An actuator includes a manually operable portion that is operable to transmit rotation to an output shaft. The manually operable portion is provided such that the manually operable portion extends through a housing while at least a portion of the manually operable portion is exposed to an outside of the housing. In this way, even in a case where the actuator becomes inoperable, it is possible to change a shift range by rotating the output shaft through operation of the manually operable portion. It is only required to have a connection hole, which is conventionally provided at an outer wall of a transmission case, as a hole, which connects this rotary actuator to a shift range change mechanism. Therefore, it is sufficient to perform only a relatively small improvement, such as providing screw holes for fixing the actuator in a preexisting transmission.

A drive switching apparatus includes an output member connected to a drive switching member and displacing the drive switching member to three shift positions by being rotated, a deceleration mechanism decelerating rotation of an input portion connected to an electric motor and outputting the rotation to an output portion, a rotation absorption mechanism including an elastic member interposed between an input element connected to the output portion and an output element connected to the output member, the rotation absorption mechanism absorbing rotation of the input element in a case where rotation of the output element is restricted during the rotation of the input element, and a switch operation portion provided at the output element, the switch operation portion turning a switch on and off according to a rotational position of the output member in order to detect the shift positions of the drive switching member.

The invention relates to the control mechanism developed for continuously variable transmission systems which are chain/belt-driven and which are used in the vehicles with electrical, hybrid and conventional internal combustion engine as an automatic gearbox system in the automotive industry.

An electronic transmission range select actuator (ETRSA) includes two independent drive systems that are each able to actuate a common shaft, for example an output shaft of the ETRSA, via a coupling device disposed between and connecting the gear trains of each system. The first drive system of the two independent drive systems is used during normal vehicle operation to change the transmission gear range to a desired gear range. The second drive system is used in case of abnormal operation of the first drive system to return the vehicle transmission to the park transmission range.

At least some implementations of a gear shift control system include first and second drive members, a drivetrain selectively driven by the first and second drive members and a retainer. The drivetrain includes a first input driven by the first drive member, a second input and an output coupled to and selectively driven by both the first input and the second input. The second drive member is coupled to the second input to drive the output through the second input during a second mode of operation to cause a transmission gear shift. The retainer is selectively coupled to the second input and movable between first and second positions to permit movement of the second input during the second mode of operation and prevent such movement during a first mode of operation.

A range switching apparatus of a shift-by-wire system has: a main motor; a deceleration mechanism that amplifies torque generated by the main motor; an output shaft that outputs the torque amplified by the deceleration mechanism; an auxiliary motor; and an emergency drive mechanism. The emergency drive mechanism is disposed on the auxiliary motor shaft of the auxiliary motor, and that is connected to or disconnected from the deceleration mechanism by driving of the auxiliary motor. The emergency drive mechanism transfers output of the auxiliary motor to the deceleration mechanism, and rotates the output shaft by being connected to the deceleration mechanism.

A compact and efficient rotary shift actuator for a shift-by-wire transmission includes a motor having a motor shaft that is rotatable about a motor axis, an output head arranged towards a second end of an output lever and adapted for connection with a shift shaft of a transmission, and a gear train for transferring torque from the motor shaft to the output head. The gear train comprises a first shaft rotatable about a first axis, a second shaft rotatable about a second axis, and the output lever pivotable about a lever axis. The gear train further includes a worm gear for transmitting torque from the first shaft to the second shaft.

An actuator to set a park lock of an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle has a drive (2) driving a drive shaft (1), a first actuating element (3) operatively connected to the drive shaft (1) for actuating a switching device, a spring element (5), which is supported on one side on a housing component (16) of the actuator, and on the other side on a second actuating element (17) designed to load the spring element (5). The actuator also has an electromagnetic retaining device (32) with an electromagnet (50) which interacts magnetically with a magnetic armature (52) comprising a ferromagnetic material component to retain the spring element (5) which is under loading, building up a spring return force. The magnetic armature (52) is mounted tiltably and/or pivotably on a pivot component (55) of the retaining device (32).

A drive switching apparatus includes an output member connected to a drive switching member and displacing the drive switching member to three shift positions by being rotated, a deceleration mechanism decelerating rotation of an input portion connected to an electric motor and outputting the rotation to an output portion, a rotation absorption mechanism including an elastic member interposed between an input element connected to the output portion and an output element connected to the output member, the rotation absorption mechanism absorbing rotation of the input element in a case where rotation of the output element is restricted during the rotation of the input element, aid a switch operation portion provided at the output element, the switch operation portion turning a switch on and off according to a rotational position of the output member in order to detect the shift positions of the drive switching member.

A gear shift control system may include an output mechanism, first and second drive members and a drivetrain. The first drive member may be coupled to the output mechanism to drive the output mechanism and cause a transmission shift. The drivetrain includes a first input driven by the drive member during a first mode of operation and an output coupled to both the first input and the output mechanism to drive the output mechanism as commanded by the drive member. During a second mode of operation a second input is coupled to the output and a second drive member is coupled to the second input to drive the output mechanism through the second input and the output to cause a transmission gear shift. The second drive member may be laterally offset from the drivetrain and axially positioned within an axial height of the drivetrain.