Patent ID: 7201074

Claim:
A gear shifting mechanism of an axle drive system, comprising: a shaft drivingly connected to an axle; a first clutch gear relatively rotatably provided on the shaft, the first clutch gear having first clutch teeth; a second clutch gear relatively rotatably provided on the shaft, the second clutch gear having second clutch teeth; a spline hub fixed on the shaft between the first and second clutch gears; a gear shifting slider axially slidably and not relatively rotatably fitted on the spline hub, the gear shifting slider having third clutch teeth, wherein end surfaces of the first, second and third clutch teeth facing one another are flat, wherein the gear shifting slider can be shifted among a neutral position, a first stage position and a second stage position, wherein, when the gear shifting slider is disposed at the neutral position, the third clutch teeth engages with none of the first and second clutch teeth, wherein, when the gear shifting slider is disposed at the first stage position, the third clutch teeth engages with not the second clutch teeth but the first clutch teeth, and wherein, when the gear shifting slider is disposed at the second stage position, the third clutch teeth engages with not the first clutch teeth but the second clutch teeth; slider-shift means integrally movably interlocking with the gear shifting slider; operation means operatively interposed between the slider-shift means and a gear shifting manipulator, wherein the operation means can be shifted among a neutral setting position for setting the gear shifting slider at the neutral position, a first stage setting position for setting the gear shifting slider at the first stage position, and a second stage setting position for setting the gear shifting slider at the second stage position, and wherein the slider-shift means can be movable relative to the operation means to some degree so as to be delayed after the shift of the operation means; and elastic means interposed between the slider-shift means and the operation means, wherein the elasticity of elastic means allows the movement of the slider-shift means relative to the operation means, and biases the third clutch teeth to engage with either the first or second clutch teeth, and wherein the slider-shift means includes a casing through which a part of the operation means is relatively movably passed, wherein the elastic means is disposed in the casing so as to be interposed between the slider-shift means and the operation means.