Vibration Isolated Manual Transmission Shifter With Precise Shifting Feel
A manual transmission shifter attachment arrangement which provides vibration isolation and precise shifting feel. A fore-aft movable attachment constrains movement of the shifter housing in all directions except a fore-aft direction. A fore-aft linkage causes the shifter housing to move in unison with the driveline in the fore-aft direction and reacts only to applied forces between the driveline and the shifter housing parallel to the fore-aft direction.
1 . An attachment arrangement for a shifter of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a shifter comprising a shifter housing and a shift lever movably connected to said shifter housing;
a motor vehicle body;
a driveline having a fore-aft direction;
a fore-aft movable attachment connecting said shifter housing to said motor vehicle body, said fore-aft movable attachment constraining movement of said shifter housing relative to said vehicle body in all directions of movement except in the fore-aft direction; and
a fore-aft linkage connecting said shifter housing to said driveline;
wherein said fore-aft linkage moves said shifter housing fore-aft in unison with fore-aft movement of said driveline with respect to said vehicle body; and
wherein said fore-aft movable attachment enables said shifter housing to move fore-aft with respect to said vehicle body.
2 . The attachment arrangement of claim 1 , wherein said fore-aft linkage comprises:
a first heim joint connected to said driveline;
a second heim joint connected to said shifter housing; and
a rigid member connecting to each of said first and second heim joints;
wherein said fore-aft linkage reacts only to applied forces between said driveline and said shifter housing which are aligned in parallel with the fore-aft direction.
3 . The attachment arrangement of claim 2 , wherein said driveline comprises a transmission; further comprising a shifter rod connecting said shift lever to said transmission, wherein movement of said shift lever effects gear shifting in said transmission via said shifter rod; wherein said fore-aft linkage constrains movement of said shifter housing with respect to said transmission such that the gear shifting occurs with a mechanical stiffness which provides a precise shifting feel at said shift lever.
4 . The attachment arrangement claim 3 , wherein at least one of said first and second heim joints includes an elastomeric isolator therewithin, wherein said elastomeric isolator provides a predetermined softening of said mechanical stiffness with respect to the effecting of shifting of gears.
5 . The attachment arrangement of claim 3 , wherein said fore-aft movable attachment comprises a pivoting four-link system.
6 . The attachment arrangement of claim 5 , wherein at least one of said first and second heim joints includes an elastomeric isolator therewithin, wherein said elastomeric isolator provides a predetermined softening of said mechanical stiffness with respect to the effecting of shifting of gears.
7 . An attachment arrangement for a shifter of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a shifter comprising a shifter housing and a shift lever movably connected to said shifter housing;
a motor vehicle body;
a driveline comprising a manual transmission, said driveline having a fore-aft direction;
a fore-aft movable attachment connecting said shifter housing to said motor vehicle body, said fore-aft movable attachment constraining movement of said shifter housing relative to said vehicle body in all directions of movement except in the fore-aft direction; and
a fore-aft linkage connecting said shifter housing to said transmission, said fore-aft linkage comprising:
a first heim joint connected to said transmission;
a second heim joint connected to said shifter housing; and
a rigid member connecting to each of said first and second heim joints;
wherein said fore-aft linkage reacts only to applied forces between said driveline and said shifter housing which are aligned in parallel with the fore-aft direction;
wherein said fore-aft linkage moves said shifter housing fore-aft in unison with fore-aft movement of said driveline with respect to said vehicle body; and
wherein said fore-aft movable attachment enables said shifter housing to move fore-aft with respect to said vehicle body.
8 . The attachment arrangement of claim 7 , further comprising a shifter rod connecting said shift lever to said transmission, wherein movement of said shift lever effects gear shifting in said transmission via said shifter rod; wherein said fore-aft linkage constrains movement of said shifter housing with respect to said transmission such that the gear shifting occurs with a mechanical stiffness which provides a precise shifting feel at said shift lever.
9 . The attachment arrangement claim 8 , wherein at least one of said first and second heim joints includes an elastomeric isolator therewithin, wherein said elastomeric isolator provides a predetermined softening of said mechanical stiffness with respect to the effecting of shifting of gears.
10 . The attachment arrangement of claim 7 , wherein said fore-aft movable attachment comprises a pivoting four-link system.
11 . The attachment arrangement of claim 10 , further comprising a shifter rod connecting said shift lever to said transmission, wherein movement of said shift lever effects gear shifting in said transmission via said shifter rod; wherein said fore-aft linkage constrains movement of said shifter housing with respect to said transmission such that the gear shifting occurs with a mechanical stiffness which provides a precise shifting feel at said shift lever.
12 . The attachment arrangement claim 11 , wherein at least one of said first and second heim joints includes an elastomeric isolator therewithin, wherein said elastomeric isolator provides a predetermined softening of said mechanical stiffness with respect to the effecting of shifting of gears.
13 . An attachment arrangement for a shifter of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a shifter comprising a shifter housing and a shift lever movably connected to said shifter housing;
a motor vehicle body;
a driveline comprising a manual transmission, said driveline having a fore-aft direction;
a fore-aft movable attachment connecting said shifter housing to said motor vehicle body, said fore-aft movable attachment comprising a pivoting four-link system constraining movement of said shifter housing relative to said vehicle body in all directions of movement except in the fore-aft direction; and
a fore-aft linkage connecting said shifter housing to said transmission, said fore-aft linkage comprising:
a first heim joint connected to said transmission;
a second heim joint connected to said shifter housing; and
a rigid member connecting to each of said first and second heim joints;
wherein said fore-aft linkage reacts only to applied forces between said driveline and said shifter housing which are aligned in parallel with the fore-aft direction;
wherein said fore-aft linkage moves said shifter housing fore-aft in unison with fore-aft movement of said driveline with respect to said vehicle body; and
wherein said fore-aft movable attachment enables said shifter housing to move fore-aft with respect to said vehicle body.
14 . The attachment arrangement of claim 13 , further comprising a shifter rod connecting said shift lever to said transmission, wherein movement of said shift lever effects gear shifting in said transmission via said shifter rod; wherein said fore-aft linkage constrains movement of said shifter housing with respect to said transmission such that the gear shifting occurs with a mechanical stiffness which provides a precise shifting feel at said shift lever.
15 . The attachment arrangement claim 14 , wherein at least one of said first and second heim joints includes an elastomeric isolator therewithin, wherein said elastomeric isolator provides a predetermined softening of said mechanical stiffness with respect to the effecting of shifting of gears.