Shifter cable assembly of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9403433-B1
Application number	US-201514673289-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 30, 2015
Priority date	Mar 30, 2015
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

A shifter cable assembly of a vehicle includes a vehicle panel selected from a floor panel and a dash wall panel. A transmission is disposed on a first side of the vehicle panel. A shift member is disposed on a second side of the vehicle panel opposite the first side. A mounting bracket is rigidly attached to the vehicle panel. A sealing grommet has a sealing portion sandwiched between the mounting bracket and the vehicle panel. A shifter cable is received by a conduit portion of the sealing grommet. A first end of the shifter cable is connected to the transmission, and a second end of the shifter cable is connected to the shift member. A damper member is connected to the mounting bracket. The damper member is configured to reduce application to the mounting bracket of vibration generated by the transmission.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shifter cable assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle panel selected from a floor panel and a dash wall panel;
a transmission disposed on a first side of the vehicle panel;
a shift member disposed on a second side of the vehicle panel opposite the first side;
a mounting bracket rigidly attached to the vehicle panel;
a sealing grommet having a sealing portion sandwiched between the mounting bracket and the vehicle panel, and a conduit portion;
a shifter cable received by the conduit portion of the sealing grommet, with a first end of the shifter cable connected to the transmission, and a second end of the shifter cable connected to the shift member; and
a damper member connected to the mounting bracket, the mounting bracket being positioned between the damper member and the vehicle panel, the damper member being configured to reduce application to the mounting bracket of vibration generated by the transmission.

2. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the damper member is substantially U-shaped.

3. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 2 , wherein
a first weight of a first leg of the damper member is different from a second weight of a second leg of the damper member.

4. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 2 , wherein
a first weight of a first leg is approximately sixty percent of a total weight of the damper member, and a second weight of a second leg of the damper member is approximately forty percent of the total weight.

5. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 2 , wherein
a first leg of the damper member is shaped differently from a second leg of the damper member.

6. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the mounting bracket defines a plurality of first fastener apertures, the damper member defines a plurality of second fastener apertures aligned with the first fastener apertures, with fasteners extending through the first and second fastener apertures to rigidly attached the mounting bracket to the vehicle panel.

7. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the mounting bracket defines a first conduit opening, the damper member defines a second conduit opening, with a perimeter of the second conduit opening aligned with a perimeter of the first conduit opening on at least three sides, and the conduit portion has a projection extending through the first conduit opening.

8. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the sealing grommet has a plurality of attachment projections for attaching the sealing grommet to the mounting bracket, the mounting bracket defines a plurality of first projection apertures, and the damper member defines a plurality of second projection apertures aligned with the first projection apertures, with the projections extending through the first and second projection apertures.

9. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the sealing portion of the sealing grommet is disposed on a first side of the mounting bracket, and the damper member is disposed on a second side of the mounting bracket that is opposite the first side.

10. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the damper member is configured to reduce application of vibration in the range of 500-700 Hz generated by the transmission to the vehicle panel.

11. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the damper member is configured to reduce a noise produced by the vehicle panel in response to the application to the mounting bracket of vibration generated by the transmission.

12. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the damper member is configured to reduce the noise to less than 45 dB-A when the transmission is operated at a range of 400-500 RPM, as observed at a driver seat of the vehicle.

13. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
a shape of the damper member substantially corresponds to a shape of the mounting bracket.

14. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first cable damper member disposed on the shifter cable proximate the first end; and
a second cable damper member disposed on the shifter cable proximate the second end, with the damper member located between the first cable damper member and the second cable damper member, the first cable damper member and the second cable damper member being configured to reduce application to the shifter member of vibration generated by the transmission.

15. A shifter cable assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle panel selected from a floor panel and a dash wall panel;
a transmission disposed on a first side of the vehicle panel;
a shift member disposed on a second side of the vehicle panel opposite the first side;
a mounting bracket rigidly attached to the vehicle panel, and defining a first conduit opening;
a sealing grommet having a sealing portion sandwiched between the mounting bracket and the vehicle panel, and a conduit portion including a projection extending through the first conduit opening;
a shifter cable received by the conduit portion of the sealing grommet, with a first end of the shifter cable connected to the transmission, and a second end of the shifter cable connected to the shift member; and
a damper member connected to the mounting bracket, the damper member having a U-shape including a first leg, a second leg, and a bridge portion between the first and second legs, wherein the first leg, second leg, and bridge portion define a second conduit opening, with a periphery of the second conduit opening aligned with a periphery of the first conduit opening of the mounting bracket on three sides and the projection of the conduit portion of the sealing grommet extending through the second conduit opening, the damper member being configured to reduce application to the mounting bracket of vibration generated by the transmission.

16. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
a first weight of a first leg of the damper member is different from a second weight of a second leg of the damper member.

17. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
a shape of the damper member substantially corresponds to a shape of the mounting bracket.

18. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
a first leg of the damper member is shaped differently from a second leg of the damper member.

19. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
the damper member is configured to reduce application of vibration in the range of 500-700 Hz generated by the transmission to the vehicle panel.

20. The shifter cable assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
the damper member is configured to reduce the noise to less than 45 dB-A when the transmission is operated at a range of 400-500 RPM, as observed at a driver seat of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Knight Patrick
• Gleason Christopher

Classifications

• F16C1/108

  Reducing or controlling of vibrations, e.g. by resilient damping of noise · CPC title

• F16C2361/65

  Gear shifting, change speed gear, gear box · CPC title

• B60K20/04 Primary

  floor mounted · CPC title

• F16C1/101

  Intermediate connectors for joining portions of split flexible shafts and/or sheathings · CPC title

• B60K20/02

  of initiating means · CPC title