JP2012007701A - Shift select mechanism for manual transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shift select mechanism for a manual transmission, capable of improving an operation feeling by reducing an idle running feeling near a neutral position during select operation.SOLUTION: A shift select shaft 10 is slidably supported in an approximately vertical direction by a cover member 2, and a preload in one turning direction is imparted to a select inner lever 22 by the dead weight of the shift select shaft 10. At a neutral position of select operation, one end of a torsion coil spring 23 abuts on both the select inner lever 22 and a locking portion 2c of the cover member 2 to set a clearance δ between the other end of the torsion coil spring and the locking portion 2c. During a time from when the select inner lever 22 is select-operated in the opposite direction to the direction of the dead weight of the shift select shaft 10 till when the torsion coil spring abuts on the locking portion, an idle running feeling is moderated by the dead weight of the shift select shaft 10.

Description

The present invention relates to a shift selection mechanism for a manual transmission, and more particularly to a structure for obtaining an operation feeling during a selection operation.

Conventionally, in a shift selection mechanism of a manual transmission, Patent Document 1 discloses that a shift select shaft is axially displaced by turning a select inner lever to set a select position and have a return function to a neutral position. Discloses a shift select shaft that is supported by a pair of coil springs.

In the case of Patent Document 1, there is no backlash between the coil spring and the shift select shaft even near the neutral position of the select operation, so there is no problem of idling feeling (empty operation feeling) near the neutral position. In addition, a stopper member or the like is required, the number of parts is large, and the structure is complicated.

Patent Document 2 discloses a shift select mechanism in which the number of parts is reduced and the structure is simplified by keeping the select inner lever at the neutral position of the select operation with one torsion coil spring. In this case, the coil portion of the torsion coil spring is inserted around the rotation axis of the select inner lever, and a protrusion portion that protrudes in the radial direction is provided on the select inner lever, and both ends of the torsion coil spring are provided on both sides of the protrusion portion. And abutment against a locking part of a stationary member such as a case, so that the spring force of the torsion coil spring is applied even when the select inner lever is selected in either the High / Low direction. Yes.

However, in the case of Patent Document 2, a gap is required between both end portions of the torsion coil spring and the locking portion of the stationary member in order to absorb the tolerance. In other words, the width dimension of the locking portion with which both ends of the torsion coil spring abut is set to be narrower than the width dimension on both side surfaces in the rotational direction of the select inner lever. Due to this gap, when the select inner lever is operated to select either the High side or the Low side, there is a disadvantage that a feeling of idling occurs in the vicinity of the neutral position.

FIG. 8 shows both end portions 100 and 101 of the torsion coil spring, the select inner lever 110, and the locking portion 120 of the stationary member disclosed in Patent Document 2. The select inner lever 110 is rotatable in the horizontal direction about the vertical axis. FIG. 8A shows the neutral position, the right side is the High side, the left side is the Low side, and a gap δ is provided on both sides. When the select inner lever 110 is operated to the right as shown in (b), both end portions 100 and 101 of the torsion coil spring rotate integrally while being in contact with both surfaces of the select inner lever 110, and eventually one end portion 101 is moved. Abuts on the locking portion 120. Until the state from (a) to (b) is reached, the select inner lever 100 is hardly loaded. When the select inner lever 110 is further operated to the right side, as shown in (c), one end 101 of the torsion coil spring is stopped by the locking portion 120, and the select inner lever 110 pushes and opens the other end 100 of the torsion coil spring. When the spring load of the torsion coil spring is applied to the select inner lever 110, the high position is reached.

FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the stroke in the select direction of the select inner lever and the load. For example, when operating to the High side, the load remains almost zero until the stroke S1 corresponding to the gap δ is reached. When the stroke S1 is reached, the load increases stepwise, and then the load is proportional to the stroke. To increase. Thus, even when operating in either the High side or the Low side, there is a feeling of idling due to the gap δ in the vicinity of the neutral position, and the operation feeling is poor.

JP 2006-29507 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-40515

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a shift selection mechanism for a manual transmission that can reduce the feeling of idling near the neutral position during a selection operation and improve the operation feeling.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a selection inner lever that is rotated about a predetermined rotation axis in conjunction with a selection operation of a change lever, and an arm portion of the selection inner lever is engaged, A shift select shaft that slides in a direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft by a lever selection operation, a coil portion is inserted into the rotation shaft, and both end portions are in contact with both side surfaces in the rotation direction of the select inner lever. A torsion coil spring that allows the select inner lever to return to a neutral position so as to be able to abut on both sides in the rotational direction of a locking portion formed on a stationary member such as a case, and both ends of the torsion coil spring Shift selection of a manual transmission, wherein the width dimension of the locking portion with which the contact is made is set narrower than the width dimension of both side surfaces in the rotational direction of the select inner lever The shift select shaft is supported by a stationary member such as a case so as to be slidable in a substantially vertical direction, and a preload in one rotational direction is applied to the select inner lever by the weight of the shift select shaft. In the neutral position of the select operation, due to the weight of the shift select shaft, one end of the torsion coil spring is in contact with both the select inner lever and the locking portion, and the torsion coil A shift selection mechanism for a manual transmission is provided, wherein a gap is set between the other end of the spring and the locking portion.

In the prior art (Patent Document 2), the select inner lever can rotate around the vertical axis, and the shift select shaft can slide along the horizontal axis. The select inner lever is biased toward the neutral position by the torsion coil spring, but because of the tolerance, the width of the locking part is narrower than the width of the select inner lever in the rotational direction. A gap is generated between the locking portion and the gap, which causes a feeling of free running when a selection operation is performed. On the other hand, in the present invention, the shift select shaft is supported so as to be slidable in a substantially vertical direction, and the weight of the shift select shaft acts as a preload on the select inner lever in the rotation direction to one side. Therefore, at the neutral position of the select operation, due to the weight of the shift select shaft, one end of the torsion coil spring comes into contact with both the select inner lever and the locking portion, and locks with the other end of the torsion coil spring. A gap is set between the two parts. For example, when the select inner lever is rotated in the direction opposite to the weight of the shift select shaft, the torsion coil spring rotates integrally with the select inner lever by the gap between the torsion coil spring and the locking portion. Since the weight of the shift select shaft continues to act, the feeling of free running can be mitigated. On the other hand, when the select inner lever is rotated in the same direction as the shift select shaft's own weight, there is no gap between the torsion coil spring and the locking portion, so that the spring load is immediately applied and the free running The feeling can be eliminated.

In the present invention, when the change lever is selected to one side, the spring load of the torsion coil spring is felt after feeling the weight of the shift select shaft. Since the user feels a load, the operation feeling is different between when selecting the High side and when selecting the Low side. Therefore, the driver can recognize the selection direction sensuously.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the change lever is selected in the direction opposite to the direction of the weight of the shift select shaft, the spring load of the torsion coil spring does not act by the gap between the torsion coil spring and the locking portion. However, the weight of the shift select shaft continues to act during that time, so the feeling of free running can be eased. On the other hand, when the selection operation is performed in the same direction as the shift select shaft's own weight, there is no gap between the torsion coil spring and the locking portion, so that the spring load acts immediately and the idling feeling can be eliminated. In this way, it is possible to alleviate the feeling of idling during the selection operation without the need for separate parts such as a spring.

It is a side view of the shift select mechanism concerning the present invention. It is a top view of a cover member which constitutes a shift select mechanism concerning the present invention. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of selection operation to the High side of the shift selection mechanism which concerns on this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of selection operation to the Low side of the shift selection mechanism which concerns on this invention. It is a stroke-load characteristic figure of the shift selection mechanism concerning the present invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the conventional shift select mechanism. It is a stroke-load characteristic figure of the conventional shift select mechanism.

1 to 4 show an embodiment of a shift select mechanism of a manual transmission according to the present invention. The transmission of this embodiment is an FF horizontal-type manual transmission having five forward speeds and one reverse speed, and a selection direction and shift of a change lever (not shown) operated by a driver. The movement in the direction is transmitted to the select outer lever 3 and the shift outer lever 4 via a select cable and a shift cable (both not shown). As shown in FIG. 1, a cover member 2 is fixed to a seating surface of an upper opening of a transmission case (hereinafter referred to as a case) 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shift select shaft 10 is arranged in the vertical direction, and an upper portion thereof is inserted into a bearing hole 2 a formed in the top portion of the cover member 2, and a lower portion thereof is protruded inside the case 1. The bearing portion 1a is inserted into the bearing hole 1b. Therefore, the shift select shaft 10 is supported so as to be slidable in the rotational direction and the vertical direction. A rubber seal 11 is interposed between the shift select shaft 10 and the bearing hole 2a, and a bellows-like rubber boot 12 is installed to prevent dust from entering the bearing hole 2a. The shift outer lever 4 is fixed to the uppermost end portion of the shift select shaft 10 protruding from the cover member 2, and a shift cable is connected to a pin 4 a fixed to the tip end portion of the shift outer lever 4. Therefore, when the change lever is operated for shifting, the shift select shaft 10 can be rotated around its axis.

As shown in FIG. 4, a bearing hole 2 b that rotatably supports the rotation shaft 20 is formed in the side portion of the cover member 2, and the select outer lever 3 is connected to the rotation shaft 20. It is fixed to the outer end protruding from the cover member 2. Therefore, the select outer lever 3 is swingable with the horizontal axis as a fulcrum. A pin 3a is fixed to the distal end portion of the select outer lever 3, and a select cable is connected to the pin 3a. Therefore, when the change lever is selected, the shift select shaft 10 can be slid in the axial direction (vertical direction) via the select inner lever 22 as described later.

A select inner lever 22 is fixed to a portion of the rotating shaft 20 inserted into the cover member 2 by a roller pin 21 inserted in the radial direction. A coil portion 23 a of a torsion coil spring 23 is inserted in the outer periphery of the select inner lever 22. Both end portions 23b and 23c of the torsion coil spring 23 are projected in the radial direction and then bent in the axial direction so as to be able to contact both side surfaces of the locking portion 2c projecting inward from the cover member 2. Yes. In addition, the latching | locking part 2c is not restricted to what was formed integrally with the cover member 2, You may fix another component. The select inner lever 22 has a fan-shaped guide portion 22a protruding upward, and a convex portion 22b protruding further upward is provided at the center of the guide portion 22a. The guide portion 22a is formed with an arcuate surface with the rotation shaft 20 as the center. Both end portions 23b and 23c of the torsion coil spring 23 are slidably engaged with the arc surface of the guide portion 22a, and sandwich both side surfaces of the convex portion 22b by their own spring force. When the select inner lever 22 is rotated, one end portion of the torsion coil spring 23 slides on the arc surface of the guide portion 22a, so that this end portion of the torsion coil spring 23 is disengaged from the locking portion 2c. Can be prevented. In order to absorb the tolerance, the width dimension of the locking portion 2c is narrower by δ than the width dimension of the convex portion 22b.

A groove 10a is formed on the side surface of the intermediate portion of the shift select shaft 10, and the tip of an arm portion 22c projecting laterally from the select inner lever 22 is engaged with the groove 10a. The distal end portion of the arm portion 22c has a shape that does not come off from the groove 11a even when the shift select shaft 10 rotates for a shift operation. Since the shift select shaft 10 is slidably arranged in the vertical direction, a preload in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 3 acts on the select inner lever 22 by its own weight. Therefore, in the neutral position, one side surface (right side surface in FIG. 3) of the locking portion 2c is in contact with the right end portion 23b of the torsion coil spring 23, but the other side surface of the locking portion 2c (in FIG. 3). A gap δ is provided between the left side surface) and the left end 23 c of the torsion coil spring 23. The select inner lever 22 is affected not only by the weight of the shift select shaft 10 but also by the weight of the outer lever 4 and the shift select lever 30 fixed to the shift select shaft 10.

A shift select lever 30 is fixed near the lower end of the shift select shaft 10 inserted in the case 1 as shown in FIG. The movement of the shift select shaft 10 in the select direction (axial direction) and the shift direction (rotational direction) is directly transmitted to the movement of the shift select lever 30 in the axial direction and the rotational direction. The shift select lever 30 operates a shift fork mechanism (not shown) to achieve a desired gear position. Since the structure of the shift fork mechanism is conventionally known, the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the select inner lever 22, both end portions 23 b and 23 c of the torsion coil spring 23, and the locking portion 2 c when the selection operation is performed to the High side. As shown in the drawing, the width dimension of the locking portion 2 c is set to be narrower by δ than the width dimension of the select inner lever 22. (A) is a neutral position, and the select inner lever 22 is always urged to the left by the weight of the shift select shaft 10, and the right end 23b of the torsion coil spring 23 abuts against the right side surface of the locking portion 2c. A gap δ is provided between the left end portion 23c of the spring 23 and the left side surface of the locking portion 2c.

When the select inner lever 22 is selected to the right side (High side), both end portions 23b and 23c of the torsion coil spring rotate integrally while being in contact with both surfaces of the select inner lever 22 as shown in FIG. The part 23c contacts the left side surface of the locking part 2c. Between (a) and (b) is the idling region, but the weight of the shift select shaft 10 acts on the select inner lever 22, so that a sense of idling can be achieved by performing a select operation against this own weight. Can be relaxed. When the select inner lever 22 is further selected to the right from the state of (b), the left end portion 23c of the torsion coil spring 23 is locked by the locking portion 2c as shown in (c), so that the select inner lever 22 is The right end portion 23 b of the torsion coil spring 23 can be pushed open, and a spring load proportional to the amount of displacement acts on the select inner lever 22.

FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the select inner lever 22, the both ends of the torsion coil spring 23, and the locking portion 2c when the selection operation is performed to the Low side. (A) is a neutral position and is the same as (a) of FIG. When the select inner lever 22 is selected from the neutral position to the left side (Low side), the right end portion 23b of the torsion coil spring 23 is already locked on the right side surface of the locking portion 2c as shown in FIG. From the start of the selection operation, the left side surface of the select inner lever 22 can push open the left end 23c of the torsion coil spring 23, and the spring load of the torsion coil spring 23 proportional to the amount of displacement acts on the select inner lever 22. That is, there is no free running area.

FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the stroke in the select direction and the load of the select inner lever according to the present invention. When the selection operation is performed to the High side, the free-running region is up to the stroke S1 corresponding to the gap δ, but the load can be increased by the weight of the shift-select shaft 10 (shown by a broken line), so Can be relaxed. When the stroke reaches S1, the load increases stepwise, and then the load increases in proportion to the stroke. On the other hand, when the select operation is performed to the Low side, there is no idle running region as in the conventional case (indicated by a broken line), and the load immediately increases stepwise, and then increases in proportion to the stroke. In this way, it is possible to relieve the feeling of running near the neutral position and improve the operation feeling.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the upward direction of the shift select shaft 10 is the High direction, that is, an example in which the idling feeling of the shift select shaft 10 is reduced by the weight of the shift select shaft 10 at the time of the select operation to the High side. In addition, the upward direction of the shift select shaft 10 may be the Low direction, that is, the weight of the shift select shaft 10 may be applied during a select operation to the Low side.

In the above embodiment, the select inner lever 22 has a bell crank shape, and the projecting portion 22b that engages both ends of the torsion coil spring and the arm portion 22c that engages the shift select shaft 10 project in the orthogonal direction. However, as shown in Patent Document 2, both end portions of the torsion coil spring may be locked to the arm portion. In that case, the locking portion 2c of the stationary member may be formed at a portion corresponding to the arm portion.

1 Transmission case 2 Cover member (stationary member)
2c Locking portion 10 Shift select shaft 10a Groove portion 20 Rotating shaft 22 Select inner lever 22b Convex portion 22c Arm portion 23 Torsion coil spring 23a Coil portions 23b, 23c Both ends

Claims (1)

A select inner lever that is rotated around a predetermined rotation axis in conjunction with a select operation of the change lever is engaged with an arm portion of the select inner lever, and the select lever of the change lever is engaged with the rotation axis. The shift select shaft that slides in the vertical direction and the coil portion are inserted through the rotating shaft, both ends abut against both sides of the select inner lever in the rotational direction, and a latch formed on a stationary member such as a case. A torsion coil spring that returns and pivots the select inner lever back to a neutral position so as to be able to abut on both sides of the rotation direction of the part, and the width dimension of the locking part with which both ends of the torsion coil spring abut is In the shift select mechanism of the manual transmission, which is set narrower than the width dimension of both side surfaces in the rotational direction of the select inner lever,
The shift select shaft is supported by a stationary member such as a case so as to be slidable in a substantially vertical direction,
The pre-load in one rotation direction is given to the select inner lever by its own weight of the shift select shaft,
At the neutral position of the select operation, due to the weight of the shift select shaft, one end of the torsion coil spring is in contact with both the select inner lever and the locking portion, and the other end of the torsion coil spring A shift select mechanism for a manual transmission, characterized in that a gap is set between an end of the manual transmission and the locking portion.

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