Patent ID: 8403813

Claim:
A method for controlling an auxiliary gearbox used to selectively couple auxiliary equipment and a final drive assembly of a motor vehicle to a motor via a transmission, the method comprising: receiving a request to switch engagement of a transmission input gear associated with a transmission output shaft driven by the transmission from a first output gear of the auxiliary gearbox to a second output gear of the auxiliary gearbox; and engaging the transmission input gear and the second output gear of the auxiliary gearbox by (i) locking the transmission, in response to the request, to stop rotation of the transmission output shaft, (ii) determining whether the transmission input gear and the second output gear are fully engaged in response to locking the transmission; (iii) disengaging all clutches of the transmission to reduce torque on the transmission output shaft in response to determining that the transmission input gear and the second output gear are not fully engaged; (iv) determining whether the transmission input gear and the second output gear are fully engaged in response to disengaging all clutches of the transmission; and (v) placing the transmission in an unlocked neutral state, in which one clutch of the transmission is engaged, to rotate the transmission output shaft and the associated transmission input gear with respect to the second output gear in response to determining that the transmission input gear and second output gear are not fully engaged after disengaging all clutches of the transmission.