Shifting device for an automatic gearbox of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A shifting device (2) for an automatic gearbox of a motor vehicle has a housing (4) and a selector lever (6) for selecting a gear stage which selector lever is guided in the housing (4). The shifting device (2) has an automatic shift gate (18) and a sequential shift gate (20), and the housing (4) has fasteners (projections and recesses) (10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5) for fixing the shifting device (2) in the motor vehicle. The housing (4) can be fixed in a first position for right hand driving and in a second position which is rotated by 180 degrees relative to the first position for left hand driving. The fasteners are arranged point-symmetrically in order to rotate the shifting device (2) by 180 degrees, with the result that the respective fastening points coincide with the original fastening points after the rotation and the fasteners are fixed on in each case the same motor vehicle-side fastening points.

Claims

1. A shifting device for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing for a gear selector lever of the automatic transmission, said housing having a first bracket depending therefrom in a first direction and defining first and second fastening projections for connecting the housing to the motor vehicle, and having a second bracket depending therefrom in a second direction that is 180 degrees opposite from the first direction and defining third and fourth fastening projections for connecting the housing to the motor vehicle; wherein the housing is adapted for connection to the motor vehicle in a first orientation by connecting the first, second, third and fourth fastening projections to the motor vehicle to accommodate moving the gear selector lever for right-hand driving, and is further adapted for connection to the motor vehicle in a second orientation 180 degrees rotated from the first orientation by connecting the first, second, third and fourth fastening projections to the motor vehicle to accommodate moving the gear selector lever for left-hand driving; and wherein the housing further comprises an automatic shift gate and a sequential shift gate each adapted to receive the gear selector lever in relation to whether automatic transmission or manual transmission shifting is selected, said gear selector lever pivotable from the automatic shift gate into the sequential shift gate, wherein the automatic shift gate and the sequential shift gate in the first orientation are configured symmetrically to the automatic shift gate and to the sequential shift gate in the second orientation relative to a center of symmetry of the point symmetry.

2. The shifting device of claim 1, wherein in the first orientation for right-hand driving, the first and second fastening projections are connected to first and second fastening points of the motor vehicle, and the third and fourth fastening projections are connected to third and fourth fastening points of the motor vehicle, and in the second orientation for left-hand driving, the first and second fastening projections are connected to the third and fourth fastening points of the motor vehicle, and the third and fourth projections are connected to the first and second fastening points of the motor vehicle.

3. The shifting device according to claim 1, wherein the gear selector lever has a middle position (M) that coincides with the center of symmetry of the point symmetry.

4. The shifting device according to claim 3, wherein the middle position (M) is monostable.

5. The shifting device according to claim 1, further comprising a gear selector lever sensor system to detect the position of the gear selector lever.

6. The shifting device according to claim 5, further comprising a control unit that is connected to the gear selector lever sensor system, wherein the control unit is adapted to interpret movements of the gear selector lever.

7. The shifting device according to claim 3, further comprising a locking element for the gear selector lever in order to affix the gear selector lever outside of the middle position (M) of the gear selector lever.

8. The shifting device according to claim 7, further comprising a lifting magnet to actuate the locking element.

9. The shifting device according to claim 1, wherein the gear selector lever has a first section that projects into the housing when the housing is installed in the first orientation, and the gear selector lever has a second section that is is mirror-symmetrical to the first section that projects into the housing when the housing is installed in the second orientation direction.

10. The shifting device according to claim 7, further comprising a second locking element for the gear selector lever in order to affix the gear selector lever outside of the middle position (M) of the gear selector lever in a direction opposite of affixation by the locking element.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be elaborated upon on the basis of an embodiment. The following is shown schematically here:

(2) FIG. 1 a perspective view of the shifting device for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle;

(3) FIG. 2 a top view of the shifting device;

(4) FIG. 3 a perspective view of the shifting device without an outer housing;

(5) FIG. 4 a side view of the shifting device without a housing;

(6) FIG. 5 a sectional view through the shifting device without a housing;

(7) FIG. 6 another sectional view through the shifting device without a housing;

(8) FIG. 7 a perspective view of the shifting device without an outer housing, with a locking means;

(9) FIG. 8 a perspective view of the shifting device without an outer housing according to FIG. 7, with a released locking means;

(10) FIG. 9 a gear selector lever.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a shifting device 2 for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle.

(12) The shifting device has a housing 4. An opening 4.1 that protrudes from the gear selector lever 6 is provided on the housing 4. The gear selector lever 6 serves to select a gear of the automatic transmission.

(13) FIG. 1 shows a reference direction B which, as a function of the installation direction, can be in the front or at the rear. Depending on the configuration, a movement of the gear selector lever 6 in the direction B or counter to the direction B determines various driving gears, for instance, drive, reverse, neutral or park.

(14) Moreover, the gear selector lever 6 can be moved in a direction perpendicular to B in order to be moved into a sequential shift gate. In this sequential shift gate, in turn, a movement of the gear selector lever 6 in the direction 8 or counter, to direction B can bring about an upshifting or downshifting.

(15) The gear selector lever 6 is shown in its middle position. The middle position is primarily bi-stable. The gear selector lever 6 returns automatically to the middle position after being deflected out of the automatic shift gate towards direction B or else counter to direction B. In the sequential shift gate, there is another stable point to which the gear selector lever 6 returns after being actuated. The middle position, however, is the initial position.

(16) The housing 4 is adjoined by a printed circuit board 8 that comprises control electronics as well as a sensor system. One or more connections that serve to supply the shifting device 2 with power as well as to transmit shifting pulses can also be arranged on the printed circuit board 8.

(17) The housing 4 has fastening projections 4.2 to 4.5. Recesses 10.2 to 10.5 are formed on each of the fastening projections 4.2 to 4.5. The shifting device 2 can be affixed in the motor vehicle by means of the recesses 10.2 to 10.5, for example, using appropriate screws. As an alternative, it can be provided that the motor vehicle has stud bolts onto which the shifting device 2 with the recesses 10.2 to 10.5 is placed and subsequently affixed, for instance, by means of screws or clamps.

(18) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the shifting device 2.

(19) The recesses 10.2 to 10.5 are configured so as to be circular and each have centers indicated by crossed lines. The recesses 10.2, to 10.5 are arranged on the housing in such a way that the latter can be installed once in the depicted orientation facing the reference direction B and once in a position that is rotated in the drawing plane by 180 relative to the reference direction B.

(20) In the embodiment shown, the recesses 10.2 to 10.5 are arranged rotation-symmetrically around the point M. At the same time, M is the middle position of the gear selector lever 6, which in FIG. 2 is depicted with an offset relative to the middle position M.

(21) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the shifting device 2 without a housing.

(22) The gear selector fever 6 is guided by means of a universal joint 12. The universal joint 12 can move the gear selector lever 6 in various directions.

(23) For the sake of clarity of the other parts the control unit is not shown. In this context, see FIG. 7.

(24) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the shifting device 6 counter to the viewing direction B.

(25) Hall sensors 14 that detect the magnetic field of magnets 16 arranged on the universal joint 12 are arranged on the printed circuit board 8. The magnet 16 is likewise moved along whenever the gear selector lever 6 is moved. The position and the movement of the magnet 16 relative to the Hall sensors 14 can be detected by the latter. In this manner, it is possible to ascertain whether the gear selector lever 6 is being moved towards or counter to the reference direction B and what its current position is.

(26) The gear selector lever 6 in the depiction shown in FIG. 4 is in an automatic shift gate that is indicated by the line 18. The gear selector lever 6, however, can also be pivoted to a sequential shift gate 20. Pivoting the gear selector lever 6 also changes the distance of the magnet 14 from the Hall sensor 14. Therefore, the detected field strengths in the resting position as well as during the movement are weaker at the Hall sensor 14, as a result of which the latter can register the position of the gear selector lever 6 in the sequential shift gate 20.

(27) A servomotor 22 is also provided which can have various functions and which can be operated by means of a worm gear pair with which an eccentric (not shown in this depiction). The eccentric can serve, for instance, to prevent the gear selector lever 6 from moving into the sequential shift gate 20. It is likewise possible to press the gear selector lever 6 back into the automatic shift gate 18 whenever necessary.

(28) FIG. 5 shows a sectional view through the shifting device 2.

(29) The gear selector lever 6 has a part 6.1 that is stationary relative to the universal joint 12 as well as a lower part 6.2 that is movable relative to the universal joint 12 and that has a tip 6.3. Between the stationary part 6.1 and the movable part 6.2, there is a spring 26 that pretensions the movable part 6.2 downwards.

(30) The tip 6.3 is inserted into a guide plate 28. The guide plate 28 has a depression 30 that is visible in a sectional view and that forms a latching resistance. The depression 30 defines the middle position M of the gear selector lever 6. The magnitude of the resistance is determined, on the one hand, by the contour of the tip as well as by the depression and, on the other hand, by the strength of the spring 26.

(31) FIG. 6 shows another sectional view through the shifting device 2, whereby the section was drawn through a slanted gear selector lever 6.

(32) Two tracks 32, 34 are provided in the guide plate 28, whereby the track 32 is intended for the automatic shift gate 18 while the track 34 is intended for the sequential shift gate 20. The tip 6.3, which is not visible in FIG. 6, passes through the tracks 32, 34.

(33) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the shifting device 2 without an outer housing, with a locking means.

(34) In the shifting device 2, there is a locking element 36 on the housing side and it can be actuated by means of a lifting magnet 38. In the embodiment shown, the lifting magnet 38 and the locking element 36 are arranged coaxially to an axis of the universal joint 12 for purposes of optimizing the installation space. Different configurations can be provided in other embodiments.

(35) The locking element 36 can interact mechanically with the gear selector lever 6 and, by means of this interaction, can block the gear selector lever 6 when it is in the middle position M. For this purpose, counter-locking means (not shown in FIG. 7) are provided on the gear selector lever 6 that have to engage when the gear selector lever 6 is in the middle position.

(36) Moreover, a control unit 40 with a storage means and a processor is shown which serves to control the shifting device 2. The control unit 40 can evaluate signals of the Hall sensors 14 and can then actuate the drives 22 and 38 in the shifting device 2.

(37) A computer program that serves to control the shifting device and that is executed by the processor is stored in the storage means of the control unit. The computer program takes into account the installation orientation in order to derive appropriate control commands for the automatic transmission on the basis of the concrete movements of the gear selector lever 6 relative to the Hall sensors 14. In this case, the installation direction is stored in a configuration file.

(38) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the shifting device 2 without an outer housing, with a released locking means.

(39) In this second depiction, the locking element 36 is engaged with a recess 42 that is configured as a counter-locking means on the gear selector lever 6.

(40) Moreover, FIG. 8 shows the guide plate 28 with the automatic shift gate 18 and the sequential shift gate 20.

(41) FIG. 9 shows, a gear selector lever 6 separated from the other parts. The movable part 6.2 has a hammerhead 44 on which the recess 42 is arranged.

(42) In one variant where the locking of the gear selector lever 6 is to take place off-center and where the locking means arranged on the housing is arranged in one line with the universal joint, the recess would have to be located off-center. Then specific gear selector lever variants would have to be provided for each installation direction.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(43) 2 shifting device 4 housing 4.1 opening 4.2-4.5 fastening projections 6 gear selector lever 6.1 gear selector lever part 6.2. movable gear selector part 6.3 tip 8 printed circuit board 10.2-10.5 recesses 12 universal joint 14 Hall sensors 16 magnet 18 automatic shift gate 20 sequential shift gate 22 drive 24 worm gear pair 26 spring 28 guide plate 30 depression 32 track 34 track 36 locking element 38 lifting magnet 40 control unit 42 recess B reference direction M middle position