Transmission controlled, speed change position detecting switch device

Claim 2

A speed change position detecting device for an automatic transmiSsion comprising: a valve movable to change the operating range of an automatic transmission among park, reverse, neutral and forward positions; a rotatable shaft; a manual shift lever connected to said shaft to turn the same; a valve lever interconnecting said shaft to said valve so that the valve is moved in response to turning of said shaft by said shift lever; a switch means mounting said switch on the housing of the transmission and in a position to present movable contacts in the vicinity of the path of movement of said valve lever; and a cam plate integral with said valve lever, said plate having a plurality of cams arranged concentrically but in different radii so as to coact with said movable contacts as said cam plate moves with said valve lever.

Claim 3

The speed change position detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting means of said contact switch to said housing comprises a bracket provided at said housing of said transmission, a mounting hole for said switch as is formed in said bracket, and a locating aperture formed in said bracket, and wherein said opposed contact system switch is fittedly fixed into said mounting hole, while a box provided at said switch is fittedly inserted into said locating aperture, whereby the mounting position of said switch on said housing is fixed.

Claim 4

The speed change position detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the switch comprises: an insulating body which is shaped into a shallow box, a cover member which is applied and fixed to an opening part of said insulating body, a flexible rubber partition plate which is extended over said opening part of said insulating body, a sealed chamber which is defined by an inside surface of said rubber partition plate and said insulating body in such manner that said rubber partition plate is held by and between said opening part and said cover member, a plurality of pairs of fixed contacts which are disposed in said sealed chamber, bridging contact pieces which are opposed to the respective pairs of fixed contacts and which separably correspond to said respective pairs of fixed contacts, and self-returning push rods which are disposed in said cover member so as to individually correspond to the respective bridging contact pieces through said rubber partition plate.

Claim 5

The speed change position detecting device according to claim 3, wherein said insulating body comprises: a bottom wall, a peripheral wall, a plurality of pairs of terminals which are penetratingly inserted through said bottom wall in a manner to be annularly arrayed and whose internal end faces comprising said fixed contacts, protuberant portions formed on an inside surface of said bottom wall so that the adjacent ones hold said each pair of fixed contacts therebetween, said protuberant portions constituting vertical motion guides for said bridging contact pieces, a pin-shaped projection which is formed at the center of said bottom wall so as to be slightly lower than said peripheral wall, spring receiving holes which are protrusively provided between said each pair of fixed contacts, coiled springs which are fittedly inserted into said spring receiving holes, and contact projections which are provided at said each bridging contact piece in correspondence with said respective fixed contacts, said bridging contact pieces being pressedly contacted with said inside surface of said rubber partition plate.

Claim 6

The speed change position detecting device according to claim 3, wherein said cover member comprises: sliding holes which are penetratingly provided in correspondence with spring receiving holes, each of said sliding holes having the diameter of its outer end part reduced to form a shoulder portion, a second push rod which is loosely fitted into a part of said each sliding hole below said shoulder portion, pressing projections which are formed at inner ends of said second push rods in a manner to individually correspond to said bridging contact pieces through said rubber partition plate, a part of said each second push rod above said pressing projection being made a cylindrical portion, a self-returning spring which is loosely inserted into said each cylindrical portion, and a first push rod which is protruded out of said each sliding hole, said each first push rod having an enlarged diameter portion, at its part inserted inwardly from said shoulder portion, loosely inserted into said cylindrical portion of said second push rod and thus being held in contact with said self-returning spring.