Manual unlocking device for parking lock mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10955053-B2
Application number	US-201715786161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2017
Priority date	Nov 11, 2016
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

A manual unlocking device for a parking lock mechanism includes an operation lever that rotates when the parking lock mechanism is switched from a locked state to an unlocked state. The operation lever is arranged outside an occupant space of a vehicle cabin and is configured that a tool can be coupled to a rotation center thereof from the occupant space. The manual unlocking device for the parking lock mechanism is configured to switch the parking lock mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state by integral rotation of the operation lever with the tool when the tool, which is coupled to the operation lever, rotates in a state where the tool is arranged on the rotation center of the operation lever.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A manual unlocking device for a parking lock mechanism, the manual unlocking device being provided separately from the parking lock mechanism, the parking lock mechanism being switchable between a locked state and an unlocked state by an actuator, and the parking lock mechanism being switchable to the unlocked state by a manual operation when the parking lock mechanism is in the locked state, the manual unlocking device comprising:
an operation lever configured to rotate when the parking lock mechanism is switched from the locked state to the unlocked state, and
a cable that is directly coupled to the operation lever and provided to transmit an operation force to an idling mechanism when the operation lever rotates, wherein
the operation lever is arranged outside an occupant space in a vehicle cabin,
the operation lever is configured such that a tool can be coupled to a rotation center of the operation lever from the occupant space,
the manual unlocking device is configured to switch the parking lock mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state by integral rotation of the operation lever with the tool when the tool, which is coupled to the operation lever, rotates in a state where the tool is arranged on the rotation center of the operation lever and transmission of an operation force to the idling mechanism through the cable when the operation lever rotates,
the operation lever is a single member that includes a projecting section configured to be fitted to the tool and a holder section configured to hold the cable,
the projecting section is at the rotation center of the operation lever, and the operating lever is configured to rotate about the rotation center when the tool is arranged on the projecting section at the rotation center of the operation lever, and
the projecting section is closer to the rotation center than the holder section.

2. The manual unlocking device for the parking lock mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein
the operation lever is provided on a floor tunnel, and
the operation lever is configured to rotate along a surface of the floor tunnel.

3. The manual unlocking device for the parking lock mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein
an air conditioner duct is provided above the floor tunnel, and
the rotation center of the operation lever is arranged at a position that does not overlap the air conditioner duct when seen in a plan view.

4. The manual unlocking device for the parking lock mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein
the projecting section and the holder section are on a same plane of the operation lever.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd
• Toyota Tekko Kk

Inventors

• Tateno Hiroyuki
• Takagi Kiyonori
• Okuda Koichi
• Kawamoto Atsushi
• Ibaraki Ryuji
• Yasuda Yuji
• Suzuki Haruhisa
• Matsubo Hideki
• Abe Junya

Classifications

• F16H2061/226

  Manual distress release of the locking means for shift levers, e.g. to allow towing of vehicle in case of breakdown · CPC title

• F16H63/3491 Primary

  Emergency release or engagement of parking locks or brakes · CPC title

• F16H61/32

  Electric motors  {, actuators or related electrical control means}  therefor · CPC title

• B60T7/104 Primary

  with a locking mechanism · CPC title

• F16H61/2807

  using electric control signals for shift actuators, e.g. electro-hydraulic control therefor  (F16H61/30, F16H61/32 take precedence) · CPC title