Abstract A transmission gearshift linkage for use with a foreshortened steering column in an automotive vehicle comprising a gearshift lever supported by the steering column in the vehicle passenger compartment and shift linkage elements at the base of the column adapted to be connected to a shift controlling shaft through an engageable selector clutch, and a motion transmitting linkage connecting the shift linkage elements to the ratio controlling elements of the vehicle transmission mechanism comprising compound motion transmitting members, one end of each being connected to a shift linkage element, the other end being connected to a ratio controlling element, an intermediate portion of said members being mounted for compound motion on a stationary portion of said mechanism and a universal connection between said one end of said members and said shift linkage elements, said universal connection being adapted to be disassembled from said shift linkage elements as said motion transmitting linkage and said column become displaced due to an impact loading.
In a vehicle steering column a gearshift lever assembly having a steering shaft, a shift sleeve shaft surrounding the steering shaft, means for mounting the sleeve shaft and the steering shaft within a vehicle passenger compartment, a gearshift lever connected drivably to one end of said sleeve shaft remote from a vehicle passenger compartment, the other end of said sleeve shaft being adapted to be rotated by the vehicle operator, a compound motion transmitting member, a transmission ratio controlling element operatively connected to one end of said compound motion transmitting member, a universal connection between an intermediate portion of said compound motion transmitting member and a stationary portion of said assembly, a universal coupling connecting between the other end of said compound motion transmitting member and said shift lever comprising a first universal bearing member carried by the radially outward end of said shift lever and a second universal bearing member carried by said other end of said compound motion transmitting member, said second universal bearing member comprising a stem extending through said second universal bearing member whereby said shift lever may be disengaged from said compound motion transmitting lever as the latter is shifted with respect to said column in the direction of the axis of said column.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a vehicle steering column a gearshift lever assembly having a steering shaft, a shift sleeve shaft surrounding the steering shaft, means for mounting the sleeve shaft and the steering shaft within a vehicle passenger compartment, a gearshift lever connected drivably to one end of said sleeve shaft remote from a vehicle passenger compartment, the other end of said sleeve shaft being adapted to be rotated by the vehicle operator, a compound motion transmitting member, a transmission ratio controlling element operatively connected to one end of said compound motion transmitting member, a universal connection between an intermediate portion of said compound motion transmitting member and a stationary portion of said assembly, a universal coupling connecting between the other end of said compound motion transmitting member and said shift lever comprising a first universal bearing member carried by the radially outward end of said shift lever and a second universal bearing member carried by said other end of said compound motion transmitting member, said second universal bearing member comprising a stem extending through said second universal bearing member whereby said shift lever may be disengaged from said compound motion transmitting lever as the latter is shifted with respect to said column in the direction of the axis of said column.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
91 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second universal bearing member has a spherical portion and said first universal bearing member forms a spherical socket receiving said spherical portion, an opening in said spherical member having an axis generally parallel to the axis of said column, said stem being slidably received through said opening, the support for said stem being located on the side of said first bearing member opposite from the side closest to the universal connection at the intermediate portion of said compound motion transmitting member.