Abstract: An exemplary transmission may have a reverse shift rail and a locking mechanism to ensure that the reverse shift rail stops in a neutral position when disengaging from the other gear range. The reverse shift rail may be configured to move axially in a first direction to place the transmission in a drive gear, and in a second direction for a reverse gear. The transmission may also include a rail selector configured to engage with the reverse shift rail, and a reverse inhibitor configured to selectively dampen the reverse shift rail from moving in the second direction. An exemplary locking mechanism may include a main body and an arm extending from the main body. When the reverse shift rail disengages from the drive gear, the arm may be configured to contact the reverse inhibitor to substantially inhibit the movement of the reverse shift rail in the second direction.

Abstract: An inhibitor mechanism may include at least one first primary interlocking element and at least one second primary interlocking element each configured to selectively engage with a shift rail in at least one cavity of the shift rail to inhibit the axial movement of the respective shift rail. The inhibitor mechanism may also include at least one secondary interlocking element in contact with the at least one first primary interlocking element, and may be configured to selectively engage with another shift rail in the at least one cavity to inhibit the axial movement of that shift rail. Only one of the primary interlocking elements and the at least one secondary interlocking element may be movable to outside of the at least one cavity of the respective shift rail at one time such that only that respective shift rail is movable in the axial direction.

Abstract: An exemplary transmission may have a reverse shift rail and a locking mechanism to ensure that the reverse shift rail stops in a neutral position when disengaging from the other gear range. The reverse shift rail may be configured to move axially in a first direction to place the transmission in a drive gear, and in a second direction for a reverse gear. The transmission may also include a rail selector configured to engage with the reverse shift rail, and a reverse inhibitor configured to selectively dampen the reverse shift rail from moving in the second direction. An exemplary locking mechanism may include a main body and an arm extending from the main body. When the reverse shift rail disengages from the drive gear, the arm may be configured to contact the reverse inhibitor to substantially inhibit the movement of the reverse shift rail in the second direction.

Abstract: An exemplary shifter may include a lever, at least a portion of which may extend along an axis. The lever may be movable along the axis from and to a neutral position. The exemplary shifter may also include a spring operatively attached to the lever. The spring may be configured to bias the lever to the neutral position. The exemplary shifter further may include a lever control assembly to substantially inhibit the lever from rotating about the axis. The lever control assembly generally may remain stationary with respect to the axial movement of the lever. The lever control assembly may include a bushing around at least a portion of the lever, and through which the lever is slidable in the axial direction. The lever control assembly may also include a first pair of pins and a second pair of pins, which may form a cross joint around the bushing.

Abstract: An inhibitor mechanism may include at least one first primary interlocking element and at least one second primary interlocking element each configured to selectively engage with a shift rail in at least one cavity of the shift rail to inhibit the axial movement of the respective shift rail. The inhibitor mechanism may also include at least one secondary interlocking element in contact with the at least one first primary interlocking element, and may be configured to selectively engage with another shift rail in the at least one cavity to inhibit the axial movement of that shift rail. Only one of the primary interlocking elements and the at least one secondary interlocking element may be movable to outside of the at least one cavity of the respective shift rail at one time such that only that respective shift rail is movable in the axial direction.