The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 22, 2000
Filed:
May. 28, 1998
James L Holman, Wauseon, OH (US);
Transmission Technologies Corporation, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
A combined neutral sensing and shift lever interlock assembly senses when all of the shift rails of a transmission are in a neutral gear ratio and prevents more than one shift rail from being shifted out of a neutral position at any given time. The transmission includes a shift lever having a lower end that extends through an interlock bracket into selective engagement with the shift rails. The lower end of the shift lever has a sensor provided thereon, while the interlock bracket has a target provided thereon. The target is disposed adjacent to the sensor whenever the lower end of the shift lever is located in a central neutral position (indicating that all of the shift rails are also positioned in their central neutral positions). When this occurs, the sensor causes a neutral relay to be closed, thereby enabling the starter circuit of the vehicle to start the vehicle engine. The target is not disposed adjacent to the sensor whenever the lower end of the shift lever is located outside of the central neutral position (indicating that one of the shift rails is positioned in a gear engaging position). When this occurs, the sensor causes the neutral relay to be opened, thereby disabling the starter circuit of the vehicle from starting the vehicle engine. Thus, the engine of the vehicle cannot be started unless all of the shift rails of the transmission are positioned in their central neutral positions.