TECHNICAL FIELD:

The present invention relates to a control lever according to the preamble of appended claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention relates to the type of control levers which have a built in electrical manoeuvring function which is affected by the mechanical shift function of the control lever. This kind of control levers are for example used in motor vehicles with so-called semi-automatic gear box, with manual gear shift but where the clutch is controlled electrically. A known kind of control lever with this electrical manoeuvring function is shown and described in SE 8903702-2. The electrical manoeuvring function is activated by putting the head of the control lever in mobile connection with the lever part in such a way that the electrical switching function is activated when the mechanical shift movement begins. It is desirable to activate the switch as early as possible. This is achieved by keeping the relative movement of the manoeuvring head as small as possible, while not permitting undesired activa¬ tion through the movements which occur due to vibrations and play between the manoeuvring head and the lever part.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM:

The object of the present invention is to arrive at a control lever in which switching of the electrical switch is done as early as possible during a manoeuvring phase while maintaining a reliable function of the switch and a rational production.

SOLUTION:

The said object is achieved by means of a control lever according to the present invention, the features of which are defined in the appended claim 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

The invention will now be described in more detail by means of two embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the upper part of of a control lever in accordance with the invention and,

Figs. 2 and 3 in a larger scale show cross-sectional views of a section of the upper part of the control lever according to the inven¬ tion in different manoeuvring states.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

The control lever according to the invention is intended to achieve in one and the same movement of the lever not only the mechanical shifting of a mechanism but also the electrical activation of a means which is either a part of said mechanism or is completely separate from it. Examples of such applications are as mentioned, the manoeuvring of semi-automatic gear boxes for motor vehicles, where the mechanical shifting means shifting between different gears, while the electrical activation means activation of an electrical drive unit for a mechanical clutch. The electri¬ cal activation is primarily done via an electrical switch in the control lever, however further conditions for the activation can be set up using an electrical control unit, such as for example micro processor, which detects rpm, gear position, the speed of the vehicle etc.

The control lever according to the invention consists of, as can be seen in Fig. 1, two main parts, a lever part 1 and a manoeuvring head 2 which is arranged at one end 3 of the control lever, while its opposite end is pivotally fixed in a not shown bracket, and the mechanical shifting is brought about through pivoting the control lever around a joint fixed at a distance from the upper end of the lever. The main movement of the lever for shifting into different gear positions is in Figs. 1 and 2 shown with a double arrow 4, but in a conventional way, the with arrows indicated main movement 4 in one or the other direction, can be combined with a sideways movement across the direction of the arrow 4 for choosing between different gear positions. This can for example be achieved by mounting the lower end of the control lever in a ball coupling which permits pivotable movements of the control lever in the desired direction.

The manoeuvring head 2 in the shown example has a body in the shape of a housing 5, of a relatively stiff and strong material, for example hardened plastic of a mainly cylin¬ drical form with a side part 6 which covers the circumfer¬ ence and an upper part 7, so that the housing contains a cavity 8 which is open downwards, so that the upper part 3 of the lever part 1 extends into the cavity. The part of the manoeuvring head 2 which can be seen from the outside consists of a grip portion 9, shown in Fig. 2, which is shaped so as to be easily gripable, and preferably made in a semisoft material, preferably some kind of plastic or synthetic rubber. The inner surfaces of the grip portion 9 connect mainly to the housing 5 and is fixedly connected to this. In the shown example the housing 5 has an inner part 5' which is essentially sleeve formed and has different functions in the manoeuvring head which will be described further below.

The manoeuvring head 2 is further in mobile attachment to the upper end of the lever part 1 in a way which will permit only a very limited relative movement when one manually by holding the manoeuvring head 2 moves the control lever in such a direction that a change in gear position is initiated. This relative movement is necessary in order to switch an electrical switch 10 which is built in to the manoeuvring head and is intended to achieve the above-mentioned activation of a chosen mechanism. The switch 10 is of the multi-function type, in the example shown a switch with 3 positions.

The first position of the switch 10, which is the open position, is assumed when the manoeuvring head is in a neutral position according to Figs. 1 and 2, and the second position is assumed when the manoeuvring head is moved in one direction 4' in the direction of the arrow 4, and the third position is assumed when the manoeuvring head is moved in the opposite direction 4' ' , in the direction of the arrow 4, see Fig. 3. In the second position a first electrical circuit for a first manoeuvring function is closed while in the third position a second electrical circuit is closed for a second manoeuvring function.

The switch 10 is shown completely schematically, and in the example shown consists of three contact parts, two mobile contact parts 11, 11' which belong to the manoeuvring head and move together with it, and one contact part 12 which is fixed to the lever part 1. The mobile contact parts 11, 11' are in the shown example attached to the inside of the side part 6 of the housing 5, and extend in a ring-shape around the upper end of the lever part 1 and each have one contact surface 13, 13', see Fig. 2. The moving contact parts 11, 11' can be circumferential or be limited to a chosen sector of the circumference of the control part 1. The fixed contact part 12 can for example consist of a mainly

cylindrical sleeve, which has been pressed onto the upper end of the lever part. In principle the fixed contact part 12 can consist of the enveloping surface of the lever part, since the lever part usually consists of an electrically conducting material. There are separate electrical connec¬ tions leading to the different contact parts 11, 11', 12, of which one connection 10' is shown and through which the electrical switch 10 is part of the above-mentioned electrial circuits which through the double switch is intended to be shifted between its open and its closed states in order to electrically active the mechanism in question in a known manner through feeding of electrical current to an electrically powered drive unit, respectively to turn-off the power feeding to that unit.

The manoeuvring head 2 is in mobile connection with the lever part 1 by a guide means 14, which permits a limited longitudinal reciprocal relative movement of the manoeuvring head 2 relative to the lever part 1 back and forth in at least one pre-set direction of movement, in the example shown the directions 4' respectively 4' ' shown with the double arrow 4. This limited movement is chosen in a way which will enable the electrical switch 10 to be switched between its open and closed states. In the example shown the relative movement must permit a movement equal to the contact gaps 15, 15' between the two contact parts, to be more exact, the contact surfaces 13, 13' and 16. Since both the moving contact parts 11, 11' have, as is shown in Fig. 2, a difference in contact gaps so that the upper part 11' on the left has a smaller gap 15' then the gap 15 of the lower part 11, while at the right the lower part has a smaller gap than the upper part, see Fig. 1. This gives the above-mentioned different contact functions, since the upper contact part 11' closes the first electrical circuit in case of movement of the head 2 to the left in the direction of the arrow 4' and the lower contact part 11

closes the second circuit during movement to the right, i.e. in the direction of the arrow 4''.

In the example shown the guide means 14 includes a lati- tudinal axial pin or stud 17 which extends through the one end 3 of the lever part 1, and has a mainly cylindrical shape. The pin 17 extends through a correspondingly shaped and dimensioned, suitably cylindrical bore 18, which extends mainly radially through the lever part 1. The axial pin 17 is of such a length that it protrudes with both its ends 19 and 20 a distance outside of the enveloping wall 21 of the lever part 1 and extends into correspondingly shaped and dimensioned recesses 22, 23 in the manoeuvring head 2, or to be more exact into the inner part 5' . In the example shown, the axial pin is of such a dimension that it is fixedly attached to the lever part, for example by press fitting, and inserted into the two recesses 22, 23 with such a play that the manoeuvring head can slide in an axial direction, i.e. along the geometrical longitudinal axis of the axial pin 17 which extends latitudinally, in the example shown in a direction perpendicular to the longi¬ tudinal axis 36 of the lever part 1. The play, i.e. the radial play should be as small as possible, for example ±0,01 mm, while the axial movement should also be kept as small as possible, which is mainly determined by the position of the contact parts, i.e. the contact gap 15, and should for example be kept in the order of ±0,5 mm.

According to the invention in the manoeuvring head there is a holder 25 for the moving contact parts 11, 11' of the switch 10. The holder has several functions, first of all the primary holder function, which includes mechanical positioning of the two moving contact parts 11, 11' of the switch 10, as well as electrical isolation between the two contact parts and against the other parts of the manoeuvring head and also a spring function which protects

all the contact parts against mechanical overload, and a centering function through an integrated centering organ 26. For this purpose the holder 25 is essentially ring- shaped with an outwardly radially facing support wall 27 in the shown example with a cylindrical shape, which is sup¬ ported by a, in a correspondingly manner shaped, radially inwards facing, supporting wall in the inner part 5'. Since the holder 25 is of an elastic material, such as rubber or plastic, and the inner part 5' is of a relatively shape- permanent material, such as hardened plastic, the holder 25 can preferably be somewhat overdimensioned so that it is kept in position in the inner part 5' through friction between the supporting walls 27, 28. The holder 25 further has a mounting part 29, 30 for each contact ring 11, 11', i.e. in the example shown two mounting parts. The mounting parts 29, 30 are in the shape of recesses, into which the contact rings extend with their radial outward part. The two contact rings are mechanically and electrically separated by an intermediate part 31, which in its inward radial end becomes the distance organ 26, which is the inward radial end of the holder with its inward radially turned inner supporting surface 32, which is in contact with the contact part 16 of the lever part 1. This inner supporting surface 32 can be a continuous circumferential ringshaped or cylindrical surface, or can consist of separate ribs, which are distributed around the inner circumference of the holder. The intermediate part 31 has one upwards facing and one downwards facing supporting surface 33, 34, which surfaces extend along the radial plane and form a positioning support for the contact rings 11, 11'. The inner part 5' has a recess in which the holder 25 is positioned. The recess is limited downwards by a step 35 which extends mainly in the radial plane, and which forms a vertical downward limit for the position of the holder so that the contact rings maintain a correct position relative to the fixed contact part 12.

Fig. 2 shows the manoeuvring means in a non-moved neutral position with both the electrical switching functions open since the lever part 1 is kept centered through the centering organ 26, whereby the holder 25 is essentially non-deformed and the contact gaps 15, 15' are maintained.

When the driver of the motor vehicle wants to shift gear he uses his hand to hold the grip portion 9 of the manoeuvring head 2, and as at least a part of the gear shifting movement, moves the manoeuvring head 2 in one of the two directions indicated by the double headed arrow 4, i.e. in a direction which coincides with the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 24 of the guide means 14. Due to the limited mobile attachment of the manoeuvring head 2 to the lever part 1 and the inertia of the lever part, due to both mass inertia and friction in the attachment of the lever part, the motion of the manoeuvring head 2 will not immediately be transferred to the lever part, but will first result in a relative movement of the manoeuvring head relative to the lever part which during a very short movement of the manoeuvring head, for exemple 0,5 mm, is stationary, which will cause the manoeuvring head and more precisely the circumferential gliding surfaces of the recesses 22, 23, which in the example shown have a cylin- drical shape will glide along the two ends 19, 20 of the axial pin 17, and more precisely their corresponding surfaces, which in the example shown have a cylindrical shape. The gliding surfaces have a low friction so that the movement relative to the control lever can be done fully without initially exposing the control lever to any noticeable manoeuvring force. The forces which are to be overcome are first of all the low friction in the gliding surfaces, and the centering force exerted by the centering organ 26, in other words the centering organ as well as the intermediate part 31 are deformed (compressed) and exert a

deformation force which is mainly radially directed inwards.

The relative movement between the manoeuvring head 2 and the manoeuvring lever 1 causes the switch 10 to be moved from its one state to its other state, which in the example shown is brought about when the moving contact parts 11, 11' are moved in one of the two directions indicated by the double headed arrow 4 until one part of the contact surface 13 of the one contact part comes into contact with the contact surface 16 of the fixed contact part 12. With a manoeuvring movement to the right, see the arrow 4'' in Fig. 3, electrical contact is established between the uppermost moving contact part 11' and the contact part 12 of the manoeuvring lever 1. The manoeuvring head is designed so that the relative movement comes to a mechan¬ ical stop, so that the contact parts are not exposed to the entire mechanical load which the transfer of force from the manoeuvring head to the lever part comprises. This stop can for example consist of the end surfaces in two the recesses 22, 23, against which the corresponding end surfaces of the axial pin 17 come to a stop at the end of the relative movement. The end surfaces in the recesses 22, 23 are in the shown example formed by a section of the inner wall 6' of the side part 6. The axial play, i.e. the distance between the corresponding end surfaces in a centered position, should here be essentially equal to or slightly greater than the contact gap 15 in the switch 10. The elastically deformable holder 25 by its deformability allows the upper contact ring 11', see Fig. 3, to be slightly displaced in its mounting during a normal manoeuvring movement and also during an abnormally forceful manoeuvring movement, whereby the contact ring is protected against mechanical overload.

As soon as the switch has been switched, the chosen activation takes place of the mechanism which is controlled

by an electrical drive unit. During continued movement of the lever, i.e. continued movement of the manoeuvring head 2 in the chosen direction, see the arrow 4, the lever part 1 of the control lever is moved in the direction of movement of the manoeuvring head 2, which causes the chosen mechanical shift motion, for example gear shift in a gear box in a motor vehicle after disengagement of the clutch.

As soon as the mechanical manoeuvring motion has been carried out and the lever part 1 is kept still and the grip on the manoeuvring head 2 ceases, the manoeuvring head returns to a centered neutral position due to the spring function of the holder 25 in the radial direction. This is made possible by a gliding motion between the gliding surfaces in the guiding means which is in the opposite direction relative to the activation movement, whereby the two switching functions of the switch 10 are switched to open position since the moving contact parts 11, 11' return to their centered position and the contact gap 15' is once again maintained. Through this the electrical drive organ is shifted to the mechanism in question, in this case a clutch mechanism, so that the disengaged state ceases and a smooth transition to a driving position takes place, i.e. power from the driving engine of the vehicle is transferred to the driving wheels of the vehicle.

The invention is not limited to the above described embodiments shown in the drawings, but can be varied within the scope of the appended claims. For example the axial pin 17 can be replaced by a ball coupling so that the manoeuvring head can make a small pivotal movement relative to the lever part. Although normally not necessary it can in some cases be desirable to achieve a switch function during a manoeuvring movement perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis of the lever part 1 and the manoeuvring movement according to the arrow 4. This can be used for

shifting the same circuit as movement in the direction of the double-headed arrow 4, but can alternatively be used together with a composite switch with yet another contact part which has not been shown, to cause a switching of a separate circuit and thereby a separate mechanism or some kind of indication equipment. The switch can in a non- affected state be closed and instead be switched to an open position by the manoeuvring movement. It is possible to have only one contact ring, in which case the holder 25 is designed with a mainly L-formed cross-section instead of a mainly T-formed cross-section. Also, there can be three or more moving contact parts.