Patent ID: RE39598

Claim:
A transmission system ( 10 ) comprising a master friction clutch ( 14 ) for drivingly coupling an engine ( 12 ) to a compound mechanical transmission ( 16 ) including a main section and an auxiliary section, a shift member ( 150 , 176 ) for moving a selected positive clutch member ( 151 A) in said main section to a selected one of an engaged or a disengaged position and means ( 120 , 146 ) independent of operation of said shift member and said master friction clutch for sensing a requirement to move said selected positive clutch member from said engaged position to said disengaged position and for providing an intent-to-shift signal indicative thereof, said system characterized by: a detent mechanism ( 156 / 172 , 186 / 196 ) for providing a selectively variable resistance to movement of said clutch member from said engaged to said disengaged position, said detent mechanism having a first condition for providing a greater resistance to movement of said clutch member from said engaged to said disengaged position and a second condition for applying a lesser resistance to movement of said clutch member from said engaged to said disengaged position, said detent mechanism assuming said second condition upon sensing said indent-to-shift signal.