Abstract: A manually operated automotive transmission has a cluster gear on which several forward drive input gears and the reverse drive input gear are formed integrally. An auxiliary coutershaft carries a fifth speed gear continuously engaged with a gear formed on the input shaft. A reverse idler slides on a stub shaft into engagement with a reverse pinion on the input shaft and a reverse output gear. The fifth gear synchronizer sleeve is moved away from the fifth gear when reverse gear is selected because the fifth gear selector position is in the same plane as the reverse drive position. A gearset brake is actuated by movement of the synchronizer sleeve to prevent rotation of the fifth speed gear relative to the input shaft during the initial movement of the selector shaft toward the reverse drive position. The brake mechanism is released as the selector shaft is moved fully to the reverse drive position.

Abstract: A manually operated automotive transmission includes an input cluster shaft that carries a reverse input pinion, a countershaft rotatably mounted parallel to the input shaft, a synchronizer clutch including a clutch sleeve defining reverse output gear slidably mounted on the cluster shaft and continually drivable connected to the countershaft, a reverse idler shaft, a first slidable reverse idler continually in meshing engagement with the reverse pinion, a second fixed idler pinion continually engaged with the reverse output gear. The reverse idlers are rotatably mounted on the idler shaft and define clutch teeth, which are brought into engagement as the slidable idler is moved by the vehicle operator to the reverse drive position and are disengaged as the vehicle operator selects forward drive ratios and the neutral position.

Abstract: A manually-operated automotive transmission has a cluster gear on which several forward drive input gears and the reverse drive input gear are formed integrally. The cluster gear has a central bore extending its full length. An input shaft clutched to as engine crankshaft is keyed at the end furthest from the engine to the far end of the cluster gear and has a loose fitting spline connection to the opposite end of the cluster gear. A portion of the input shaft between the clutch and the loose spline connection has relatively high torsional stiffness and strength, but the portion of the input shaft between the keyed connection and the loose spline connection has relatively low torsional stiffness and strength. The clearance between the teeth of the loose spline connection is sized so that relatively low torque is not transmitted through this connection. The clearance is taken up and engine torque transmitted through the loose spline connection when high operating torques are developed.