Transmission Shift Device With Variable Gate Blocking Force

A transmission shifting device (30) for a transmission (6) having a range group transmission (14) and a gearshift lever (16), and the shifting device (30) comprising:

• a shift and selector shaft (32) having a first end being coupled to the gearshift lever (16) and a second end communicating with one of a shift rail and a shift rocker such that the gearshift lever (16) being shiftable within a superimposed H-shaped shift pattern (28) to shift between a plurality of transmission gears;
• a locking pawl (38) being supported to pivot about a point of rotation (40) and having a first lever arm (42) and a second lever arm (44), the first lever arm (42) communicating with a collar (36), which is fixed to the shift and selector shaft (32), such that as the locking pawl (38) pivots the first lever arm (42) applies an axial force (F1, F2) on the shift and selector shaft (32);
• a piston (48) being located within a cylinder (50) and communicating with the second lever arm (44) of the locking pawl (38) such that, as the cylinder (50) is pressurized, the piston (48) is biased causing the locking pawl (38) to pivot and apply the axial force (F1, F2) on the shift and selector shaft (32);
• the second lever arm (44) of the locking pawl (38) having a geometry such that a distance between the point of rotation (40) of the locking pawl (38) and a point of contact between the piston (48) and the second lever arm (44) of the locking pawl (38) changes as the piston (48) is biased within the cylinder (50);
• and
• the change in distance between the point of rotation (40) of the locking pawl (38) and the point of contact between the piston (48) and the second lever arm (44) of the locking pawl (38) changes the axial force (F1, F2) applied on the shift and selector shaft (32) by the first lever arm (42) of the locking pawl (38) such that a range group change, from a first shift gate (G5-G6) to a second shift gate (G3-G4) of two lower gears (G3, G4), is detectable