Patent ID: 7762349

Claim:
A parallel axis transmission for a multi-speed drill for torque transfer between at least one pinion and an output spindle, the transmission comprising: a high speed gear mounted on the output spindle; a low speed gear mounted on the output spindle; a clutch member operably coupled to the low speed gear to transfer torque between the at least one pinion and the output spindle up to a predetermined torque level at the output spindle, when a torque between the clutch member and the low speed gear exceeds the predetermined torque level, the clutch member becomes uncoupled from the low speed gear; and a shift assembly for selectively changing between a plurality of modes comprising: a low speed mode for torque transfer between the at least one pinion and the output spindle via the low speed gear and the clutch member; and a high speed mode for torque transfer between the at least one pinion and the output spindle via the high speed gear so as to bypass the clutch member; wherein the clutch member is coupled to the output spindle and the low speed gear is mounted on the clutch member.