Engine starter and power transmission interlock system

Claim 2

In a lock assembly for a vehicle having an engine, a starting motor adapted for intermittent energization to start said engine, a power transmission, and a transmission range selector movable between a plurality of positions corresponding to the various operating ranges of said transmission including a range of zero power transfer, said lock assembly including a control member adapted for bodily movement by a lockable actuator to a position effecting energization of said starting motor, a probe means attached to said control member for unitary movement therewith, and an abutment means adapted for synchronous movement with said range selector and including an impenetrable surface disposed across the path of motion of said probe means to arrest bodily movement of the latter and of said control member before energization of said starting motor is effected except in the position of said range selector corresponding to the zero power transfer range of said transmission wherein a receptacle means in said abutment means receives said probe means to permit passage of the latter through said impenetrable surface, the improvement comprising, means operative to permit universal movement of said probe means relative to said control member under the influence of forces directed generally laterally of said probe means thereby to prevent the development of substantial friction between said probe means and said receptacle means when the former is received in the latter.

Claim 3

In a lock assembly for a vehicle having an engine, a starting motor adapted for intermittent energization to start said engine, a power transmission, and a transmission range selector movable between a plurality of positions corresponding to the various operating ranges of said transmission including a range of zero power transfer, said lock assembly including a control member adapted for bodily movement by a lockable actuator to a position effecting energization of said starting motor, a probe means attached to said control member for unitary movement therewith, and an abutment means adapted for synchronous movement with said range selector and including an impenetrable surface disposed across the path of motion of said probe means to arrest bodily movement of the latter and of said control member before energization of said starting motor is effected except in the position of said range selector corresponding to the zero power transfer range of said transmission wherein a receptacle means in said abutment means receives said probe means to permit passage of the latter through said impenetrable surface, the improvement comprising, means operative to permit universal movement of said probe means relative to said control member under the influence of forces directed generally laterally of said probe means thereby to prevent the development of substantial friction between said probe means and said receptacle means when the former is received in the latter.

Claim 4

In a lock assembly for a vehicle having an engine, a starting motor adapted for intermittent energization to start said engine, a power transmission, and a transmission range selector movable between a plurality of positions corresponding to the various operating ranges of said transmission including a range of zero power transfer, said lock assembly including a control member adapted for bodily movement by a lockable actuator to a position effecting energization of said starting motor, a probe means attached to said control member for unitary movement therewith, and an abutment means adapted for synchronous movement with said range selector and including an impenetrable surface disposed across the path of motion of said probe means to arrest bodily movement of the latter and of said control member before energization of said starting motor is effected except in the position of said range selector corresponding to the zero power transfer range of said transmission wherein a receptacle means in said abutment means receives said probe means to permit passage of the latter through said impenetrable surface, the improvement comprising, means operative to permit universal movement of said probe means relative to said control member under the influence of forces directed generally laterally of said probe means thereby to prevent the development of substantial friction between said probe means and said receptacle means when the former is received in the latter.

Claim 5

In a vehicle having an engine including a starting motor adapted for momentary energization to start said engine, a power transmission, a steering column structure, a transmission range selector supported on said steering column structure for rotary moVement between a plurality of positions corresponding to the various operating ranges of said transmission including a range of zero power transfer, and an ignition switch actuable between an inoperative ''''off'''' configuration and an operative ''''run'''' configuration energizing the ignition circuit of said engine and an operative ''''start'''' configuration simultaneously energizing the ignition circuit and said starting motor of said engine, a mechanical interlock system comprising, an ignition switch control member, means operatively attaching said control member to said ignition switch, means supporting said control member in said steering column structure for bodily movement longitudinally of said steering column structure between a plurality of positions corresponding to the various configurations of said ignition switch, manually controlled lockable actuator means adapted to move said control member between the positions thereof, an elongated probe member, means connecting said probe member to said control member for unitary longitudinal bodily movement therewith and for limited universal movement relative thereto, spring means biasing said probe member toward a position aligned along a longitudinal axis of said steering column structure, abutment means defining an impenetrable surface having an aperture therein adapted to closely receive said probe member, and means supporting said abutment means on said range selector for unitary movement therewith and with said impenetrable surface disposed across the path of motion traversed by said probe member during movement of said control member so that said probe member is engageable on said impenetrable surface to arrest movement of said control member before the ''''start'''' configuration of said ignition switch is achieved, said aperture being situated on said abutment means for alignment on the path of motion of said probe in the position of said range selector corresponding to the zero power transfer range of said transmission thereby to permit actuation of said ignition switch to the ''''start'''' configuration by allowing passage of said probe through said impenetrable surface.

Claim 6

In a vehicle having an engine including a starting motor adapted for momentary energization to start said engine, a power transmission, a steering column structure, a transmission range selector supported on said steering column structure for rotary moVement between a plurality of positions corresponding to the various operating ranges of said transmission including a range of zero power transfer, and an ignition switch actuable between an inoperative ''''off'''' configuration and an operative ''''run'''' configuration energizing the ignition circuit of said engine and an operative ''''start'''' configuration simultaneously energizing the ignition circuit and said starting motor of said engine, a mechanical interlock system comprising, an ignition switch control member, means operatively attaching said control member to said ignition switch, means supporting said control member in said steering column structure for bodily movement longitudinally of said steering column structure between a plurality of positions corresponding to the various configurations of said ignition switch, manually controlled lockable actuator means adapted to move said control member between the positions thereof, an elongated probe member, means connecting said probe member to said control member for unitary longitudinal bodily movement therewith and for limited universal movement relative thereto, spring means biasing said probe member toward a position aligned along a longitudinal axis of said steering column structure, abutment means defining an impenetrable surface having an aperture therein adapted to closely receive said probe member, and means supporting said abutment means on said range selector for unitary movement therewith and with said impenetrable surface disposed across the path of motion traversed by said probe member during movement of said control member so that said probe member is engageable on said impenetrable surface to arrest movement of said control member before the ''''start'''' configuration of said ignition switch is achieved, said aperture being situated on said abutment means for alignment on the path of motion of said probe in the position of said range selector corresponding to the zero power transfer range of said transmission thereby to permit actuation of said ignition switch to the ''''start'''' configuration by allowing passage of said probe through said impenetrable surface.