Patent ID: 7721618

Claim:
A range detector comprising: a moving portion which reciprocates according to a range of an automatic transmission, the range of the automatic transmission being comprised of a parking range, a reverse range, a neutral range, and a driving range, the moving portion being positioned at one of a P-position, a R-position, a N-position, and a D-position, which respectively correspond to the parking range, the reverse range, the neutral range, and the driving range, when the respective range of the automatic transmission is selected; a guide portion having a bottom sliding surface on which the moving portion reciprocates; and a detecting portion supported by the guide portion to detect the range of the automatic transmission based on a position of the moving portion, wherein a plurality of holes are formed in the bottom sliding surface, the moving portion reciprocates over the plurality of holes, the plurality of holes are formed in the bottom sliding surface of the guide portion so that said holes are respectively positioned adjacent to and aligned with front and rear ends of the moving portion when the moving portion is positioned at each of the P-position, R-position, N-position and D-position, allowing particulate matter to be dropped into the holes by at least one of gravity and selective alignment of the moving portion with the holes when the moving portion is positioned at any one of said P-position, R-position, N-position and D-position, the moving portion, the guide portion, and the detecting portion are accommodated in the automatic transmission, and the sliding surface is arranged in such a manner as to face upwardly.