Patent ID: 7509885

Claim:
A shift inhibitor apparatus for encouraging the completion of a range shift in a range section of multispeed transmission prior to the completion of a main shift in a main section of the multispeed transmission, the transmission including an input shaft and an output shaft, the transmission main section having a plurality of selectively engageable ratios, wherein the range section is shiftable between a range high ratio and a range low ratio, the shift inhibitor comprising: a range actuating assembly having a range chamber, wherein at least a portion of said range actuating assembly is moveable between a range first ratio and a range second ratio, said portion of said range actuating assembly is moveable, at least in part, in response to a fluid pressure, and said range chamber is selectively in fluid communication with a vent; and a main section neutral interlock having an interlock chamber, wherein at least a portion of said main section neutral interlock is moveable between a first condition and a second condition, said interlock chamber is selectively in fluid communication with said vent, wherein said range chamber can be exhausted such that said range section is selectively switched from said first ratio to said second ratio, and wherein said interlock chamber can be exhausted such that said main section neutral interlock is selectively switched from said first condition to said second condition; and an orifice portion interposed between the interlock chamber and the vent wherein the orifice portion will delay venting the interlock chamber by at least a preselected amount of time; wherein the shift apparatus provides a time delay beginning after the initiation of the shift between gears of the range section to encourage completion of the range shift prior to completion of the main shift.