Gear selection actuator for a shift-by-wire mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12422040-B2
Application number	US-202118548241-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2021
Priority date	Mar 30, 2021
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

A shift actuator for a transmission includes a drive assembly coupled with a selector interface. A transmission selector operates between a plurality of transmission settings. A threaded actuator is rotationally operated by the drive assembly. A carriage linearly operates along the threaded actuator to define a plurality of actuator positions that correspond to the transmission settings. An actuator arm extends between the carriage and the transmission selector to translate linear operation of the carriage to rotational operation of the transmission selector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shift actuator for a transmission, the shift actuator comprising:
a drive assembly coupled with a selector interface;
a transmission selector that operates between a plurality of transmission settings;
a threaded actuator rotationally operated by the drive assembly;
a carriage that linearly operates along the threaded actuator to define a plurality of actuator positions that correspond to the plurality of transmission settings; and
an actuator arm that extends between the carriage and the transmission selector to translate linear operation of the carriage to rotational operation of the transmission selector, wherein the actuator arm includes a positioning magnet that operates relative to a position sensor in communication with the drive assembly, wherein the positioning magnet and the position sensor cooperate to selectively operate a motor of the drive assembly between the plurality of transmission settings.

2. The shift actuator of claim 1 , further comprising an outer housing, wherein the drive assembly, the carriage, the positioning magnet and the position sensor are disposed within the outer housing.

3. The shift actuator of claim 2 , wherein the position sensor is incorporated into a printed circuit board that is attached to the outer housing.

4. The shift actuator of claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly includes a gear train that extends between the motor and the threaded actuator.

5. The shift actuator of claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly includes a single dual-direction motor.

6. The shift actuator of claim 1 , wherein the carriage and the actuator arm slidably operate relative to one another to translate the linear operation of the carriage into the rotational operation of the actuator arm.

7. The shift actuator of claim 2 , wherein the outer housing includes a guide portion that maintains the carriage in a fixed rotational position and guides translation of the carriage through the plurality of actuator positions.

8. The shift actuator of claim 1 , wherein the actuator arm and the transmission selector are a single piece.

9. The shift actuator of claim 2 , wherein the transmission selector is secured within an interface portion of the outer housing, wherein the interface portion positions the transmission selector and the actuator arm to rotationally operate about an interface axis of the transmission selector.

10. A gear selector assembly comprising:
a selector interface that selectively operates a drive assembly having a threaded actuator;
a carriage that linearly operates along a rotational axis of the threaded actuator to define a plurality of actuator positions;
an actuator arm extending between the carriage and a transmission interface, wherein linear operation of the carriage defines a rotational operation of the actuator arm about the transmission interface;
a position sensor in communication with the selector interface, the actuator arm and a motor of the drive assembly to locate the carriage and the actuator arm at the plurality of actuator positions; and
a transmission selector, wherein the linear operation of the carriage along the threaded actuator defines the plurality of actuator positions that correspond to respective gear positions of the transmission selector, wherein the position sensor includes a positioning magnet that operates relative to a magnet sensor in communication with the drive assembly, wherein the positioning magnet and the position sensor cooperate to selectively operate the motor of the drive assembly between a plurality of transmission settings, wherein the positioning magnet is attached to the actuator arm and the magnet sensor is attached to a printed circuit board.

11. The gear selector assembly of claim 10 , further comprising an outer housing, wherein the drive assembly, the carriage, and the position sensor are disposed within a motor cavity of the outer housing, wherein the outer housing includes a guide portion that maintains the carriage in a fixed rotational position and guides translation of the carriage through the plurality of actuator positions.

12. The gear selector assembly of claim 10 , wherein the drive assembly includes a gear train extending between the motor and the threaded actuator.

13. The gear selector assembly of claim 10 , wherein the carriage and the actuator arm slidably operate relative to one another to translate the linear operation of the carriage into the rotational operation of the actuator arm.

14. The gear selector assembly of claim 11 , wherein the transmission selector is secured within an interface portion of the outer housing, wherein the interface portion positions the transmission selector and the actuator arm to rotationally operate about an interface axis of the transmission selector.

15. A selector assembly comprising:
a selector interface that selectively operates a drive assembly via a controller, the drive assembly including a threaded actuator;
a carriage that translates along the threaded actuator to define a plurality of gear positions;
a transmission selector that rotates about an interface axis; and
a sensor assembly in communication with the controller and the carriage, wherein linear operation of the carriage defines a rotational operation of a magnet of the sensor assembly and the transmission selector about the interface axis, and wherein the sensor assembly cooperates with the drive assembly to locate the carriage and the transmission selector at a selected gear position of the plurality of gear positions.

16. The selector assembly of claim 15 , wherein the sensor assembly includes a magnet that operates relative to a position sensor in communication with the drive assembly, wherein the magnet and the position sensor cooperate to selectively operate a motor of the drive assembly between the plurality of gear positions.

17. The selector assembly of claim 15 , wherein the drive assembly includes a gear train extending between a motor and the threaded actuator.

18. The selector assembly of claim 15 , wherein the carriage and the transmission selector slidably operate relative to one another to translate the linear operation of the carriage into the rotational operation of the transmission selector.

19. The selector assembly of claim 15 , further comprising an outer housing, wherein the drive assembly, the carriage, and the sensor assembly are disposed within the outer housing.

20. The selector assembly of claim 15 , wherein the transmission selector includes an actuator arm that engages the carriage.

Assignees

• Ghsp Inc

Inventors

• Zhao Jack
• Zhang Shavin
• Chen Gary
• Ye Zhengwei

Classifications

• F16H2061/326

  Actuators for range selection, i.e. actuators for controlling the range selector or the manual range valve in the transmission · CPC title

• F16H2059/081

  using knops or discs for rotary range selection · CPC title

• F16H59/08 Primary

  Range selector apparatus · CPC title

• F16H61/32 Primary

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