FIELD OF INVENTION:
[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to a cable operated gear system of vehicles, and, in particular, to gear lever positioning mechanism for cable adjustment in vehicles. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to a locking mechanism for adjustment mechanism of cable for setting effective operating length of cable in the vehicle gear shift system. Further, the present subject matter relates to fixing of gear lever in the required position for proper cable adjustment mechanism for gear shift assembly of a manual shift gear box.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART:
[002] In vehicle gear shift system, a shift cable is attached to the gear shifter which is in vehicle passenger compartment for shifting the gears and speed of the vehicle. By the gear shifter, the driver of the vehicle shifts the gears in neutral, reverse, and drive gear positions. In order to properly and smoothly shift the gears, it is important to have properly adjusted cable with operating length with the gear system. During the cable adjustment, if there is any mis-adjustment of even a few millimetres can cause significant improper positioning of the shifter relative to the operating positions of the transmission, resulting in bad gear shift feeling lead to customer dissatisfaction. Further, it is not possible to manufacture gear shift systems with net/fix cable length and adjustment because of unavoidable variations in the length of transmission cables during their manufacture and vehicle component tolerance variances.
[003] To achieve desired cable adjustment positions, several ways were suggested to adjust the fix the gear shifter of the gear shift system. Fig. 1 and 2 illustrates cable adjustment using metal rod as known in the art. As shown in the figure 1, gear shift assembly 100 has shift lever 101, shifter box 102, bell crank 103, and bent metal rod locking members 104 which is formed wire stopper. The shifter box 102 has two locking member 104 across pivot ball sub assembly to restrict or lock the shift lever 101 in desired gear position for cable adjustment. As shown in the figure 2, formed wire stopper 105 is locked into the locking members 104 and fixes the shift lever 101 in desired gear position, such as low select gear position, netural gear position, and high select gear position. Once the cable fitment is completed with the shift lever 101, the formed wire stopper 105 is removed from the locking members 104 by the assembly operator. However, present assembly method uses a formed wire stopper that requires manual attachment. Further, the present assembly using formed wire stopper is labour intensive and time consuming. Furthermore, the present cable adjustment is subject to the accuracy of the labour making the adjustment.
[004] The above assembly method, further, suffers from several technical problems. The bent metal rod is fixed at two ends on the periphery of pivot ball sub assembly. A specified load is applied on the formed wire stopper to remove it from the fixed position. The formed wire stopper is reusable. Due to removal of the formed wire stopper several times, the formed wire stopper deforms from its shape and configuration, which allows free play between shift lever 101 and formed wire stopper, resulting mis-adjustment and variations in the cable adjustment as shown in the figure 3. Further, the formed wire stopper rubs with the metal shift lever which leads to scratches on the shifter rod or gear lever rod. Therefore, the plating surface of the gear lever rod gets damage. During dis-assembly of the wire stopper, there are chances of damaging surrounded components boot and retainer. The wire stopper adds extra cost due to metal structure and moulding of two locking members.
[005] In order to fix the gear lever in the required gear position for proper cable adjustment, a locking system is required which eliminates the free play and results in efficiently improvement the cable adjustment with high accuracy and without damaging the surrounded parts. The locking system should be inexpensive, reliable, simple in manufacturing, and easy to use. Further, the Gear shifter housing should hold the gear shift lever rod in the required gear position for cable adjustment in the gear shift systems. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a locking system in the gear shift system to fix the gear lever at the required position for accurate cable adjustment, therefore ruling out the possibility of any mis-alignment and variation.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[006] The principal objective of the present invention is to lock the system for cable adjustment in gear lever positioning mechanism.
[007] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a cylindrical detachable clip to lock the position of the gear lever in the required gear position for cable adjustment.
[008] Another object of the present subject matter is to use bell crank to lock the movement of the gear lever.
[009] Yet another object of the present subject matter is to lock bell crank with shifter box with a detachable clip for cable adjustment in gear lever positioning mechanism.
[0010] Yet another object of the present subject matter is to provide a simple, effective, cost efficient, and efficiently accurate locking system for cable adjustment in gear lever positioning mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0011] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a cable adjustment in gear lever positioning mechanism. In particularly, the present subject matter relates to a locking system for fixing the location of the gear lever with the desired gear position, such as low select gear position, netural gear position, and high select gear position for cable adjustment with the gear lever. The present locking system has bell crank, shifter box, and a cylindrical detachable clip. The locking system has two locking members, i.e., one on the bell crank and other on the shifter box. The bell crank has a first cylindrical locking member which is integrated with the bell crank with injection molding. The shifter box has second cylindrical locking member, which is also integrated with the shifter box with injection molding process. The bell crank is coupled with the gear lever and moves according to the movement of the gear lever. The second cylindrical locking member is provided at front side of pivot ball assembly of the gear lever. Both the integrated cylindrical locking members are hollow to receive a cylindrical detachable clip. The cylindrical detachable clip is inserted into the first cylindrical locking member and passes through the first hollow cylindrical locking member and inserted into the second cylindrical locking member. The cylindrical detachable clip locks the bell crank with the shifter box in the gear position so that cable adjustment can be done without any variations and mis-adjustment.
[0012] In other embodiment of the present subject matter, the cylindrical detachable clip is used to lock the bell crank with the shifter box. The cylindrical detachable clip has first cylindrical rod which is permanently molded with second cylindrical rod from one end. Further, a rectangular holding plate is permanently molded with opposite end of the second cylindrical rod for holding the detachable clip. The detachable clip is easily assembled and dis-assembled from the locking members of the bell crank and the shifter box via the rectangular holding plate. The second cylindrical rod has bigger diameter as compared to first cylindrical rod. The first cylindrical rod and the second cylindrical rod are coaxially molded with each other. The cylindrical detachable clip locks with the first cylindrical locking member.
[0013] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit scope of the present subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0015] Fig. 1 illustrates structure of the shifter box for wire stopper as known in the art;
[0016] Fig. 2 illustrates assembly of formed wire stopper on the shifter box for cable adjustment as known in the art;
[0017] Fig. 3 illustrates assembly of formed wire stopper with gear lever position in a gear position as known in art;
[0018] Fig. 4 illustrates structure bent metal rod and deformation in the wire stopper due to repetitive use in cable adjustment as know in the art;
[0019] Fig. 5 illustrates location and structure of cylindrical locking members on bell crank and the shifter box, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0020] Fig. 6 illustrates structure of cylindrical detachable clip, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0021] Fig. 7 illustrates another view of the cylindrical detachable clip, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0022] Fig. 8 illustrates assembly of the cylindrical detachable clip with the locking members of the bell crank and the shifter box to lock the position of the gear lever for cable adjustment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0023] Fig. 9 illustrates another side view of assembly of the cylindrical detachable clip with the locking members of the bell crank and the shifter box to lock the position of the gear lever for cable adjustment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0024] Fig. 10 illustrates top-isometric view of assembly of the cylindrical detachable clip with the locking members of the bell crank and the shifter box to lock the position of the gear lever for cable adjustment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0025] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0026] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a cable adjustment in gear lever positioning mechanism. In particularly, the present subject matter relates to a locking system for fixing the location of the gear lever with the desired gear position, such as low select gear position, neutral gear position, and high select gear position for cable adjustment with the gear lever. The present locking system has bell crank, shifter box, and a cylindrical detachable clip. The locking system has two locking members, i.e., one on the bell crank and other on the shifter box. The bell crank has a first cylindrical locking member which is integrated with the bell crank with injection molding. The shifter box has second cylindrical locking member which is also integrated with the shifter box with injection molding process. The bell crank is coupled with the gear lever and moves according to the movement of the gear lever. The second cylindrical locking member is provided at front side of pivot ball assembly of the gear lever. Both the integrated cylindrical locking members are hollow to receive a cylindrical detachable clip. The cylindrical detachable clip is inserted into the first cylindrical locking member and passes through the first hollow cylindrical locking member and inserted into the second cylindrical locking member. The cylindrical detachable clip locks the bell crank with the shifter box in the gear position so that cable adjustment can be done without any variations and mis-adjustment.
[0027] In other embodiment of the present subject matter, the cylindrical detachable clip is used to lock the bell crank with the shifter box. The cylindrical detachable clip has first cylindrical rod which is permanently molded with second cylindrical rod from one end. Further, a rectangular holding plate is permanently molded with opposite end of the second cylindrical rod for holding the detachable clip. The detachable clip is easily assembled and dis-assembled from the locking members of the bell crank and the shifter box via the rectangular holding plate. The second cylindrical rod has bigger diameter as compared to first cylindrical rod. The first cylindrical rod and the second cylindrical rod are coaxially molded with each other. The cylindrical detachable clip locks with the first cylindrical locking member.
[0028] The present subject matter eliminates the requirement of the formed wire stopper for cable adjustment in gear lever positioning and eliminates all technical problems associated with it.
[0029] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by devising various assembly that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0030] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail with reference to the following figures. It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope.
[0031] Fig. 5 illustrates location and structure of cylindrical locking members on bell crank and the shifter box, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The assembly of gear shift system 500 has gear shift lever 501, bell crank 502, and shifter box 503. The bell crank 502 is coupled with the gear shift lever 501 and moves with the movement of the gear shift lever 501. The bell crank 502 is coupled with a shaft and spring with the gear shift lever 501 (not shown in the figures). Further, construction of the bell crank and gear shift lever is well known to a person skilled in the art. Therefore, in order to illustrate the present subject matter related with the invention and to remove any ambiguity arises due to un-important subject matter, the present specification describes only invention related subject matter.
[0032] The shifter box 503 has a first cylindrical locking member 503a which is permanently molded on the shifter box 503 with injection molding process. The first cylindrical locking member 503a is hollow cylindrical structure. The first cylindrical locking member 503a is made of plastic material as same of the shifter box 503 or any other plastic material molded with injection molded. On the other hand, the bell crank 502 has a second cylindrical locking member 502a which is permanently molded on the bell crank 502 with injection molding process. The second cylindrical locking member 502 is hollow cylindrical structure. Further, the second cylindrical locking member 502a is made of plastic material. The second cylindrical locking member 502a is shorter in length as compared to the first cylindrical locking member 503a. Further, the first cylindrical locking member 503a and the second cylindrical locking member 502a has same diameter.
[0033] In another embodiment of the present subject matter, the first cylindrical locking member 503a and the second cylindrical locking member 502a can also have different diameters. Further, the second cylindrical locking member 502a may or may not have slots for passage of vertical projections of the detachable clip. If the second cylindrical locking member 502a does not have the slots, the diameter of the second cylindrical locking member 502a is equal to diameter of the first cylindrical rod with height of vertical projections.
[0034] The second cylindrical locking member 503a has two slots/grooves along the length. The two slots are positioned diametrically opposite to each other along length of the second cylindrical locking member 502a, detailed explanation and use is illustrated in reference with the figure 6 and 7. The first cylindrical locking member 503a also has two slots/grooves opposite to each. After a distance along the length of the first cylindrical locking member 503a, the two slots/grooves extend around circumference of the first cylindrical locking member 503a upto 1-3 mm to lock the detachable clip (as explained in figure 6-10). The two slots extend in opposite direction from each other. The extended grooves are provided in the circumference of the first cylindrical locking member 503a and can be referred as circular grooves.
[0035] Fig. 6 illustrates structure of cylindrical detachable clip, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The cylindrical detachable clip 600 is made of plastic with injection molding process. The cylindrical detachable clip 600 is used to lock the bell crank with the shifter box. The cylindrical detachable clip 600 has first cylindrical rod 601 which is injection molded with second cylindrical rod 602 from one end. Further, a rectangular holding plate 603 is injection molded with opposite end of the second cylindrical rod 602 for holding the cylindrical detachable clip 600. The cylindrical detachable clip 600 can be easily assembled and dis-assembled from the locking members 502a, 503a of the bell crank 502 and the shifter box 503 via the rectangular holding plate 603. The firs cylindrical rod 601, second cylindrical rod 602, and the rectangular holding plate 603 are made of plastic material via injection molding process. Further, the detachable clip 600 can be made by different process. All manufacturing processes are under the scope of the present subject matter. The present subject matter protects the structure, shape and configuration of the detachable clip 600 as illustrated. The second cylindrical rod 602 has bigger diameter as compared to the first cylindrical rod 601. The first cylindrical rod 601 and the second cylindrical rod 602 are coaxially molded with each other. Further, diameter of the first cylindrical rod 601 is equal to diameter of the first cylindrical locking member and the second cylindrical locking member.
[0036] The first cylindrical rod 601 has two vertical projections 604 positioned diametrically opposite to each other as shown in figure 7. The vertical projections 604 have height lower than the difference of the diameter between the first cylindrical rod and the second cylindrical rod. The vertical lugs 604 are provided near the second cylindrical rod 602. Further, the distance between the vertical projections 604 and the second cylindrical rod 602 is equal to width/length of the second cylindrical locking member 502a. The vertical projections 604 of the first cylindrical rod 601 passes the two slots/grooves of the second cylindrical locking member 502a of the bell crank 502 and reaches to the two slots/grooves of the first cylindrical locking member 503a engages with the first locking member 503a to lock bell crank with the shifter box. After insertion of the detachable clip 600 into the second cylindrical locking member 502a and the first cylindrical locking member 503a, the detachable clip 600 is rotated by the rectangular holding plate 603 to lock the vertical projections 604 with the circular grooves provided in the first cylindrical locking member 503a.
[0037] Fig. 8 illustrates assembly of the cylindrical detachable clip with the locking members of the bell crank and the shifter box to lock the position of the gear lever for cable adjustment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The assembly 800 has gear shift lever 801, bell crank 802, shifter box 803 and cylindrical detachable clip 804. The bell crank has second cylindrical locking member 802a and the shifter box 803 has first cylindrical locking member 803a. The cylindrical detachable clip 804 is inserted into the second cylindrical locking member 802a and the first cylindrical locking member 803a. After insertion of the cylindrical detachable clip 804, the cylindrical detachable clip 804 is rotated to lock vertical projections 604 (as shown in figure 6 and 7) with the circular grooves of the first cylindrical locking member 803a. The second cylindrical rod 602 of the cylindrical detachable clip 600 pushes the second cylindrical locking member 802a due to smaller diameter as compared to the second cylindrical rod 602. The construction of detachable clip with different diameters restricts slipping of the second cylindrical locking member form the detachable clip. Further, the positioning and construction of the vertical projections on the detachable clip and locking with the circular grooves of the first cylindrical locking member provides a positive locking. Fig. 9 illustrates assembly of the cylindrical detachable clip with the locking members of the bell crank and the shifter box to lock the position of the gear lever for cable adjustment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. Fig. 10 illustrates another side view of assembly of the cylindrical detachable clip with the locking members of the bell crank and the shifter box to lock the position of the gear lever for cable adjustment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0038] Once the bell crank is fixed with the shifter box, the cable adjustment can be done with ease and with great accuracy. Further, manual efforts have been reduced to decrease the assembly time. The present locking system eliminates the requirement of formed wire stopper for fixing the gear lever in the required gear position. Single detachable clip is reusable and can be used for multiple times in gear shifting system for adjustment of the cable. It is easy to manufacture the present locking system and detachable clip with the injection molding process which is simple and effective process.
[0039] The term “vehicle” as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to any moving vehicle that is capable of carrying one or more human occupants and is powered by any form of energy. The term “vehicle” is a motor vehicle which includes, but is not limited to: cars, trucks, vans, minivans, hatchback, sedan, MUVs, and SUVs.
[0040] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present invention contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. In addition, while a feature of the present invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present invention. The present invention also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature.
[0041] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/component of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.

Claims:We claim:
1.A locking system for fixing gear lever in required gear position for cable adjustment in gearshift system of vehicle, the locking system comprising:
a first cylindrical locking member (503a, 803a) molded on shifter box (503, 803);
a second cylindrical locking member (502, 802a) molded on bell crank (502, 802); and
a cylindrical detachable clip (600, 804), the cylindrical detachable clip (600, 804) is inserted into the first cylindrical locking member (503a, 803a) and the second cylindrical locking member (502a, 802a) to lock the bell crank (502, 802) with the shifter box (503, 803) for cable adjustment in the gear lever positioning mechanism.
2.The locking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylindrical detachable clip (600, 804) comprises:
a first cylindrical rod (601);
a second cylindrical rod (602) which is injection molded with one end of the first cylindrical rod (601); and
a rectangular holding plate (603) is injection molded with other end of the second cylindrical rod (602) for assembly and dis-assembly of the cylindrical detachable clip (600) from the locking members (502a, 503a).
3.The locking system as claimed in claim 2, wherein diameter of the second cylindrical rod (602) is bigger than the first cylindrical rod (601).
4.The locking system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first cylindrical rod (601) and the second cylindrical rod (602) are coaxially molded with each other.
5.The locking system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first cylindrical rod (601) is inserted into the first cylindrical locking member (503a, 803a) and the second cylindrical locking member (502a, 802a).
6. The locking system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first cylindrical rod (601) has two vertical lug (604) near the second cylindrical rod (602) for positive locking of the first cylindrical locking member (503a, 803a) and the second cylindrical locking member (502a, 802a).
7. The locking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first cylindrical locking member (502a, 802a) has a circular slot/groove to receive the vertical projections (604) for positive locking.
8. The locking system as claimed in claim 2, wherein diameter of the first cylindrical rod (601) matches with diameter of the first cylindrical locking member (503a, 803a).

9. The locking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first cylindrical locking member (503a, 803a) and the second cylindrical locking member (502a, 802a) have equal diameter.
10.The locking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first cylindrical locking member (503a, 803a) and the second cylindrical locking member (502a, 802a) are hollow cylindrical structure to receive the cylindrical detachable clip (600, 84).