Abstract:
A shift fork is provided for a gearbox of a vehicle, preferably a motorized vehicle. The shift fork includes, but is not limited to a first shift jaw and a second shift jaw. The first shift jaw and the second shift jaw include, but are not limited to a first shifting recess and a second shifting recess, respectively. The first shifting recess and the second shifting recess include, but are not limited to a first stop portion for blocking the movement of the first shift jaw in a first direction and a second stop portion for blocking a movement of the second shift jaw in a second direction.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to British Patent Application No. 0921622.7, filed Dec. 10, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The application relates to an actuation mechanism for actuation of a reverse gear and a forward gear of a manual transmission for a passenger car. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    It is desirable to provide mechanic and/or mechatronic means to ensure that a gear, especially the reverse gear, cannot be engaged at the wrong time. A gear shifting arrangement with an H-pattern is designed in such a way that a gear cannot be engaged unless the driver selects the corresponding shift gate. Therefore a certain security is provided to place the reverse gear on a separate shift gate. In an H shift pattern, the selection of a shift gate is achieved by moving a gear lever along a selector gate that is oriented perpendicular to the shift gates. 
         [0004]    In addition, several mechanisms are known to prevent an engagement of a reverse gear at a wrong time. One known mechanism to avoid engagement of a reverse gear by providing a pulling ring at a gear knob. The reverse gear cannot be engaged unless the driver pulls the pulling ring. 
         [0005]    Furthermore it is known from DE 10 2006 007 248 A1 to provide a blocking cylinder with a special form such that the blocking cylinder forms an obstacle for engaging the reverse gear. The driver can, however, overcome the obstacle by using sufficient force. 
         [0006]    In view of the foregoing, it is at least one object to provide an improved shift fork which is capable of actuating a forward gear as well as actuating a reverse gear. In addition, other objects, desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The improved shift fork according to an embodiment is suitable for providing an arrangement using different shift gates for the forward gear and the reverse gear. The shift fork is preferably provided for a gearbox of a motorized vehicle. The shift fork comprises a first shift jaw and a second shift jaw. The first shift jaw and the second shift jaw comprise a first shifting recess and a second shifting recess respectively. The first shifting recess and the second shifting recess comprise, respectively, a first stop portion for blocking the movement of the first shift jaw in a first direction and a second stop portion for blocking a movement of the second shift jaw in a second direction. 
         [0008]    The second direction is opposite to the first direction. The first stop portion and the second stop portion are situated at different sides of a neutral plane which is perpendicular to a direction of movement of the shift fork. The direction of movement of the shift fork is defined by the movement of the shift fork between two engagement positions in which a gear of the gearbox is engaged. The blocking of the movement of a shift jaw is achieved by mechanical contact of the blocking portion with a blocking cylinder. 
         [0009]    In the context of this application, the shifting recess will also be referred to as a “hollow profile” and the stop portion will also be referred to as a “blocking portion”. 
         [0010]    The location of the stop portions at different sides of the neutral plane has the advantage of blocking engagement of one of two gears when the gear is not selected, provided that respective gearwheels of the two gears are located on opposite sides of a double sided synchronizer. 
         [0011]    A shift fork is also provided in which the first stop portion and the second stop portion are formed as circular sections. The circular sections have a radius which is slightly larger than a radius of the blocking cylinder. 
         [0012]    Furthermore, a shift fork is provided in which, in addition, the first shifting recess comprises a first opening for engagement with a shift finger and the second shifting recess comprises a second opening for engagement with the shift finger. The first opening and the second opening are preferably aligned such that the first opening and the second opening are arranged along an axis that is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the shift fork. 
         [0013]    Through the alignment of the openings along an axis, a shift finger of a shift shaft can engage with the openings by up and down movement of the shift shaft into a corresponding select position for selecting a gear. The gearbox is preferably built such that a selection of an adjacent shift gate moves the shift shaft up or down by one selection step, which is also called a “unit of select travel”. 
         [0014]    The first opening and the second opening may be arranged opposite to an end of the first stop portion and to an end of the second stop portion. “End” refers to one of two ends of the portion along a direction of movement of the shift fork and “opposite” refers to opposite sides relative to an axis of a shift shaft. 
         [0015]    In addition, a gearbox is provided with a switch fork, a drive train with the gearbox, and a motor car, for example a passenger car or a truck, with the drive train. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a partial view of a shift fork according to a first embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates a first shift jaw of the shift fork of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates a second shift jaw of the shift fork of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates a view of a first shift shaft arrangement for use with the shift fork of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  illustrates a view of a second shift shaft arrangement for use with the shift fork of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  illustrates a first cross section through the shift fork of  FIG. 1  and a blocking cylinder for a first position of the blocking cylinder; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  illustrates a second cross section through the shift fork of  FIG. 1  and a blocking cylinder for a first position of the blocking cylinder; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  illustrates a first cross section through the shift fork of  FIG. 1  and a blocking cylinder for a second position of the blocking cylinder; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  illustrates a second cross section through the shift fork of  FIG. 1  and a blocking cylinder for a second position of the blocking cylinder; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  illustrates a shift fork according to a second embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  illustrates a first cross section through the shift fork of  FIG. 10  and a blocking cylinder; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  illustrates a second cross section through the shift fork of  FIG. 1  and a blocking cylinder; 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  illustrates a shift pattern for use with the shift fork according to  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 10 ; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  illustrates a gearbox layout for use with the shift fork according to  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or summary or the following detailed description. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a shift fork  10 . Only a jaw portion of the shift fork  10  is shown in  FIG. 10 . The remaining parts of the shift fork  10  are realized in a known way, for example as shown in  FIG. 5 . The shift fork  10  comprises a first gearshift jaw  11  and a second gearshift jaw  12 . The first gearshift jaw  11  is formed as a plane portion of the shift fork  10  and comprises a first hollow profile  13 . The hollow profile  13  is situated at the bottom of an end portion of the first gearshift jaw  11  and is shown in more detail in  FIG. 2 . Likewise, the second gearshift jaw  12  is formed as a plane portion of the shift fork  10  and comprises a second hollow profile  14 . The second hollow profile  14  is situated at the bottom of an end portion of the second gearshift jaw  12 . 
         [0033]    The first gearshift jaw  11  and the second gearshift jaw  12  are oriented substantially parallel to each other and are also oriented substantially parallel to a direction of motion of the shift fork  10 . A joining portion  16  of the shift fork  10  that is oriented at a substantial right angle to the first gearshift jaw  11  and the second gearshift jaw  12  holds the gearshift jaws  11  and  12  at a selection distance. The first gearshift jaw  11 , the joining portion  16  and the second gearshift jaw  12  form a U shape. The arms of the U shape have different lengths. However, the arms may also have equal lengths. A first end of a connecting portion  18  of the shift fork  10  is attached to the joining portion  16  at a right angle to the joining portion  16 . A second end of the connection portion  18 , which is not shown in  FIG. 1 , is attached to a linear ball bearing, which can be best seen in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0034]    The shift fork  10  is movable in an x-direction parallel to the gearshift jaws  11 ,  12 . A neutral position of the shift fork  10  is indicated by a 0, a forward gear position of the shift fork  10  is indicated by an F and a reverse gear position of the shift fork is indicated by an R. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the first gearshift jaw  11  of the shift fork  10  of  FIG. 1 . The hollow profile  13  of the first gearshift jaw  11  comprises an outer circular portion  20 , a rectangular recess  21  for a shift finger and an inner portion  22 . The outer circular portion  20  has the form of a circle section of almost 90 degrees. The radius of the circular portion  20  is slightly larger than the radius of a blocking cylinder. The shift finger and the blocking cylinder are not shown in  FIG. 2  but can be seen in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . The inner portion  22  comprises a straight portion and a rounded portion. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the second gearshift jaw  12  of the shift fork  10  of  FIG. 1 . The hollow profile  14  of the second gearshift jaw  12  comprises a straight outer portion  24 , a rectangular recess  25  for a shift finger and a circular inner portion  26 . The circular inner portion  26  has the form of a circle section of almost 90 degrees and the radius of the circular inner portion  26  is slightly larger than the radius of the aforementioned blocking cylinder. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  shows a first shift shaft arrangement  28  for use with a shift fork  10 . The shift shaft arrangement  28  comprises, from top to bottom, a gear cap  30 , a shift shaft  32  with blocking cylinders  33 ,  34 , a cap  35 . The gear cap  30  comprises an opening  36  for a select cable. The select cable is connected to the select lever  37 . The select lever fits into a guiding groove which is not shown in  FIG. 4 . The guiding groove is similar to the guiding groove  53  of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0038]    The shift shaft  32  of  FIG. 4  comprises, from top to bottom, a top portion  38 , a first blocking cylinder  33  with a first opening  39  and a first shift finger  40 , a middle portion  41 , a second blocking cylinder  34  with a second opening  42  and a second shift finger  43 , and a bottom portion  44  which is supported in the cap  35  The cap  35  comprises a shaft support cylinder  46  which is mounted to a base plate  47  via a socket. The socket  47  is mounted to a gearbox casing which is not shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0039]    The shift shaft  32  is movable upwards and downwards for selecting a shift gate in an H shifting pattern. The vertical movement of the shift shaft  32  is indicated by a double arrow  48 . Furthermore, the shift shaft  32  is rotatable around its axis for selecting or deselecting one of two gears of a shift gate in an H shifting pattern. The rotation of the shift shaft  32  is indicated by a double arrow  49 . 
         [0040]    In  FIG. 4 , parts above the upper part  38  of the shift shaft  32  are not shown. They comprise a shift mass and a shift cable which is attached to it, for rotating the shift shaft  32 . A shift mass and a shift cable are shown in  FIG. 5 . Furthermore, the upper part  38  is supported in a bearing which is also not shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  shows a second shift shaft arrangement  28 ′ which is similar to the first shift shaft arrangement  28 . For reasons of simplicity only the parts which are not shown in  FIG. 4  or are different from  FIG. 4  are explained. A shift mass  50  is mounted on top of a shift shaft  32 ′ and a shift cable  51  is fixed to the shift mass  50 . A gear cap is omitted from  FIG. 5  such that the upper part of the shift shaft  32 ′ and the upper part of a first blocking cylinder  33 ′ can be seen. At the upper part of the shift shaft  32 ′, a guiding groove  53  is provided. The guiding groove  53  matches with a select lever to which a select cable is attached. The select lever that is movable in a vertical direction is not shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  furthermore shows a conventional shift fork  56 . The shift shaft  32 ′ is in a vertical position such that a gearshift jaw  57  of the conventional shift fork is at the same height of the opening  39 ′ of the blocking cylinder  33 ′ and fits into the first opening  39 ′. The conventional shift fork  56  is supported on an axis via a linear ball bearing  58 . The axis, which is not shown in  FIG. 5 , is oriented parallel to a gear shaft of the gearbox that carries the gears which are engaged by movement of the shift fork  10 . A fork  59  of the conventional shift fork is provided next to the linear ball bearing  58 . The dimension of the fork  59  are such that a shift collar, which is not shown in  FIG. 5 , fits into the fork  59  of the conventional shift fork. 
         [0043]    The function of a shift fork according to the application is now explained in  FIGS. 6 to 9 .  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  show cross sections through the blocking cylinder  34 ′ and the gearshift jaws  11 ,  12 , respectively, whereby the shift shaft  32 ′ is in a lower position I.  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  show cross sections through the blocking cylinder  34 ′ and the gearshift jaws  11 ,  12 , respectively, whereby the shift shaft  32 ′ is in an upper position II. 
         [0044]    In the following, the shift gate of the forward gear which is actuated by the shift fork  10  shall be called “high shift gate” and the shift gate of the reverse gear which is actuated by the shift fork  10  shall be called “reverse shift gate.” An example for a layout of shift gates according to an H-pattern is shown in  FIG. 13 . The shift fork  10  is arranged between a specific forward gear and a reverse gear. When a driver selects the high shift gate, the shift shaft  32 ′ moves to the lower position I. If the driver, on the other hand, selects the reverse shift gate, the shift shaft moves to the upper position II. If the driver selects a shift gate which is different from the high shift gate or the reverse shift gate, the shift shaft moves to one of several further positions. In the further positions both the forward selection and the backward selection of the shift fork  10  is blocked, which is equivalent to a situation as shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 9 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 6  illustrates a blocking of the movement of the shift fork  10  into the reverse gear position when the shift shaft  32 ′ is engaged in the lower position I. When the shift shaft  32 ′ is engaged in the lower position I, the opening  42 ′ of the blocking cylinder  34 ′ is not in the plane of the gearshift jaw  12 . If a force is applied to the gearshift jaw  12  to move it in the reverse gear position, the circular inner portion  26  of the second gearshift jaw  12  is pressed against the outer side of the blocking cylinder  34 ′ and further movement of the second gearshift jaw  12  is blocked by the blocking cylinder  34 ′. 
         [0046]      FIG. 7  illustrates a movement of the shift fork  10  into the forward gear position when the shift shaft  32 ′ is engaged in the lower position I. When the shift shaft  32 ′ is engaged in the lower position I, the opening  42 ′ and the shift finger  43 ′ which is attached to the blocking cylinder  34 ′ are in the plane of the first gearshift jaw  11 . When the driver selects the forward gear of the forward-backward shift gate, a negative torque is applied to the shift shaft  32 ′ and to the blocking cylinder  43 ′ that is attached to the shift shaft  32 ′, the shift finger  43 ′ pushes the first gearshift jaw  11  to a forward gear position. The position of the opening  42  is arranged such that the opening  42 ′ releases the first gearshift jaw  11 . The first gearshift jaw  11  is not blocked by the outer side of the blocking cylinder  33 ′ and moves into the forward position. 
         [0047]      FIG. 8  illustrates a movement of the shift fork  10  into the reverse gear position when the shift shaft  32 ′ is engaged in the upper position II. When the shift shaft  32 ′ is engaged in the upper position II, the opening  42 ′ and the shift finger  43 ′ which is attached to the blocking cylinder  34 ′ are in the plane of the second gearshift jaw  12 . When the driver selects the reverse gear of the forward-backward shift gate, a positive torque is applied to the shift shaft  32 ′ and to the blocking cylinder  43 ′ that is attached to the shift shaft  32 ′. The shift finger  43 ′ pushes the second gearshift jaw  12  to a reverse gear position. The position of the opening  42  is arranged such that the opening  42 ′ releases the second gearshift jaw  12 . The second gearshift jaw  12  is not blocked by the outer side of the blocking cylinder  33 ′ and moves into the reverse position. 
         [0048]      FIG. 9  illustrates a blocking of the movement of the shift fork  10  into the forward gear position when the shift shaft  32 ′ is engaged in the upper position II. When the shift shaft  32 ′ is engaged in the upper position II, the opening  42 ′ of the blocking cylinder  34 ′ is not in the plane of the gearshift jaw  11 . If a force is applied to the first gearshift jaw  11  to move it in the forward gear position, the circular portion  20  of the first gearshift jaw  11  is pressed against the outer side of the blocking cylinder  34 ′ and further movement of the first gearshift jaw  11  is blocked by the blocking cylinder  34 ′. 
         [0049]      FIG. 10  shows an alternative embodiment of a shift fork  10 ′ according to the application. Similar parts have primed reference numbers. The embodiment of  FIG. 10  is suitable for an arrangement in which the shift finger of a blocking cylinder is situated on the opposite side of the opening of the blocking cylinder. Such a situation is shown in  FIG. 4 , in which the opening  42  of blocking cylinder  34  is on the opposite side of the shift finger  43  of blocking cylinder  34 . The shift fork  10 ′ is similar to the shift fork is similar to the shift fork  10  but the hollow profiles  13 ′ and  14 ′ in the gearshift jaws  11 ′ and  12 ′ are different from the hollow profiles  13  and  14  of the shift fork  10 . A dashed line  60  shows the neutral position of the shift fork  10 ′. The dashed line  60  defines a neutral plane which goes through the axis of the shift shaft  32 , is parallel to the axis of the shift shaft  32  and is at a right angle to the shaft which carries the gears that are engaged by actuating the shift fork  10 ′. 
         [0050]    The hollow profile  13 ′ of the first gearshift jaw  11 ′ comprises an outer circular portion  20 ′, an opening  21 ′ for engagement with a shift finger and an inner portion  22 ′. Similar to the shift fork  10  of  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the outer circular portion  20 ′ is formed as a circular section of almost 90 degrees with a radius that is slightly bigger than the radius of the blocking cylinder  34 . Similar to the shift fork  10 , the outer circular portion  20 ′ and the inner portion  22 ′ of the first gearshift jaw  11 ′ are situated on different sides of the neutral plane. Different from the shift fork  10 , the hollow profile  13 ′ of the first gearshift jaw  11 ′ almost encloses the shift shaft  32  except for an opening  21 ′ that has the same function as the rectangular recess  21  of the previous embodiment. 
         [0051]    The hollow profile  14 ′ of the second gearshift jaw  12 ′ comprises an inner circular portion  26 ′, an opening  25 ′ for engagement with a shift finger and an outer portion  24 ′. Similar to the shift fork  10  of  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the inner circular portion  20 ′ is formed as a circular section of almost 90 degrees with a radius that is slightly bigger than the radius of the blocking cylinder  34 . Similar to the shift fork  10 , the inner circular portion  26 ′ and the outer portion  24 ′ of the second gearshift jaw  12 ′ are situated on different sides of the neutral plane. Different from the shift fork  10 , the hollow profile  14 ′ of the second gearshift jaw  12 ′ almost encloses the shift shaft  32  except for an opening  25 ′ which has the same function as the rectangular recess  25  of the previous embodiment. Similar to the shift fork  10 , the inner circular portion  26 ′ of the second gearshift jaw  12 ′ and the outer circular portion  20 ′ of the first gearshift jaw  11 ′ are on different sides of the neutral plane. 
         [0052]      FIG. 13  illustrates a gear shifting arrangement  60  for use with a shift fork according to the embodiments. The shifting pattern  60  comprises from left to right the shift gates  61 ,  62 ,  63 ,  64 ,  65 . A neutral shift point  66  indicates the middle position of the shift knob with respect to the horizontal select movement. The shift gate  61 ,  62 ,  63 ,  64 ,  65  are spaced at equal distances. The distance between two shift gates corresponds to one unit of select travel of the select cable. In the example of  FIG. 13 , the reverse gear and the seventh gear is spaced two units of select travel from the neutral point. The movement of the select cable by one unit of select travel translates into the up or downward movement of the shift shaft  32 ;  32 ′ by one unit of select travel of the shift shaft  32 ;  32 ′. 
         [0053]    When providing a shift fork  10 ;  10 ′ for actuation of the reverse gear and for actuation of the seventh gear, it is advantageous, although not mandatory, to space the planes of the first gearshift jaw  11 ;  11 ′ and of the second gearshift jaw  12 ;  12 ′ apart by four units of select travel of the shift shaft  32 ,  32 ′. In general, it is advantageous to space apart the planes of the first gearshift jaw  11 ;  11 ′ and of the second gearshift jaw  12 ;  12 ′ by as many units of select travel of the shift shaft  32 ;  32 ′ as there are between the shift gates of the reverse gear and the high gear. Otherwise, a special mechanism would have to be provided to generate the desired relationship between the shifting movement of the driver and the movement of the shift shaft  32 ,  32 ′. Moreover, it is preferable place the lower shift jaw below the axis of the linear ball bearing of the shift fork and the upper shift jaw above the axis of the linear ball bearing of the shift fork to provide enough space for the gearwheels. 
         [0054]      FIG. 14  shows a stick diagram of a gearbox  70  for use with an H-shifting pattern according to  FIG. 13 . A gear selection on the shift gates  62 ,  63 ,  64  corresponds to a movement of a double sided synchronizer between gearwheels that correspond to the gears of the respective shift gate. In contrast, the tooth gear  71  of the reverse gear and the tooth gear  72  seventh gear are actuated by the same double synchronizer  73  but are on different shift gates  61 ,  65  in the shifting pattern  60 . A shift fork  10 ;  10 ′ according to the application is in form fit with the double synchronizer  73 . The shift fork  10 ;  10 ′ is not shown in the stick diagram of  FIG. 14 . 
         [0055]    A gearbox layout with a shift fork according to an embodiment is provided for fitting an additional high gear into an existing layout of a gearbox, if there is enough space to provide a gearwheel of the additional high gear next to a reverse gear in the existing layout. For example a seventh gear may be fitted in a six gear gearbox. The seven gear gearbox can then be produced with parts of the six gear gearbox, thereby saving production costs. Furthermore the use of a double sided synchronizer with a shift fork according to the application saves space as compared to the use of two separate shift forks. This in turn facilitates the fitting of an additional gear into an existing gearbox layout. 
         [0056]    The shift fork according to the embodiments ensures that the reverse gear cannot be engaged when the shift gate of the reverse gear is not selected even though the reverse gear and a forward gear are actuated by the same double sided synchronizer. 
         [0057]    The concept of a shift fork with two shift jaws is easy to realize and does not require a special arrangement at the blocking cylinder or the shift shaft, such as for example two concentric shift shafts or the like. By using two shift jaws according to the embodiments, the modification of the shift shaft and the blocking cylinder for adding a high gear that is actuated by the same synchronizer as a reverse gear can be done in a known and proven way. In addition, a standard H-shifting pattern can be maintained in which the gear numbers of the shift gates increase from left to right and the reverse gear is located on a separate shift gate. 
         [0058]    The modification of an existing gearbox is especially convenient for an existing arrangement with an even number of gears in which the reverse gear is located on a separate shift track. In this case, the synchronizer of the reverse gear is usually the only one that is available for use by an additional odd high gear. The double usage of a synchronizer, in turn, saves space while minimizing modifications to the existing layout of the gearbox. 
         [0059]    The use of a shift fork with two shift jaws according to the embodiments provides the same security against unwanted selection of the high gear or the reverse gear in a gearbox layout where reverse and high gear are actuated with the same synchronizer as with a gearbox layout where reverse and high gear are actuated by different synchronizers. Depending on the placement of the shift shaft, the first gearshift jaw  11 ;  11 ′ may also be the upper gearshift jaw and the second gearshift jaw  12 ;  12 ′ may also be the lower gearshift jaw. Depending on the placement of the gearwheels and the shift shaft, the placement of the hollow profiles  13 ;  13 ′ and the hollow profiles  14 ;  14 ′ on the gearshift jaws  11 ,  12 ;  11 ′,  12 ′ may be swapped. Furthermore, the function of the shift jaws may be swapped, that is the gearshift jaw  11 ;  11 ′ may be used to actuate a reverse gear and the second gearshift jaw  12 ;  12 ′ may be used to actuate a forward gear. 
         [0060]    The joining portion may be shaped in various ways, for example as tapered portion and not in a plate shape and the placement of the gearshift jaws may also be asymmetrical with respect to the connecting portion. Instead of cables, other actuation mechanisms may also be used to move the shift fork and the shift shaft. 
         [0061]    While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.