In-line solenoid transmission interlock device

Claim 2

A cable locking device for a cable assembly having an outer sheath with an axially movable inner core, said locking device selectively permitting or restraining axial movement of said inner core, comprising: a rod connected at one end to said inner core and at an opposite end to means for generating axial movement of said inner core, said rod having at least one annular groove, a pole piece surrounding said rod, an armature surrounding said rod and axially movable between a first position displaced from said pole piece to a second position attracted toward said pole piece, a solenoid winding surrounding said pole piece and said armature and urging said armature toward one of said first or said second positions when energized, rod locking means operatively associated with said armature for interlockingly engaging said groove in said rod to inhibit axial movement of said rod when said armature is in one of said positions and disengaging said groove in said rod to permit said axial movement when said armature is in the other of said positions.

Claim 3

A cable locking device according to claim 1 wherein said armature has an inside groove formed therein and said rod locking means comprises at least one ball element engaging said inside groove of said armature to urge said ball into engagement with said groove on said rod to inhibit axial movement thereof.

Claim 4

A cable locking device according to claim 2 wherein said movable portion of said rod has two annular grooves enabling said rod to be inhibited from axial movement at two distinct axial positions.

Claim 5

A cable locking device according to claim 1 wherein said rod locking means inhibits axial movement of said rod when said solenoid winding is energized.

Claim 6

A cable locking device according to claim 4 further comprising spring means urging said armature to said first position.

Claim 7

A cable locking device according to claim 1 further comprising cable length adjustment means including a rod guide having an adjustable link with an enlarged cavity having a first set of inwardly directed engagement members affixed therein and a second set of outwardly directed engagement members affixed to said cable sheath, said engagement members enabling the collapsing of said adjustment link but inhibiting expansion of said link.

Claim 8

An in-line automatic transmission shifter interlock device for a motor vehicle of the type having a cable assembly with an outer sheath and an axially movable inner core therein, with said inner core coupled at opposite ends to said interlock device and the transmission of said vehicle, said interlock device selectively permitting or restraining movement of a transmission shifter lever, comprising: a rod connected at one end to said inner core and at an opposite end to said shift lever, said rod having at least one rod groove, a tubular rod guide encircling said rod and guiding said rod for axial movement, said rod guide having at least one hole extending therethrough, a pole piece encircling said rod guide, an armature encircling said rod guide and axially movable between a first position displaced from said pole piece and a second position attracted toward said pole piece, said armature having an armature groove communicating with said hole in said rod guide, a solenoid winding encircling said pole piece and said armature and urging said armature toward said second position when energized, biasing means for urging said armature toward said first position, and rod locking means disposed within said hole in said rod guide and operatively associated with said armature groove for selectively inhibiting or permitting axial movement of said rod such that when said armature is in said second position it activates said rod locking means to engage said rod to inhibit axial movement thereof and when said armature is in said first position it de-activates said rod locking means to disengage from said rod to permit axial movement thereof.

Claim 9

An in-line automatic transmission shifter interlock device for a motor vehicle of the type having a cable assembly with an outer sheath and an axially movable inner core therein, with said inner core coupled at opposite ends to said interlock device and the transmission of said vehicle, said interlock device selectively permitting or restraining movement of a transmission shifter lever, comprising: a rod connected at one end to said inner core and at an opposite end to said shift lever, said rod having at least one rod groove, a tubular rod guide encircling said rod and guiding said rod for axial movement, said rod guide having at least one hole extending therethrough, a pole piece encircling said rod guide, an armature encircling said rod guide and axially movable between a first position displaced from said pole piece and a second position attracted toward said pole piece, said armature having an armature groove communicating with said hole in said rod guide, a solenoid winding encircling said pole piece and said armature and urging said armature toward said second position when energized, biasing means for urging said armature toward said first position, and rod locking means disposed within said hole in said rod guide and operatively associated with said armature groove for selectively inhibiting or permitting axial movement of said rod such that when said armature is in said second position it activates said rod locking means to engage said rod to inhibit axial movement thereof and when said armature is in said first position it de-activates said rod locking means to disengage from said rod to permit axial movement thereof.

Claim 10

An in-line automatic transmission shifter interlock device according to claim 7 wherein said armature groove defines a first and second groove joined by a ramp surface with said second grooves being radially deeper than said first groove, said rod locking means comprises at least one ball disposed within said rod guide hole and in rolling contact with said armature groove, said first groove urging said ball into engagement with said rod groove to inhibit axial movement of said rod and said second groove permitting said ball to disengage said rod groove to permit axial movement of said rod.

Claim 11

An in-line automatic transmission shifter interlock device according to claim 8 wherein said rod has two rod grooves enabling said rod to be inhibited from axial movement at two distinct axial position.

Claim 12

An in-line automatic transmission shifter interlock device according to claim 7 further comprising cable length adjustment means including said rod guide having an adjustable link with an enlarged cavity having a first set of inwardly directed engagement members affixed therein and a second set of outwardly directed engagement members affixed to said cable sheath, said engagement members enabling the collapsing of said adjustment link but inhibiting expansion of said link.

Claim 13

An automatic transmission cable assembly having an in-line solenoid interlock device, said cable assembly coupling the transmission of a vehicle to an operator actuated shift lever for selectively permitting or restraining said operator from actuating said shift lever, comprising: an axially movable elongated core member coupled at one end to said transmission; an outer sheath encircling said core member; rod means for connecting an opposite end of said core member to said shift lever, said rod means having at least one annular groove provided thereon; a solenoid device coaxially surrounding said rod means and having a pole piece and an armature encircling said rod means, said armature axially movable between a first position displaced from said pole piece to a second position attracted toward said pole piece, said armature defining a generally step-like inside groove adjacent said rod means defining first and second groove surfaces, said solenoid device further including a solenoid winding surrounding said pole piece and said armature for urging said armature toward said second position when energized, and bias means for urging said armature toward said first position; and rod locking means disposed between said step-like groove on said armature and said rod means for inhibiting axial movement of said rod means when said armature is in one of said positions and permitting said axial movement when said armature is in the other of said positions, said first groove surface of said step-like armature groove urging said rod locking means to interlockingly engage said groove in said rod means so as to inhibit axial movement of said rod means when said armature is in one of said positions and said second groove surface of said step-like armature groove permitting said rod locking means to releasably disengage said groove in said rod means so as to permit axial movement of said rod means when said armature is in the other of said positions.

Claim 14

An automatic transmission cable assembly having an in-line solenoid interlock device, said cable assembly coupling the transmission of a vehicle to an operator actuated shift lever for selectively permitting or restraining said operator from actuating said shift lever, comprising: an axially movable elongated core member coupled at one end to said transmission; an outer sheath encircling said core member; rod means for connecting an opposite end of said core member to said shift lever, said rod means having at least one annular groove provided thereon; a solenoid device coaxially surrounding said rod means and having a pole piece and an armature encircling said rod means, said armature axially movable between a first position displaced from said pole piece to a second position attracted toward said pole piece, said armature defining a generally step-like inside groove adjacent said rod means defining first and second groove surfaces, said solenoid device further including a solenoid winding surrounding said pole piece and said armature for urging said armature toward said second position when energized, and bias means for urging said armature toward said first position; and rod locking means disposed between said step-like groove on said armature and said rod means for inhibiting axial movement of said rod means when said armature is in one of said positions and permitting said axial movement when said armature is in the other of said positions, said first groove surface of said step-like armature groove urging said rod locking means to interlockingly engage said groove in said rod means so as to inhibit axial movement of said rod means when said armature is in one of said positions and said second groove surface of said step-like armature groove permitting said rod locking means to releasably disengage said groove in said rod means so as to permit axial movement of said rod means when said armature is in the other of said positions.

Claim 15

An automatic transmission cable assembly according to claim 11, wherein said rod locking means comprises at least one spherical ball element disposed between and concurrently engaging one of said first and second groove surfaces of said step-like armature groove and said rod means.

Claim 16

An automatic transmission cable assembly according to claim 12 wherein said rod means comprises two of said annular grooves, each of said annular grooves permitting said shift lever to be selectively restrained from actuation in at least two distinct positions.

Claim 17

An automatic transmission cable assembly according to claim 12 further comprising a tubular rod guide coaxially disposed between said rod means and said pole member and armature for guiding said rod means for axial movement therein, said rod guide defining at least one hole extending therethrough for interconnecting said armature groove and said rod means, said hole acting to retain said spherical ball therein.