Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Nexteer (beijing) Technology Co., Ltd.

Frank Robert Keipert

Michael C Vermeersch

Richard Paul Nash

Kurt Daniel Dubay

James Richard Salois

Tamara Reppuhn

Thomas Glowacki

Bernard J Emmendorfer

Jason N Wright

A transmission gear selector including a pivotal shift lever with a grip portion and an attachment structure that is operably coupled to an automatic transmission for shifting the transmission. A locking member pivots with the shift lever and is moveably engageable with an engagement surface that defines a park position detent. When the locking member is engaged with the park position detent, the shift lever cannot be moved out of the park position. The mechanical linkage includes a driver-operated member which, when actuated, causes the mechanical linkage assembly to bias the locking member out of engagement with the park position detent. A solenoid disposed within the grip portion is coupled with the mechanical linkage assembly and includes a plunger that can prevent the mechanical linkage from biasing the locking member out of the park position detent. An installation method for a gear selector is also disclosed.

Transmission shift control mechanism and method of installation

A steering lock mechanism having an actuator communicating with a lock bolt is provided allowing for more space in the vicinity where a steering wheel is supported by an upper steering shaft. Additionally, a bolt engaging device is supported adjacent a lower end of the upper steering shaft in a position to engage a lock bolt such that any torque forces transmitted through the bolt engaging device will not cause damage to either the device or other components of the steering column. The actuator is rotated about an axis from a first position to a second position to cause the lock bolt communicating with the actuator to advance towards the lower end of the upper steering shaft from a locked position to an unlocked position, respectively.

Forward firing shaft lock mechanism

A linear actuator including a socket on a first element of a motor vehicle steering column, an expandable nut loosely disposed in the socket, and a screw shaft rotatably supported on a second element of the steering column. The expandable nut consists of a front segment facing a distal end of the screw shaft and a back segment behind the front segment. An inside screw thread in the back segment of the expandable nut is angularly phased relative to an inside screw thread in the front segment. The expandable nut self-aligns with the screw shaft when the latter is screwed into the inside screw thread in the front segment. An outboard end of the thread groove in the screw shaft defining the outside screw thread thereon spreads apart the front and back segments of the expandable nut to positions resiliently wedged between the screw shaft and the socket to eliminate lash between the screw shaft and the first element of the steering column. In a preferred embodiment, the expandable nut is a molded plastic nut having front and back segments connected by an integral living hinge.

Linear actuator for motor vehicle steering column

Growing community of inventors

Bay City, MI, United States of America

Frank Robert Keipert