Dura Automotive Systems, Gmbh

Dura Mechanical Components, Inc.

Dura Automotive Services

Randall D Smale

Gary A Novotny

A foot-operated parking brake actuator applies a parking brake by moving an input pedal lever between a brake-released position and a plurality of brake-applied positions to operate a cable to apply and release a vehicle parking brake. A mounting bracket pivotally mounts the pedal for pivotal movement about a first pivot. A sector gear is secured to the bracket with its center on the first pivot, and mounts a cable take-up reel. The cable is attached to the reel which is pivotally mounted on the pedal lever about a second pivot. A pinion is secured to the reel for engagement with the sector gear upon pedal lever movement to brake-apply positions to wind the cable on the reel. Cable winding occurs at a sequence of variable input/output force ratios of input pedal lever force to output cable force or load to apply the parking brake, the ratio varying with pedal movement because of the complex movement of the reel. The pinion disengages from the sector gear in brake-release position to enable automatic slack adjustment. The sequence of variable input/output force ratios is a selected segment of a larger predetermined sequence of variable force ratios determined by the size and relative positioning of the sector gear, the pinion, the pedal lever, and the rotational position of the cable attachment point on the pinion relative to the cable entry.

Self-adjust variable ratio parking brake actuator

A manual transmission shifter and ignition interlock is provided for a vehicle having a manual transmission operated by a shift lever (20). A bi-stable solenoid (86) is movable between positions blocking and unblocking movement of the vehicle ignition (78) to OFF. Another bi-stable solenoid (66) has an output arm (68) which operates a control linkage (54) and raise and lower a locking lever (48) to engage and disengage the locking level from a locking probe (34) on the shift lever to lock and unlock shift lever (20) when in REVERSE. The solenoids (66, 86) are controlled by a controller (74) that is provided with high and low current inputs from branch circuits (90, 92) that include control switches (94, 96) operated by ignition position. The controller (74) causes solenoid (66) to extend the control linkage (54) when the shift lever (20) is moved to REVERSE, and the ignition (78) is moved to ACCESSORY. This closes a switch (96), causing the controller (74) to retract the ignition solenoid (86) and enable movement to OFF for key removal.

Manual shifter and ignition interlock

A ignition-controlled parking brake interlock is provided for a vehicle. The parking brake operating lever is latched in brake-applied positions by engagement of a lever-mounted pawl with fixed sector. A solenoid is movable between positions blocking and unblocking movement of the vehicle ignition to OFF. A lock bar carried by the lever is movable by a second solenoid between positions blocking and unblocking movement of the pawl to release the lever. In one embodiment, a brake lever position switch and a switch operated by the second solenoid control solenoid operation to prevent ignition key removal unless the parking brake is applied and to prevent parking brake release unless the key is inserted and the ignition moved to RUN. In another embodiment, bi-stable solenoids are controlled by a controller that is provided with high and low current inputs from branch circuits that include control switches operated by ignition position and parking brake lever position.

Ignition-controlled parking brake interlock

A manual transmission and ignition interlock is provided for a vehicle having a manual transmission operated by a shift lever. A solenoid is movable between positions blocking and unblocking movement of the vehicle ignition to OFF. A latch bar carried by the shift lever is biased to a latched position and can be moved to unlatched position by a pull-up ring on the shift lever. The latch bar is cammed downward against the spring bias out of latched position when it is extended through a slot in a latch retainer when the shift lever is moved to REVERSE, and then snaps up to latch the shift lever. Another solenoid has a plunger which extends to underlie the latch bar and trap it, thus locking the latched shift lever in REVERSE. In one embodiment, bi-stable solenoids are controlled by a controller that is provided with high and low current inputs from branch circuits that include control switches operated by ignition position. The controller extends the latch solenoid when the shift lever is moved to REVERSE and the ignition is moved to ACCESSORY. This closes a switch, causing the controller to retract the ignition solenoid and enable movement to OFF. In another embodiment, a control circuit uses conventional solenoids.

Manual transmission and ignition interlock

A vehicle brake-transmission-ignition interlock system includes a bi-stable solenoid operable to lock and unlock the shift lever in PARK position. Another bi-stable solenoid is operable to block and unblock ignition key movement to OFF position for removal. A controller is responsive to high and low input signals to operate both solenoids. An electric circuit connects to the controller and includes a brake switch closed and opened by applying and releasing the service brake and a parallel shift lever switch opened and closed by movement of the shift lever into and out of PARK position. An ignition switch in series with the brake switch is opened by key movement to OFF position and is closed by key movement to ACCESSORY and RUN positions. Another ignition switch in series with the shift lever switch is opened by key movement to OFF and ACCESSORY positions and is closed by key movement to RUN position. Moving the shift lever to PARK and releasing the service brake opens the brake and shift lever switches to provide a low input signal to the controller which operates the solenoids to lock the shift lever and unblock key movement to OFF position, enabling key removal. Key insertion and movement to RUN position and brake application supplies a high input signal to the controller which operates the solenoids to unlock the shift lever and block key movement to OFF position.

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Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Randall D Smale