Drivetrain range selector control

A motor grader, comprising:

• a front frame and a rear frame;
• a traction device positioned to support the front frame and rear frame;
• an engine and a variable speed drivetrain, the variable speed drivetrain including a plurality of selectable forward and reverse ranges;
• a cab mounted to either the front frame or rear frame;
• a control system disposed in the cab, the control system including a plurality of inputs configured to control at least one function of the motor grader;
• and
• a shift assembly disposed in the cab and comprising an open gate shift pattern and a control lever moveably disposed within the shift pattern, the shift pattern having an outer perimeter and a plurality of defined positions disposed within the outer perimeter, where each of the defined positions corresponds to one of the plurality of forward and reverse ranges of the variable speed drivetrain;
• wherein, a first set of defined positions correspond to one or more forward ranges and a second set of defined positions correspond to one or more reverse ranges;
• further wherein, the control lever is moveable in a single movement to any of the plurality of defined positions for selecting between one forward range and one reverse range.

A construction machine, comprising:

• a chassis;
• a traction device positioned to support and propel the chassis;
• a variable speed drivetrain mounted to the chassis, the variable speed drivetrain including a plurality of selectable forward and reverse ranges;
• a cab supported by the chassis;
• a controls console disposed in the cab, the controls console including a control system for controlling the machine;
• and
• a shift assembly integrated into the controls console in the cab, the shift assembly comprising:
• an open gate shift pattern having an outer perimeter and a plurality of defined positions disposed within the outer perimeter, where each of the defined positions corresponds to one of the plurality of selectable forward and reverse ranges of the drivetrain;
• and
• a control lever being movably disposed within the shift pattern, where movement of the control lever induces a change in range;
• wherein, a first set of defined positions is aligned in the shift pattern corresponding to each of the plurality of forward ranges and a second set of defined positions is aligned in the shift pattern corresponding to each of the plurality of reverse ranges;
• further wherein, the control lever is moveable in a single linear motion to any of the plurality of defined positions for selecting between a corresponding forward range and a reverse range.