Patent ID: 8752443

Claim:
A gear selector apparatus for a transmission having a first gear, a second gear and a synchronizer for selectively engaging the gears to a shaft, the gear selector apparatus comprising: a hydraulic actuator having a piston slidably disposed in a bore, wherein the piston includes a head portion and a rod portion, the head portion and the bore define a first chamber and a second chamber, the rod portion has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end is fixed to the head portion, and the second end includes a slot and extends through a hole at an end of the actuator; a gear selection fork having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the fork is engaged with the synchronizer and the second end of the fork is disposed in the slot of the rod of the piston; a first pressure control valve configured to selectively provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the first chamber of the hydraulic actuator; a second pressure control valve configured to selectively provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the second chamber of the hydraulic actuator; a first position sensor configured to detect an operating position of the gear selection fork; a guide bar fixed to the gear selection fork for common movement with the gear selection fork, wherein the guide bar has a surface, and wherein the surface includes at least one of a notch and a cam portion; a controller in electrical communication with the first position sensor and the first and second pressure control valves, wherein the controller includes a control logic; and a second position sensor configured to detect a second operating position of the gear selection fork which is at least one of a first gear position, a second gear position and a neutral operating position.