Modular shift assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10422425-B2
Application number	US-201715487676-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 14, 2017
Priority date	Apr 14, 2017
Publication date	Sep 24, 2019
Grant date	Sep 24, 2019

Abstract

A steering column assembly includes a jacket assembly and a modular shift assembly that is operatively connected to the jacket assembly. The modular shift assembly includes a shift bracket, a shaft, and a shift clevis. The shift bracket has a first shift bracket portion that defines a shift bracket first opening and a second shift bracket portion. The second shift bracket portion defines a shift bracket second opening. The shaft has a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion. The second shaft portion is at least partially received within the shift bracket opening. The shift clevis extends at least partially through the first shaft opening.

First claim

Having thus described the present disclosure, it is claimed:

1. A steering column assembly, comprising:
a jacket assembly that extends along a first axis; and
a modular shift assembly operatively connected to the jacket assembly, comprising:
a shift bracket having a first shift bracket portion defining a shift bracket first opening that extends along a second axis and a second shift bracket portion extending from the first shift bracket portion, the second shift bracket portion defining a shift bracket second opening that extends along a third axis,
a shaft having a first shaft portion defining a first shaft opening that extends along the second axis and a second shaft portion extending from the first shaft portion, the second shaft portion is at least partially received within the shift bracket second opening, and
a shift clevis extending at least partially through the first shaft opening and the shift bracket first opening towards the jacket assembly.

2. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shift clevis includes an arm that extends along the second axis and a tip that extends from the arm.

3. The steering column assembly of claim 2 , wherein the tip is angled away from the second axis.

4. The steering column assembly of claim 2 , wherein the modular shift assembly further comprises:
a cable bracket having a first cable bracket portion that is operatively connected to the first shift bracket portion and a second cable bracket portion extending from the first shift bracket portion.

5. The steering column assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first cable bracket portion is disposed parallel to but not coplanar with the second cable bracket portion.

6. The steering column assembly of claim 4 , wherein the modular shift assembly further comprises:
a shift gate assembly that is at least partially disposed between first shift bracket portion and the first cable bracket portion.

7. The steering column assembly of claim 6 , wherein the shift gate assembly is provided with a plurality of detents arranged to receive the tip.

8. A steering column assembly, comprising:
a jacket assembly that extends along a first axis; and
a modular shift assembly, comprising:
a mounting bracket disposed on the jacket assembly,
a cable bracket having a first cable bracket portion that is operatively connected to the mounting bracket and a second cable bracket portion extending from the first cable bracket portion,
a shift bracket having a first shift bracket portion that is operatively connected to the first cable bracket portion and a second shift bracket portion extending from the first shift bracket portion, and
a shift gate assembly that is at least partially disposed between and operatively connected to the first cable bracket portion and the first shift bracket portion.

9. The steering column assembly of claim 8 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a first mounting bracket portion disposed parallel to the first axis and a second mounting bracket portion extending from the first mounting bracket portion and disposed transverse to the first axis.

10. The steering column assembly of claim 9 , wherein the second mounting bracket portion is operatively connected to the first shift bracket portion.

11. The steering column assembly of claim 9 , wherein the shift gate assembly includes a detent plate and a tab extending from the detent plate.

12. The steering column assembly of claim 11 , wherein a first fastener and a second fastener extend at least partially through the first shift bracket portion, the first cable bracket portion, and the first mounting bracket portion.

13. The steering column assembly of claim 12 , wherein the tab is disposed between the first fastener and the second fastener.

14. The steering column assembly of claim 12 , wherein a clamping screw extends at least partially through the detent plate and the first shift bracket portion.

15. The steering column assembly of claim 14 , wherein the detent plate defines a detent that is proximately aligned with the clamping screw.

16. The steering column assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first shift bracket portion defines a first mounting opening and a second mounting opening that is spaced apart from the first mounting opening.

17. The steering column assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first mounting opening extends along an axis that is disposed transverse to the first axis and the second mounting opening extends along another axis that is disposed parallel to the first axis.

18. A modular shift assembly for a steering column assembly, comprising:
a cable bracket operatively connected to a jacket assembly;
a shift bracket having a first shift bracket portion operatively connected to the cable bracket and defining a shift bracket first opening and a second shift bracket portion defining a shift bracket second opening;
a shaft having a first shaft portion defining a first shaft opening and a second shaft portion that is at least partially received within the shift bracket second opening; and
a shift gate assembly disposed between the shift bracket and the cable bracket having
a detent plate that is operatively connected to the first shift bracket portion, and
a tab extending from the detent plate that is operatively connected to the first shift bracket portion and the cable bracket.

19. The modular shift assembly of claim 18 , further comprising:
a shift clevis having an arm that extends through the shift bracket first opening and a tip that is angled relative to the arm and extends through a detent defined by the detent plate.

20. The modular shift assembly of claim 18 , wherein the detent plate has a curvature such that a portion of the detent plate is disposed closer to the jacket assembly than the tab.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Vermeersch Michael C
• Nellett Arthur W
• Dubay Robert W
• Bueche Robert D

Classifications

• B60K20/06

  mounted on steering column or the like · CPC title

• F16H2061/247

  Detents for range selectors · CPC title

• F16H59/0278

  Constructional features of the selector lever, e.g. grip parts, mounting or manufacturing · CPC title

• F16H61/36

  with at least one movement being transmitted by a cable · CPC title

• F16H61/24

  Providing feel, e.g. to enable selection · CPC title