Patent ID: 8381606
Filing Date: 2013-02-26
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A multi-speed transmission comprising: a first, a second, and a third shaft supported in parallel by a housing; a first and a second gear set each having a drive gear radially aligned with a driven gear, wherein the drive gears are rotatably fixed to the first shaft, the driven gears are selectively rotatably connectable to the second shaft, and the drive gear of the first gear set meshes with the driven gear of the first gear set; an idler gear rotatably supported by the third shaft, wherein the idler gear is selectively meshed with each of the drive gear and the driven gear of the second gear set; a first and second shift rails supported by the housing and disposed parallel to the first, second, and third shafts; a first and a second shift fork each having a first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion of the first shift fork is supported by the first shift rail, the first end portion of the second shift fork is fixed to the second shift rail, the second end portion of the second shift fork is coupled to the idler gear; a synchronizer rotatably fixed to the first shaft and disposed adjacent the driven gear of the first gear set, wherein the synchronizer is coupled to the second portion of the first shift fork and is selectively engageable with the driven gear of the first gear set, and a reverse lever having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a cam portion, wherein the first end portion is fixed to an elongated member having an axis, the reverse lever is rotatable about and movable along the axis of the elongated member, the second end portion is selectively engageable with the second shift rail, and the cam portion is selectively engageable with the second portion of the first shift fork; and wherein the reverse lever is selectively disposed in one of at least a first, second and third positions, wherein in the first position the reverse lever is fully retracted so that the second end portion is disengaged from the second shift rail, in the second position the reverse lever is axially extended so that the second end portion is fully engaged with the second shift rail, and in the third position the reverse lever is fully engaged with the second shift rail and rotated to a first rotational position so that the idler gear is at least partially meshed with the drive gear of the second gear set and the outer surface of the cam portion is in contact with the second portion of the first shift fork which partially engages the synchronizer with the driven gear of the first gear set.