Ronald L Russell

US Patent:

20040244524, Dec 9, 2004

Filed:

Apr 15, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/413764

Inventors:

Ronald Russell - Whitehall MI, US

International Classification:

G05G005/00

US Classification:

074/473230

Abstract:

A shifter mechanism including a shifter lever movable along a shift path and a detent assembly. The detent assembly includes a plurality of grooves defining a plurality of gear positions along the shift path and a pawl movable along a linear path between a locking position which locks the shifter lever in one of the gear positions and an unlocking position wherein the shifter lever is movable. First and second pivotable links connect the pawl to a fixed post. An actuator operatively engages the links to selectively move the pawl along the linear path. The actuator is preferably a linear actuator having a pin movable along a linear path which is nonparallel with the pawl linear path. The first and second links preferably pivot relative to one another and relative to the pawl and the post to translate linear motion of the actuator to linear motion of the pawl.

US Patent:

20070234837, Oct 11, 2007

Filed:

Mar 30, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/393460

Inventors:

Ronald Russell - Whitehall MI, US

International Classification:

B60K 17/04
B60K 20/00

US Classification:

074473120, 074473240

Abstract:

A shifter mechanism includes, a base, a shifter lever pivotable relative to the base along a shift path, and a detent assembly. The detent assembly includes a plurality of grooves defining a plurality of gear positions along the shift path, an electric linear actuator having a pin selectively movable along a linear path between a locking position wherein the pin cooperates with the plurality grooves to lock the shifter lever in one of the plurality of gear positions and an unlocking position wherein the shifter lever is movable along the shift path between the plurality of gear positions, and an electric switch operably coupled to the electric linear actuator to selectively activate the linear actuator. The pin of the linear actuator is extendable along a linear path which is substantially vertical or a along a linear path which is substantially horizontal and laterally-extending.

US Patent:

62958860, Oct 2, 2001

Filed:

Oct 8, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/415373

Inventors:

Ronald A. Russell - Whitehall MI

Assignee:

Dura Global Technologies - Rochester Hills MI

International Classification:

F16H 5902
G05G 900

US Classification:

7447318

Abstract:

A transmission shifter for controlling the transmission of a motor vehicle in both and automatic mode and a manual (or "autostick") shifting mode is disclosed, comprising a base having a detent surface provided with a series of detents, a cable actuator to which a cable would be connected to the transmission, a shifter lever connected to the base, movable along a first gear shift gate in the automatic mode and a second gear shift gate in the manual mode with the shift gates connected by a connecting gate, and a pawl mounted on the cable actuator, movable between an engaged position where the pawl engages the detent surface to a disengaged position where the pawl is free of the detent surface, such that as the shifter lever moves along the first gear shift gate the cable actuator moves with the shifter lever, and the shifter lever moves independent of the cable actuator as the shifter lever moves along the second gear shift gate. In certain preferred embodiments the shifter lever is mounted on a pivot block, pivotable along first and second pivots, and the shifter lever pivots along the second pivot to reach the second axis.