Denso Corporation

Nippondenso Co., Ltd.

Hideo Hattori

Kiyoshi Kimura

Jun Tarui

Hiroaki Nishimura

Katsuhiko Ariga

A shifting mechanism includes a limit switch that sends an open-close signal of the switch contacts SW, SW, SWand SWout to a control mechanism according to a 2H-4H-N-4L shifting sequence. The switch contacts SWand SWdetect the position of a slider 4H which is moved by a thrust actuator, during shifting in the range of 4H engagement to the range of N engagement. Therefore, if one of the switch contacts SWand SWis faulty, the other switch detects shifting between 4H and N. This prevents shifting into N over 4H, thereby preventing malfunction of the thrust actuator resulting from a faulty switch contact SWor SW. This also avoids potential difficulties in vehicle control due to shifting characteristics and permits the maintaining of controlled driving.

Shifting-transfer mechanism

A gas detecting device for a vehicle includes a casing which is formed therein with an air passage having an air inlet and an air outlet located above the air inlet. A filter is provided in the air passage below and downstream of a gas sensor. The filter has a lower end surface at a side of the air inlet and an upper end surface at a side of the gas sensor. The lower end surface of the filter works as an air-passing surface through which the air flows into the filter, while the upper end surface of the filter works as an air-passing surface through which the air flows out of the filter. A certain gap is provided between a lower portion of a side surface of the filter and an inner wall surface of the casing defining the air passage so that this lower portion of the filter also works as an air-passing surface through which the air flows into the filter. A labyrinth structure may be provided in the air passage between the air inlet and the filter for causing the air to meander at the labyrinth structure. Further, it may be arranged that the air passage has an opening area which is the greatest at the air inlet and then is gradually reduced as advancing toward the labyrinth structure.

Growing community of inventors

Chiryu, Japan

Hideo Hattori