WO2016065037A2

WO2016065037A2 - Shifter assembly for use in a vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2016065037A2
Application number: PCT/US2015/056713
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vernon HARRISON
Original assignee: Kongsberg Power Products Systems I LLC
Current assignee: Kongsberg Power Products Systems I LLC
Priority date: 2014-10-21
Filing date: 2015-10-21
Publication date: 2016-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2017-04-21
Also published as: WO2016065037A3

Abstract

A shifter assembly for use in a vehicle includes a support having a pivot axis and a gate coupled to the support with the gate having a channel defining a channel length and at least one seat spaced from the channel relative to the pivot axis of the support. A lever is pivotally coupled to the support and moveable between a plurality of positions relative to the gate and the support for transferring user input to control a component of the vehicle. A plunger is coupled to the lever and moveable along a longitudinal axis to define a locked mode, a limited movement mode, and an unlocked mode of the lever such that the lever is, respectively, held in one position, moveable through a portion of the positions corresponding with the length of the channel, and capable of moving into all of the positions.

Description

SHIFTER ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN A VEHICLE

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/066,619 filed October 21 , 2014, herein incorporated in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a shifter assembly, and more specifically to a shifter assembly for controlling a component in a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0003] Agricultural or construction vehicles include auxiliary hydraulic systems with shifter assemblies for controlling various auxiliary implements coupled to the vehicles. As one example, a front-end loader or tractor can include a shifter assembly having a lever that is manipulated by an operator such that the hydraulic system raises, lowers, or tilts a bucket in response to input received from the lever. The lever may include a locking mechanism that holds the lever in a fixed position. The locking mechanism can include a pin moveable to a locking position to engage the lever and hold the lever in a fixed position and an unlocked position to disengage the lever. The locking mechanism can further include a biasing member urging the pin to the locking position, and a button coupled to the pin for moving the pin to the unlocked position. In this respect, the lever is moveable through all positions when the button is pressed and held by an operator. These levers can provide a somewhat limited user interface because the levers have only two modes, including a locked mode to maintain the lever in one position and an unlocked mode to permit the lever to move through all positions. In addition, the lever in the unlocked mode requires constant input from an operator to maintain the lever in the unlocked mode by pressing and holding the button. Other hydraulic systems may not have any locking mechanism thus providing even less modes or options for controlling the hydraulic systems. [0004] It would therefore be desirable to provide a shifter assembly including multiple modes for controlling a component of a vehicle and having robust compact packaging for implementation in various vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

[0005] The present invention provides a shifter assembly for use in a vehicle. The shifter assembly includes a support having a pivot axis and a gate coupled to the support with the gate having a channel defining a channel length and at least one seat in communication with and spaced from the channel relative to the pivot axis of the support. The shifter assembly further includes a lever pivotally coupled to the support with the lever moveable through a plurality of positions relative to the gate and the support for transferring user input to control a component of the vehicle. Furthermore, the lever defines a longitudinal axis, and the shifter assembly includes a plunger that is coupled to the lever and moveable along the longitudinal axis of the lever to define a locked mode of the lever when the plunger is received within the seat such that the lever is held in one of the positions, a limited movement mode of the lever when the plunger is received within the channel such that the lever is moveable through a portion of the positions corresponding with the length of the channel, and an unlocked mode of the lever when the plunger is spaced from the channel and the seat such that the lever is capable of moving into all of the positions. The shifter assembly further includes a retaining mechanism coupled to the plunger to hold the plunger in the seat of the gate to maintain the lever in the locked mode, in the channel of the gate to maintain the lever in the limited movement mode, and a location spaced from the channel and the seat to maintain said lever in said unlocked mode.

[0006] The shifter assembly may be utilized in a hydraulic system to control an auxiliary implement for a vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shifter assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0008] Figure 2 is side plan view of the shifter assembly of Figure 1.

[0009] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the shifter assembly of Figure 1.

[0010] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a hydraulic system having the shifter assembly of Figure 1 , showing the shifter assembly being used to actuate a valve that operates a rotary pump of a hydraulic system to control a sprayer mechanism.

[0011] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a hydraulic system having the shifter assembly of Figure 1 , showing the shifter assembly being used to actuate a valve that operates a hydraulic cylinder to move an auxiliary implement of a vehicle.

[0012] Figure 6 is an enlarged exploded view a portion of the shifter assembly shown in Figure 3.

[0013] Figure 7 is a cross-sectioned side view of the shifter assembly of Figure 1, illustrating the shifter assembly having a lever pulled back to a rearward-most position of the lever when the lever is in an unlocked mode.

[0014] Figure 8 is a cross-sectioned side view of the shifter assembly of Figure 1, illustrating the shifter assembly having a lever pushed forward to a location spaced from between a forward-most position and a rearward-most position of the lever when the lever is in an unlocked mode.

[0015] Figure 9 is a cross-sectioned side view of the shifter assembly of Figure 1, illustrating the shifter assembly having a lever pushed forward to a forward-most position when the lever is in an unlocked mode.

[0016] Figure 10 is a cross-sectioned side view of the shifter assembly of Figure 1 , illustrating the shifter assembly having a lever pushed forward when the lever is in a limited movement mode.

[0017] Figure 11 is a cross-sectioned side view of the shifter assembly of Figure 1 , illustrating the shifter assembly having a lever locked in a position between a forward- most position and a rearward-most position of the lever when the lever is in a locked mode.

[0018] Figure 12 is an enlarged partially cross-sectioned view of the shifter assembly of Figure 1. [0019] Figure 13 is an enlarged cross-sectioned view of the shifter assembly of Figure 12.

[0020] Figure 14 is a perspective enlarged cross-sectioned view of the shifter assembly of Figure 13.

[0021] Figure 15 is a cross-sectioned end view of another example of a shifter assembly, illustrating the shifter assembly including a lever having a tube and an elongated core rotatably coupled to the tube.

[0022] Figure 16 is a cross-sectioned side view of the shifter assembly of Figure 15, illustrating the shifter assembly having a lever in a location between a forward-most position and a rearward-most position when the lever is in an unlocked mode.

[0023] Figure 17 is a cross-sectioned side view of the shifter assembly of Figure 15, illustrating the shifter assembly having a lever in a location between a forward-most position and a rearward-most position when the lever is in a limited movement mode.

[0024] Figure 18 is a cross-sectioned side view of the shifter assembly of Figure 15, illustrating the shifter assembly having a lever in a location between a forward-most position and a rearward-most position when the lever is in a locked mode.

[0025] Figure 19 is an enlarged partially cross-sectioned view of the shifter assembly of Figure 15.

[0026] Figure 20 is an enlarged cross-sectioned view of the shifter assembly of Figure 19.

[0027] Figure 21 is a cross-sectioned side view of the shifter assembly having a pull-pull configuration.

[0028] Figure 22 is a cross-sectioned side view of the shifter assembly having a push-pull configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Referring to Figures 1-3 and 6-14, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout several views, a shifter assembly 10 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment is generally shown. The shifter assembly 10 may be utilized for controlling a component of a vehicle. In particular, the shifter assembly 10 can be utilized to control a cable, which in turn controls a valve 12 of a hydraulic system 14 for operating an auxiliary implement of a vehicle. As one example, Figure 4 schematically shows a hydraulic system 14 including the shifter assembly 10 used to control the valve 12 to fluidly communicate a rotary pump 15 and tank 17 with a sprayer 19 to spread an herbicide, pesticide, or fertilizer in a field. As a further example, Figure 5 schematically shows a hydraulic system 114 including the shifter assembly 110 used to control a valve 112 to fluidly communicate a rotary pump 115 and tank 117 with a piston 119 that moves a bucket, a scoop, a shovel, or another implement of a front-end loader. It is contemplated that the shifter assembly can be used to control or manipulate a wire, electromagnetic mechanism or other suitable mechanism for operating any suitable implement of a hydraulic system or a non-hydraulic system in a vehicle. Other examples of the shifter assembly may be utilized to control a transmission of a vehicle.

[0030] Referring back to Figure 3, one non-limiting example of a shifter assembly 10 includes a housing 18 including two or more panels 20 coupled to one another by a plurality of fasteners 22 to define an interior therebetween. Each one of the panels 20 can have a plurality of fastener holes 24 that receive the fasteners 22 therethrough. In this example, the fasteners are bolt members having external threading and the holes have internal threading engaged to the external threading of the bolt members. Moreover, each one of the panels 20 can also define a mounting aperture 26. In this example, the mounting aperture is a keyed noncircular hole.

[0031] The shifter assembly 10 includes a support 28 disposed within the interior of the housing 18 and fixedly attached to the housing 18. In particular, the support 28 includes a pair of opposing mounts 30 fixedly engaged with a corresponding one of the mount apertures 26 of the housing 18 to hold the support 28 in a fixed position relative to the housing 18. Continuing with the previous example, the opposing mounts 30 are keyed noncircular protrusions engaging the keyed noncircular holes of the housing 18. However, any suitable fastener or fastening method can be used to fixedly couple the housing 18 and the support 28 to one another. Moreover, it is contemplated that the supports can be integral portions of the housing. The support 28 in this example is a one piece body separate from the housing and defining a pivot axis 32. [0032] As shown in Figure 6, the shifter assembly 10 includes a gate 34 coupled to the support 28 with the gate 34 having a channel 36 that defines a channel length L. The gate 34 can also have one or more seats 38 in communication with and spaced from the channel 36 relative to the pivot axis 32 of the support 28. In this example, the gate 34 is an integral portion of the support 28. It is contemplated that the gate 34 can be a separate component coupled to the support 28 in any suitable manner.

[0033] Referring also to Figures 7-9, the shifter assembly 10 includes a lever 40 pivotally coupled to the support 28 and moveable between a plurality of positions relative to the gate 34 and the support 28 for transferring user input to control a component of the vehicle when a plunger 144 is spaced from the channel 36 and the seats 38 of the gate 34 such that the lever 40 is in an unlocked mode. The lever 40 defines a longitudinal axis 42. In this non-limiting example, the lever 40 is a single-piece linear rod having a solid core.

[0034] The shifter assembly 10 includes a plunger 44 coupled to the lever 40 and moveable along the longitudinal axis 42 of the lever 40 to define a locked mode of the lever 40, a limited movement mode of the lever 40, and an unlocked mode of the lever 40. More specifically, as shown in Figures 7 through 9, the lever 40 is in the unlocked mode when the plunger 44 is spaced from the channel 36 and the seats 38 relative to the pivot axis 32 such that the lever 40 is capable of moving into all of the plurality of positions. Moreover, as shown in Figure 10, the lever 40 is disposed in the limited movement mode when the plunger 44 engages the channel 36 such that the lever 40 is moveable through a portion of the plurality of positions corresponding with the length of the channel 36. In this example, length of the channel 36 permits the lever 40 to move to all positions but not the forward-most position. Referring to Figure 11 , the lever 40 is disposed in the locked mode when the plunger 44 engages the seat 38 such that the lever 40 is held in a position corresponding with the seat 38. In this example, the seats 38 hold the lever in three positions between a forward-most position and a rearward-most position of the lever 40. It is contemplated that the seats 38 and the channel 36 can have other suitable arrangements to provide multiple other suitable modes of the lever 40. [0035] Referring back to Figure 4, the hydraulic system 14 for the sprayer 19 includes the shifter assembly 10 with the lever 40 moveable to any one of four positions when the lever is disposed in the unlocked mode. In particular, the lever 40 in Position 1 corresponds with the lever 40 in a rearward-most position and actuates the hydraulic system 14 to provide a flow within a rotary pump 15 in a first direction. The lever 40 in Position 2 is disposed forward of Position 1 and actuates the hydraulic system 14 to prevent any flow through the rotary pump 15 and thus prevents the rotary pump 15 from turning. The lever 40 in Position 3 is disposed forward of Position 2 and actuates the hydraulic system 14 to provide a flow within the rotary pump 15 in a second direction opposite to the first direction of fluid flow. The lever in Position 4 corresponds with the lever 40 in the forward-most position and actuates the hydraulic system 14 to circulate fluid through the rotary pump 15 to permit the rotary pump 15 and the sprayer 19 to be freely rotated. Moreover, with attention to Figures 4 and 10, when the lever 40 is disposed in the limited movement mode, the plunger 44 engages the channel 36 and the lever 40 is only moveable to Positions 1 through 3 corresponding with the length of the channel 36. Said differently, the portion of the gate 34 defining the channel 36 prevents the lever 40 from moving to Position 4 when the plunger 44 engages the channel 36. Additionally, with attention to Figures 4 and 11, the shifter assembly 10 can include three seats 38 corresponding with Positions 1 through 3 such that the plunger 44 engages one of the seats 38 when the lever 40 is disposed in the locked mode.

[0036] Referring to Figure 5, the hydraulic system 114 for the piston-driven implement includes a shifter assembly 110 having a lever 140 moveable to any one of four positions when the lever is disposed in the unlocked mode. In particular, the lever 140 in Position 1 corresponds with the lever 140 in the rearward-most position and actuates the hydraulic system 114 to provide a flow into a cylinder 146 on a first side 147 of a piston 148 to raise the implement. The lever 140 in Position 2 is disposed forward of Position 1 and actuates the hydraulic system 114 to prevent any flow into the cylinder 146 and thus holds the implement in a fixed position. The lever 140 in Position 3 is disposed forward of Position 2 and actuates the hydraulic system 114 to provide a flow into the cylinder 146 on a second side 149 of the piston 148 opposite to the first side 147 so as to lower the implement. The lever 140 in Position 4 actuates the hydraulic system 114 to circulate fluid through the pump 116 and thus permit the implement to float and be moved by the topography of the surface along which the implement slides. Moreover, with attention to Figures 5 and 10, when the lever 140 is disposed in the limited movement mode, the plunger 144 engages the channel 136 and the lever 140 is only moveable through Positions 1 through 3 corresponding with the length of the channel 136. Additionally, with attention to Figures 5 and 11, the shifter assembly 10 uses only the seat corresponding with Position 2 such that the seat holds the lever in Position 2 to actuate the hydraulic system 14 to prevent any flow into the cylinder 46 and thus hold the implement in a fixed position.

[0037] Turning back to Figures 6-14, and perhaps best shown in Figure 13, the shifter assembly 10 includes a retaining mechanism 52 indicating when the lever 40 is disposed in the unlocked mode, the limited movement mode, and the locked mode. The retaining mechanism 52 is operably coupled to the plunger 44 to hold the plunger 44 at a location spaced from the channel 36 and the seats 38 to maintain the lever 40 in the unlocked mode, in the channel 36 of the gate 34 to maintain the lever 40 in the limited movement mode, and in the seat 38 of the gate 34 to maintain the lever 40 in the locked mode. More specifically, the lever 40 is rotatable relative to the gate 34 in response to a first user input and pivotable relative to the support 28 in response to a second user input. As best shown in Figure 6, the retaining mechanism 52 includes a biased notch 82 and a plurality of spaced apart protrusions 84 with the biased notch 82 configured to engage each one of the spaced apart protrusions 84 for maintaining the lever 40 in a corresponding one of the locked mode, the limited movement mode, and the unlocked mode. In this example, the shifter assembly 10 includes two retaining mechanisms 52. However, the shifter assembly can include any number of retaining mechanisms.

[0038] The shifter assembly 10 further includes a carrier 54 coupled to the lever 40 and configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis 42 in response to rotation of the lever 40 relative to the longitudinal axis 42. In this example, one of the lever 40 and the carrier 54 has a non-circular protrusion 56, and the other of the lever 40 and the carrier 54 defines a non-circular recess 58 with the protrusion 56 engaging the recess 58 to rotate the carrier 54 about the longitudinal axis 42 in response to rotation of the lever 40 about the longitudinal axis 42. However, the carrier can be fixedly coupled relative to the lever by other suitable fasteners and fastening methods.

[0039] The shifter assembly 10 further includes a casing 60 coupled to the lever 40 and pivotable about the support 28 with the carrier 54 being disposed within the casing 60. In this example, one of the carrier 54 and the casing 60 has an annular flange 66, and the other of the carrier 54 and the casing 60 has an annular slot 68 engaging the annular flange 66 such that the carrier 54 is configured to rotate relative to the casing 60 and prevent the lever 40 from being removed from the casing 60. However, the carrier can be rotatably coupled to the casing by other suitable fasteners and fastening methods. Additionally, as shown in Figures 12 and 14, one of the lever 40 and the casing 60 includes a tongue 62 having a projection extending therefrom, and the other of the lever 40 and the casing 60 defines a casing groove 64 with the projection of the tongue 62 engaging the groove 64 such that the lever 40 is rotatable relative to the casing 60. In this example, the casing 60 includes two tongues arranged diametrically opposite to one another in the casing 60, and the lever 40 includes an annular casing groove 64 with the projections of the tongues 62 engaging the groove 64. However, it is contemplated that the shifter assembly 10 can include more or fewer tongues. To facilitate with rotation of the lever 40 within the passage 74, casing can include a plurality of ribs 75 to support the lever 40 and decrease the amount of surface-to-surface contact and corresponding friction between the lever 40 and the casing 60.

[0040] The casing 60 further defines a helical groove 76 extending 180 degrees with a pair of opposing ends defining a corresponding one of two stops 70 to limit rotation of the lever 40 relative to the casing 60. However, the groove can be arranged to permit other movement of the lever. The casing 60 has a cavity 72 with the gate 34 disposed within the cavity 72.

[0041] The plunger 44 is slidably coupled to the carrier 54 and moveable along the longitudinal axis 42 of the lever 40 in response to rotation of the carrier 54 about the longitudinal axis 42. The casing 60 defines a passage 74 with the carrier 54 rotatably coupled to the casing 60 to rotate about the longitudinal axis 42 within the passage 74 such that the plunger 44 moves along the longitudinal axis 42 in response to rotation of the carrier 54 relative to the casing 60. The carrier 54 defines a track aperture 78, and the plunger 44 has a pin 80 that extends through the track aperture 78 of the carrier 54 with opposing ends of the pin engaging a corresponding one of the helical grooves 76 of the casing 60. The plunger 44 therefore moves along the longitudinal axis in response to rotation of the carrier 54 relative to the casing 60. The carrier 54 does not move along the longitudinal axis 42 and only rotates relative to the axis 42.

[0042] Referring back to Figure 6, the biased notch 82 is coupled to one of the carrier 54 and the casing 60, and the spaced apart protrusions 84 are coupled to the other of the carrier 54 and the casing 60 with the biased notch 82 configured to engage each one of the spaced apart protrusions 84 for maintaining the lever 40 in a corresponding one of the locked mode, the limited movement mode, and the unlocked mode. In this example, the shifter assembly 10 includes two retaining mechanisms 52 disposed diametrically opposite to one another within the passage 74. Furthermore, the carrier 54 includes four protrusions spaced 90 degrees from one another to engage the corresponding notches 82 when the lever is in the unlocked mode, the limited movement mode, and the locked mode. However, the shifter assembly can include any number of biased notches 82, protrusions 84, and other retaining mechanisms disposed in other arrangements.

[0043] As best shown in Figures 7-9, the shifter assembly 10 further includes a biasing member 86 coupled to the lever 40 and the support 28 with the biasing member 86 moving the lever 40 toward an initial position. In this example, the biasing member 86 is a torsional spring 88 including a coil 90 and a pair of opposing ends 92, 94 coupled to a corresponding one of the casing 60 and the fixed support 28. In particular, the casing 60 has a casing post 96 or other surface that engages one end 92 of the spring 88 with the support 28 having a fixed support post 98 or other surface engaging the other end 94 of the spring 88. The lever 40 is movable in either direction distal to the initial position of the lever 40 such that the ends 92, 94 of the spring 88 engage the posts 96, 98 and apply a force to return the lever 40 to its original position. [0044] Referring to Figures 15-20, another example of a shifter assembly 110 having a support 128, a gate 134, and a plunger 144 is similar to the shifter assembly 10 of Figures 1-3 and 6-14 having the corresponding support 28, gate 34, and plunger 44. Thus, the shifter assembly 110 includes similar components identified by corresponding reference numbers increased by 100.

[0045] As shown in Figures 19 and 20, the shifter assembly 110 has a lever 140 that can be distinguished from the lever 40 of the shifter assembly 10 illustrated in Figures 12 and 14. As one example, while the lever 40 of the shifter assembly 10 of Figures 12 and 14 is a solid bar, the lever 140 of the shifter assembly 110 of Figures 19 and 20 includes a hollow tube 141 and an elongated core 143 rotatably coupled to the tube 141. The tube 141 is fixedly coupled to the casing 160. In particular, the tube 141 includes an outer surface 151 defining a plurality of spaced apart annular recesses 153, and the casing 160 includes an inner surface 161 defining a plurality of ribs 175 engaging the recesses 153. Moreover, the outer surface 151 of the tube 141 further includes support sections 155 extending between the annular recesses 153 and engaging the inner surface 161 of the casing 160, so as to increase the amount of surface area in contact between the lever 140 and the casing 160 such that the lever 140 is fixedly coupled to the casing 160.

[0046] The elongated core 143 is coupled to the plunger 144 to move the plunger 144 along the longitudinal axis 142 in response to rotation of the elongated core 143 relative to the tube 141. The elongated core 143 comprises a flexible material for rotating within the tube 141. The tube 141 is nonlinear and includes a pair of linear portions 190 and an arcuate portion 192 disposed therebetween. The elongated core 143 is rotatable relative to the gate 134 in response to a first user input and pivotable relative to the support 128 in response to a second user input.

[0047] The shifter assembly 110 further includes a carrier 154 coupled to the elongated core 143 and configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis 142 corresponding with rotation of the elongated core 143 relative to the gate 134. The plunger 144 is slidably coupled to the carrier 154 and moveable along the longitudinal axis 142 of the lever 140 in response to rotation of the carrier 154 about the longitudinal axis. Thus, the plunger 144 selectively engages the channel 136 and the seats 138.

[0048] The shifter assembly 110 further includes a casing 160 coupled to the lever 140 and pivotable about the support 128 with the carrier 154 disposed within the casing 160. The tube 141 is rigid and fixedly coupled to the casing 160 by two tongues 162 having projections 163 received within and engaging holes 164 formed through the tube 141. In particular, the shifter assembly 110 includes multiple threaded fasteners 196 fixedly coupling the tube 141 to the casing 160. In this respect, rotation of the elongated core 143 within the tube 141 does not in turn move the tube 141.

[0049] The lever 140 further includes a handle 194 coupled to one end of the elongated core 143, such that the elongated core 143 rotates in response to rotation of the handle 194. The lever 140 can have one or more roller bearings that rotatably carry the handle 194 on the tube 141.

[0050] Referring to Figures 21 and 22, the casing 60 can have an attachment point 61 capable of coupling to a cable 63 to provide either a pull-push shifter assembly or a pull-pull shifter assembly. As shown in Figure 21, the pull-push shifter assembly 10 pushes the cable 63 in response to a user pulling back the lever 40. As shown in Figure 22, the pull-pull shifter assembly 10 pulls the cable 63 in response to a user pulling back on the lever 40.

[0051] The present inventions have been described herein in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present inventions are possible in light of the above teachings. The inventions may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A shifter assembly for use in a vehicle, said shifter assembly comprising: a support having a pivot axis;

a gate coupled to said support with said gate having a channel defining a channel length and at least one seat in communication with and spaced from said channel relative to said pivot axis of said support;

a lever pivotally coupled to said support with said lever moveable between a plurality of positions relative to said gate and said support for transferring user input to control a component of the vehicle and said lever defining a longitudinal axis;

a plunger coupled to said lever and moveable along said longitudinal axis of said lever to define a locked mode of said lever when said plunger is received within said at least one seat such that said lever is held in one of said plurality of positions, a limited movement mode of said lever when said plunger is received within said channel such that said lever is moveable through a portion of said plurality of positions corresponding with said length of said channel, and an unlocked mode of said lever when said plunger is spaced from said channel and said at least one seat such that said lever is capable of moving into all of said plurality of positions; and

a retaining mechanism coupled to said plunger to hold said plunger in said at least one seat of said gate to maintain said lever in said locked mode, in said channel of said gate to maintain said lever in said limited movement mode, and a location spaced from said channel and said at least one seat to maintain said lever in said unlocked mode.

2. The shifter assembly of claim 1, wherein said lever is rotatable relative to said gate in response to a first user input and pivotable relative to said support in response to a second user input and further including a carrier coupled to said lever and configured to rotate about said longitudinal axis corresponding rotation of said lever relative to said gate;

said plunger slidably coupled to said carrier and moveable along said longitudinal axis of said lever in response to rotation of said carrier about said longitudinal axis.

3. The shifter assembly of claim 2, further including a casing coupled to said lever and pivotable about said support with said carrier disposed within said casing.

4. The shifter assembly of claim 3, wherein said carrier is rotatably coupled to said casing.

5. The shifter assembly of claim 3, wherein said casing defines a passage with said carrier configured to rotate about said longitudinal axis within said passage such that said plunger moves along said longitudinal axis in response to rotation of said carrier relative to said casing.

6. The shifter assembly of claim 5, wherein said casing further defines a helical groove with said carrier defining a track aperture and said plunger having a pin that extends through said track aperture of said carrier and engages said helical groove of said casing such that said plunger moves along said longitudinal axis in response to rotation of said carrier relative to said casing.

7. The shifter assembly of claim 6, wherein said helical groove terminates at a pair of opposing ends with a pair of stops to limit rotation of said lever relative to said casing.

8. The shifter assembly of claim 3, wherein said retention mechanism includes a biased notch coupled to one of said carrier and said casing and a plurality of spaced apart protrusions coupled to the other of said carrier and said casing with said biased notch configured to engage each one of said spaced apart protrusions for maintaining said lever in a corresponding one of said locked mode, said limited movement mode, and said unlocked mode.

9. The shifter assembly of claim 5, wherein one of said carrier and said casing has an annular flange with the other of said carrier and said casing having an annular slot engaging said annular flange such that said carrier is configured to rotate relative to said casing.

10. The shifter assembly of claim 3, wherein said casing has a cavity with said gate being disposed within said cavity.

11. The shifter assembly of claim 3, wherein one of said lever and said casing includes a tongue with the other of said lever and said casing defining a casing groove engaging said tongue such that said lever is rotatable relative to said casing.

12. The shifter assembly of claim 2, wherein one of said lever and said carrier has a non-circular protrusion with the other of said lever and said carrier defining a non- circular recess engaging said non-circular protrusion and configured to rotate said carrier about said longitudinal axis in response to rotation of said lever about said longitudinal axis.

13. The shifter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member coupled to said lever and said support with said biasing member moving said lever toward an initial position.

14. The shifter assembly of claim 13, wherein said biasing member is a torsional spring.

15. A shifter assembly for use in a vehicle, said shifter assembly comprising: a support having a pivot axis;

a gate coupled to said support with said gate having a channel defining a channel length and at least one seat in communication with and spaced from said channel relative to said pivot axis; a lever pivotally coupled to said support with said lever moveable between a plurality of positions relative to said gate and said support for transferring user input to control a component of the vehicle and said lever defining a longitudinal axis;

said lever further having a tube and an elongated core rotatably coupled to said tube with said elongated core coupled to said plunger to move said plunger along said longitudinal axis in response to rotation of said elongated core relative to said tube.

16. The shifter assembly of claim 15, wherein said elongated core comprises a flexible material for rotating within said tube.

17. The shifter assembly of claim 15, wherein said tube is nonlinear.

18. The shifter assembly of claim 17, wherein said tube comprises a pair of linear portions and an arcuate portion disposed therebetween.

19. The shifter assembly of claim 15, wherein said elongated core is rotatable relative to said gate in response to a first user input and pivotable relative to said support in response to a second user input and further including a carrier coupled to said elongated core and configured to rotate about said longitudinal axis corresponding rotation of said elongated core relative to said gate;

20. The shifter assembly of claim 19, further including a casing coupled to said lever and pivotable about said support with said carrier disposed within said casing.

21. The shifter assembly of claim 20, wherein said tube is rigid and fixedly coupled to said casing.

22. The shifter assembly of claim 20, wherein said elongated core is coupled to said carrier and rotates relative to said casing.

23. The shifter assembly of claim 15, wherein said lever further includes a handle coupled to one end of said elongated core, such that the elongated core rotates in response to rotation of said handle.

24. The shifter assembly of claim 15 further comprising a retaining mechanism coupled to said plunger to hold said plunger in said at least one seat of said gate to maintain said lever in said locked mode, in said channel of said gate to maintain said lever in said limited movement mode, and a location spaced from said channel and said at least one seat to maintain said lever in said unlocked mode.

25. The shifter assembly of claim 20, wherein said retaining mechanism includes a biased notch coupled to one of said carrier and said casing and a plurality of spaced apart protrusions coupled to the other of said carrier and said casing with said biased notch configured to engage each one of said spaced apart protrusions for maintaining said lever in a corresponding one of said locked mode, said limited movement mode, and said unlocked mode.