Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Susan Wyatt

Todd Curtis Spaulding

Emad Al-Regib

Zheng Liang

Bryant L Poynter

Craig Matthew Renneker

Mihir M Pai

A vehicle park lock assembly includes a park valve that moves in a first direction to transition a lever from a first to a second position, and moves in an opposite, second direction to permit movement of the lever from the second to the first position. The assembly includes a support block that limits movement of the park valve in the first direction. The assembly includes a biasing device coupled to the support block and the park valve. The biasing device biases the park valve to the first position. A method of supporting components of a vehicle park lock assembly includes moving a park valve in a first direction to transition a lever from a first to a second position, and moving the park valve in an opposite, second direction to permit movement of the lever from the second to the first position. The method also includes biasing the park valve to the first position with a biasing device that is coupled to the lever and a support block, and limiting movement of the park valve in the first direction using the support block.

Vehicle park lock assembly with support block and supporting method for vehicle park lock assembly

An override mechanism for a shift-by-wire transmission includes a housing having a first pin aperture and a shaft extending into the housing. The override mechanism further includes a reel plate having a second pin aperture. The reel plate is rotatably fixed to the shaft and rotatable within the housing. The override mechanism further includes a spring biasing the reel plate to a first angular position, and a pull-pin removably disposable within the first and second pin apertures to retain the reel plate in a second angular position.

Override for shifting a shift-by-wire transmission

A parking mechanism in a vehicle is controlled to rotate, which engages and disengages a pawl with a spoke or gear of a wheel to selectively hold the wheel against rotation in park. A spring is connected to the parking mechanism at a first end, and is connected to the transmission housing or a stop block at a second end. The first end of the spring is a closed loop, such as a helix shape that extends over 360 degrees over a loop axis. The second end of the spring is open-ended, such as a hook. After attaching the first end of the spring to the park mechanism, but prior to attaching the second end, a valve assembly can be mounted as well as the stop block. After those components are assembled in place, the second end of the spring can simply hook into place.

Return-to-park spring

A pawl return spring includes a surface contacting portion adapted to contact a transmission housing. The surface contacting portion includes a first connection region and a second connection region opposite the first connection region. The pawl return spring includes an active coil region connected to the first connection region and disposed about a central longitudinal axis to provide torsional effort to the system. The pawl return spring also includes an inactive coil region connected to the second connection region and disposed about the central longitudinal axis that does not provide torsional effort to the system.

Pawl return spring with inactive coils

In a default-to-park system for a transmission, a lever member has a cylindrical hub configured to rotate about a spindle. The lever member has a transverse plate including a lever arm connected to a park release actuator and to a link to a park pawl of the transmission. Under normal operation, a transmission controller shifts the actuator to turn the lever arm and release the park pawl so the transmission can rotate. In an absence of a signal from the controller to the actuator, a bias spring restores the lever arm so that the transmission is locked. The bias spring comprises torsion coils disposed over the hub, a fixed end, and a drive end. The drive end has a heel segment bearing against a transverse surface of the transverse plate facing the torsion coils and a loading hook wrapped around an edge of the transverse plate.

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Milford, MI, United States of America

Susan Wyatt