Patent ID: 8371552

Claim:
A valve assembly for actuating a synchronizer, the synchronizer moveable between a first engaged state, a second engaged state, and a neutral state, the valve assembly comprising: a valve body having a stop; a sleeve slidably disposed within the valve body and moveable between a first position wherein the sleeve is in contact with the stop and a second position wherein the sleeve is not in contact with the stop; a valve slidably disposed within the valve body and within the sleeve, the valve moveable between a first position that places the synchronizer in the first engaged state, a second position that places the synchronizer in the second engaged state, and a third position that places the synchronizer in the neutral state, wherein the valve is in contact with the stop when in the first position; a first force acting on the valve to bias the valve towards the second position; and a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid in communication with the valve and with the sleeve, wherein the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid is operable to communicate pressurized hydraulic fluid to contact the valve and the sleeve to generate a second force acting on the valve and a third force acting on the sleeve, wherein the sleeve and the valve are each in the first position when each of the second force and the third force is greater than the first force, wherein the sleeve and the valve are each in the second position when each of the second force and the third force is less than the first force, and wherein the sleeve is in the first position when the third force is greater than the first force and the valve is in the third position when the second force is less than the first force.