e adapted to receive the second portion 106b of the cable 106.
[0020] FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of a mounting bracket 110 of the gear lever mechanism 100, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the mounting bracket 110 includes a first portion 110a and a second portion 110b. The first portion 110a of the mounting bracket 110 is connected to a transmission housing (not shown). The first portion 110a of the mounting bracket 110 defines an opening 110c adapted to receive fastener (not shown) or any other locking element (not shown) therein to removably connect the mounting bracket 110 to the transmission housing (not shown). The second portion 110b is transversely extending from the first portion 110a of the mounting bracket 110. The second portion 110b of the mounting bracket 110 defines an opening 110d adapted to facilitate movement of the cable 106 in response to turning of the clevis 104. The mounting bracket 110 is a L-shaped bracket. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any other type of bracket irrespective of shape and size without otherwise deterring the intended function of the mounting bracket 110 as can be deduced from the description.
[0021] The shift and selector tower assembly T is used to facilitate shifting and selection of gears (not shown) through selection and shifting of corresponding shift fork (not shown) on engagement of the gear lever 102. The shift and selector tower assembly T includes at least one rotatable member R, a shaft S, at least one selector plate (not shown), at least one shift finger, a housing (not shown) and may include other standard components as present in standard shift and selector tower assembly T. The rotatable member R is disposed above the housing (not shown) of the shift and selector tower assembly T. The rotatable member R turns the shaft S of the shift and selector tower assembly T in response to the turning of the shift and selector tower actuating means 108. The shaft S is rotatably connected to the rotatable member R of the shift and selector tower assembly T. The selector plate (not shown) is connected to one end (not shown) of the shaft S. The shift finger (not shown) is connected to one end (not shown) of the selector plate (not shown). The shift finger (not shown) of the shift and selector tower assembly T is adapted to engage corresponding shift rail-end of the shift fork (not shown) on turning of the shaft S. The housing (not shown) of the shift and selector tower assembly T is used to house the shaft S, the selector plate (not shown) and the shift finger (not shown).
[0022] Each shift fork (not shown) is used to move a synchronizer ring (not shown) of corresponding synchronizer unit (not shown) to engage corresponding gear (not shown) on engagement of the gear lever 102. Each shift fork (not shown) includes a shift rail-end (not shown). The shift rail-end (not shown) of each shift fork (not shown) defines an opening (not shown) adapted to receive the shift finger (not shown) of the shift and selector tower assembly T based on corresponding movement of the gear lever 102. Each shift fork (not shown) is movably (linear movement) connected to corresponding shift rail (not shown). Each shift fork (not shown) is connected to the synchronizer sleeve (not shown) of corresponding synchronizer unit (not shown).
[0023] Each shift rail (not shown) is used for mounting each shift fork (not shown).
[0024] The plurality of synchronizer units (not shown) is used to facilitate smooth engagement or dis-engagement of corresponding gear (not shown) based on the movement of corresponding shift fork (not shown). Each synchronizer unit (not shown) includes at least one synchronizer ring (not shown), a synchronizer sleeve (not shown), a hub and may include other standard components as present in standard synchronizer unit.
[0025] The plurality of gears (not shown) is mounted onto corresponding shaft of the power transmission unit (not shown).
[0026] The working of the gear lever mechanism 100 is as follows. During engagement of the gear lever 102 or when the gear lever 102 is pushed or pulled by the driver, the clevis 104 turns to move the cable 106 and the cable 106 turns the shift and selector tower actuating means 108. Turning the shift and selector tower actuating means 108 turns the rotatable member R thereby turning the shaft S of the shift and selector tower assembly T to enable the shift finger (not shown) to engage the shift rail-end (not shown) of corresponding shift fork (not shown) thereby moving the shift fork (not shown) to move the synchronizer ring (not shown) to engage corresponding gear (not shown). Therefore, an effective gear lever mechanism 100 having a cable 106 that serves as both gear selector cable and gear shifter cable, and a shift and selector tower actuating means 108 for actuating a shift and selector tower assembly T is provided for a vehicle.
[0027] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
,CLAIMS:CLAIMS
We claim,
1. A gear lever mechanism 100 for a vehicle, said gear lever mechanism 100 comprising:
a clevis 104 having a first portion 104a adapted to be connected to a gear lever 102 and at least one second portion 104b;
a shift and selector tower actuating means 108 having a base 108a adapted to be rotatably connected to a shift and selector tower assembly T, at least one first portion 108b extending from the base 108a and at least one second portion 108c disposed above the first portion 108b, said shift and selector tower actuating means 108 adapted to actuate the shift and selector tower assembly T; and
a cable 106 having a first portion 106a adapted to be connected to the second portion 104b of said clevis 104 and a second portion 106b adapted to be connected to the second portion 108c of said shift and selector tower actuating means 108,
wherein
turning said clevis 104 moves said cable 106, and said cable 106 turns said shift and selector tower actuating means 108 to actuate the shift and selector tower assembly T to move corresponding shift fork thereby facilitating engagement of corresponding gear on engagement of the gear lever 102.
2. The gear lever mechanism 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second portion 108c of said shift and selector tower actuating means 108 defines a portion P away from the first portion 108b, wherein the portion P defines an opening 108e adapted to receive the second portion 106b of said cable 106.

3. The gear lever mechanism 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shift and selector tower assembly T comprises at least one rotatable member R; a shaft S adapted to be rotatably connected to the rotatable member R; at least one selector plate adapted to be connected to the shaft S; and at least one shift finger adapted to be connected to the selector plate.

4. The gear lever mechanism 100 as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base 108a of the shift and selector tower actuating means 108 is rotatably connected to the rotatable member R of the shift and selector tower assembly T.

5. The gear lever mechanism 100 as claimed in claim 3, wherein turning said shift and selector tower actuating means 108 turns the rotatable member R thereby turning the shaft S, and the shaft S enables the shift finger to engage the shift rail-end of corresponding shift fork thereby moving the shift fork to move corresponding synchronizer ring to engage corresponding gear on engagement of the gear lever 102.

6. The gear lever mechanism 100 as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, a mounting bracket 110 having a first portion 110a adapted to be mounted to a transmission housing and a second portion 110b defining an opening 110d adapted to facilitate the movement of said cable 106 in response to turning of said clevis 104.