Shift assembly for shifting between drive positions in a four-wheel drive vehicle
US4989473A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 1989 |
| Grant date | Feb 5, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 10, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/20702
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A shift assembly for shifting the gears of a transfer case of a vehicle as between two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, neutral and four wheel drive range. A mounting plate rigidly mounted to the transfer case has a bottom configuration characterized by two cut out portions separated by a dependent landing portion. The shaft rod and its support housing are pivoted to the plate with a locating pin protruded from the shift rod through the housing and into the configured cut out portions of the mounting plate. The shift rod is biased upwardly relative to the support housing and is retained by the upward biasing into whichever of the cut out portions it is positioned. Repositioning is accomplished by depression of the rod against the upward biasing and pivoting of the rod to position the locating pin to the other cut out portion or on the landing portion separating the cut out portions. A depression in the landing portion identifies the neutral position. The locating pin additionally functions, due to its protrusion through the support housing, to retain the assembly of the shift rod in the support housing and prevent turning of the shift rod and locating pins.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.