GB2294971A

GB2294971A - Mounting of a control lever

Info

Publication number: GB2294971A
Application number: GB9522529A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Castellon Melchor Daumal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-11-11
Filing date: 1995-11-03
Publication date: 1996-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 2015-11-03
Also published as: ITRM950745A0; BR9505142A; DE19541709B4; IT1276600B1; DE19541709A1; FR2726922B1; KR960017282A; KR100363966B1; FR2726922A1; ES2115475B1; GB2294971B; ITRM950745A1; GB9522529D0; ES2115475A1

Abstract

In a structure for the mounting of a control lever 1, particularly a lever intended for the manual control of the gear-change of an automobile vehicle, of the type which is fixed via a universal ball joint system 2 on a support 5, 6 which in turn is fixed by means of bolts (13, Fig 2) to the frame of the vehicle, the structure includes upper and lower elastic bellows 10, 11 which connect the lever to the two faces of the support, enveloping the joint and impeding the penetration of dust and impurities into the joint and into the passenger compartment. The elastic parts constituting the bellows have extensions 17, 18 which envelope the edge of the support in at least those regions occupied by the orifices provided in the support for the passage of the fixing bolts, and also match the orifices and cover their edges. The extensions are capable of being compressed when the bolts are fully tightened, being interposed between the bolts and the corresponding orifices in the support and between the latter and the frame, and impeding the transmission of vibrations between the elements of the structure. <IMAGE>

Description

THE MOUNTING OF A GEAR-CHANGE CONTROL LEVER 2294971 The present invention

relates to the mounting of the control levers of manual gear-change mechanisms in automobile vehicles.

More specifically, and although it can also be advantageously applied to other types of levers, including levers intended for controlling other mechanisms, the arrangement that constitutes the object of the present invention has been designed with a view to applying it to levers, of a type already known per se and in widespread use, that comprise an intermediate member of spherical general shape which fits into a corresponding housing formed by the support via which the whole assembly is fixed to the frame of the vehicle, and specifically to the opening made in the part which is integral with the said frame and forms the tunnel through which the rods or cables that constitute the gear-change control mechanism pass.

In mechanisms of the abovementioned type, it is normal to provide a pair of bellows which provide a connection between the lever and the support, thus-preventing the penetration of dust or other impurities into the ball joint, and it is also normal to interpose elastic elements of the 'Isilenblocl, type between the support and the frame, which elements perform the function of a filter, preventing the transmission of vibrations from one element to the other.

The arrangement that constitutes the object of the present invention constitutes a very notable simplification of the mounting system of the current art, and this makes it possible to reduce the cost of the product in a very appreciable manner without any diminution, in fact quite the reverse, in the technical qualities thereof.

- 2 According to the invention there is provided a structure for the mounting of a control lever, and specifically a lever intended for the manual control of the gear-change of an automobile vehicle, of the type which is fixed, via a universal ball joint system, on a support which, in turn, is fixed by means of bolts to the frame of the vehicle, the structure including upper and lower elastic sleeves of the bellows type which connect the lever to the two faces of the support, enveloping the joint and impeding the penetration of dust and impurities into the said joint and into the passenger compartment, the elastic parts constituting the abovementioned bellows having extensions which envelop the edge of the support in at least those regions occupied by the orifices provided in the said support for the passage of the fixing bolts, and also match the said orifices and cover the edges thereof, which extensions are capable of being compressed when the bolts are fully tightened, the said extensions being interposed between the said bolts and the corresponding orifices in the support and between the latter and the frame, and impeding the transmission of vibrations between the abovementioned elements.

What is achieved with this arrangement, then, is a diminution in the number of elastic parts involved in the mounting and, at the same time, a simplification of the latter, with a consequent twofold diminution in costs.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diametrical section through the whole assembly constituted by a gear-change control lever which is arranged for incorporation in the vehicle in question; and Figure 2 is a detail in section, on a much greater scale, showing the structure of one of the points via which the 3 - lever support is fixed to the frame of the vehicle or, more precisely, to the part which is integral with the said frame and forms the "tunnel" along which pass the rods or cables that control the gear-change.

The gear-change control lever has a structure which is known per se, being constituted by a stem 1 which is generally tubular and has fastened to it, at an intermediate point, a body 2 in the form of a spherical region. This member 2 fits into a corresponding housing 3-4, which is formed by the support 5-6 via which the assembly is fixed to the edges of the window formed in the part which is integral with the frame and on which the assembly is to be mounted. In the example of embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the said support is constituted by two plates 5-6 which are superimposed on, and fixed to one another by means of rivets 7 and which form the half-housings 3-4 between which the spherical member 2 is confined, with the possibility of turning in any direction. In any case, it must be pointed out that this structure is, an example only and can therefore vary within the widest limits without that signifying a deviation from the scope of the invention.

As is likewise already known, there are arranged on the rod 1, confining it flexibly via corresponding flanged mouthpieces 89, two bellows or sleeves 10-11 made of rubber or other, similar flexible and elastic material, which are fastened by their opposed bases to the opposed faces of the support 5-6, thereby impeding the passage of noise and the penetration of dust or other impurities that may oppose the freedom of movement of the ball joint, or damage it, or penetrate into the passenger compartment.

As is also already known, the support 5-6 is fixed to the frame 12 of the vehicle or, more precisely, in most cases to the part which is fixed to the said frame and which has been referred to a number of times, by means of two or more bolts 13 which receive corresponding nuts 14, with the interposition of compression washers 15, in such a way that the said support is immobilized and stops up the window 16 provided in the said part.

The bellows or sleeves 10-11 made of elastic material have, in an essential manner according to the invention, extensions 1718 which envelop the edge of the support in at least those regions occupied by the orifices provided in the said support for the passage of the fixing bolts 13, and also match and cover the edges of the said orifices; all this in such a way that, when the mounting operation is carried out, the said extensions are interposed between the support 5-6 and the frame 12 and between the bolts 13 and the aforesaid orifices and, thanks to their elasticity, absorb any kind of vibrations whatsoever and impede them from being transmitted between the aforesaid elements.

In a preferred form of embodiment, and in accordance with a subordinate feature of the invention, the extension 17 of the upper bellows 10 has, around the orifices provided therein for the passage of the fixing bolts 13, a section in the shape of an inverted U into which there fits a corresponding flange 19 provided in the plate 5 around the aforesaid orifices. In this way, the cutting effect that the edges of the said plate might otherwise have on the elastic material constituting the bellows is eliminated and, at the same time, improved fitting conditions are achieved. For this same purpose and in the same preferred form of embodiment, the lower plate 6 has, around the aforesaid orifices, an approximately orthogonal flange 20 into which the flange 21 formed by the lower bellows 11 fits.

According to another feature of the invention, the lower bellows 11 forms a mouthpiece 22, the axial dimensions of which will adapt to each specific need and which defines an elastic mass capable of being deformed under the action of the corresponding bolt.

At their coinciding outer edges, the two elastic parts 10-11 have complementary sections 23-24 which are arranged so as to fit into each other, thus forming, with the two elastic masses, a single body which envelops, at least in the region under consideration, the free edge of the plates 5-6, or possibly of the support equipped with some other structure substituting therefor.

According to another feature of the invention, the bolts 13 which are generally, but not necessarily, four in number - by means of which the support 5-6 is fixed to the frame 12, have a large smooth region 25 which is enveloped, in a closefitting manner, by the extensions 17-18 of the elastic parts and is terminated by a flat head 26 which rests against the lower extension 18.

It will be understood that, when the nut 14 is tightened fully on the bolt 13, the frame 12 is applied against the step that separates the threaded region 13 from the smooth region 25 of the said bolt and, at the same time, the head 26 compresses the elastic masses 17-18 against.the said smooth region 25 and between the support and the frame, thus forming a block which develops the function of a filter in an extremely efficient manner, that is to say the function of impeding the transmission of vibrations and noise between the coupled elements.

6

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A structure for the mounting of a control lever, and specifically a lever intended for the manual control of the gear-change of an automobile vehicle, of the type which is fixed, via a universal ball joint system, on a support which, in turn, is fixed by means of bolts to the frame of the vehicle, the structure including upper and lower elastic sleeves of the bellows type which connect the lever to the two faces of the support, enveloping the joint and impeding the penetration of dust and impurities into the said joint and into the passenger compartment, the elastic parts constituting the abovementioned bellows having extensions which envelop the edge of the support in at least those regions occupied by the orifices provided in the said support for the passage of the fixing bolts, and also match the said orifices and cover the edges thereof, which extensions are capable of being compressed when the bolts are fully tightened, the said extensions being interposed between the said bolts and the corresponding orifices in the support and between the latter and the frame, and impeding the transmission of vibrations between the abovementioned elements.

2. A structure as claimed in Claim 1 in which the lever support has, around the orifices provided in the said support for the passage of the bolts by means of which it is fixed to the frame, continuous flanges which fit into corresponding channels formed by the extensions of the elastic parts and are enveloped by the latter.

3. A structure as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the extensions of the elastic parts form large mouthpieces which are arranged so as to fit over a smooth region provided on the corresponding fixing bolts.

4. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the outer edges of the extensions of the elastic parts have complementary sections which are arranged so as to fit into one another.

5. A structure for the mounting of a control lever, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.