Transmission creeper interlock

An interlock system for a transmission assembly having a gear unit with a plurality of selectable gear ratios, the interlock system comprising:

• a first range rail being movable between a disengaged position and at least one engaged position, the first range rail including at least one first rail recess;
• a second range rail being movable between a disengaged position and at least one engaged position, the second range rail including at least one second rail recess, the first and second range rails being generally parallel to one another and generally defining a plane;
• a creeper rail being moveable between a disengaged position and at least one engaged position, the creeper rail being oriented out of the plane defined by the first and second range rails, the creeper rail including at least one creeper rail recess;
• a creeper interlock being moveable between a creeper lock position and a creeper release position, the creeper interlock extending from a first end in contact with the creeper rail towards the plane defined by the first and second range rails, the creeper interlock including at least one creeper interlock recess removed from the first end of the creeper interlock;
• and
• a range rail interlock including a first rail interlock member moveable between a first rail lock position corresponding to the disengaged position of the first range rail and a first rail release position corresponding to the at least one engaged position of the first range rail, the first rail interlock member extending into the at least one first rail recess when in the first rail lock position to lock the first range rail in the disengaged position, the range rail interlock also including a second rail interlock member moveable between a second rail lock position corresponding to the disengaged position of the second range rail and a second rail release position corresponding to the at least one engaged position of the second range rail, the second rail interlock member extending into the at least one second rail recess when in the second rail lock position to lock the second range in the disengaged position, the range rail interlock extending between a first end in contact with the creeper interlock and one or more of the first and the second rail interlock members;
• wherein, when the first range rail is in the at least one engaged position, the first range rail prevents the second rail interlock member from moving from the second rail lock position to the second rail release position, such that the second rail interlock member prevents the second range rail from moving to the at least one engaged position, and when the second range rail is in the at least one engaged position, the second range rail urges the second rail interlock member into the at least one first rail recess, such that the second rail interlock member prevents the first range rail from moving to the at least one engaged position;
• wherein, when the creeper rail is in the disengaged position, the first end of the creeper interlock extends into the creeper rail recess to prevent the creeper rail from moving to the at least one engaged position, the creeper interlock recess being thereby aligned for the first end of the range rail interlock to extend into the creeper interlock recess, the range rail interlock thereby permitting one of the first and the second range rail interlock members to move, respectively, from the first or second rail lock position to the first or second rail release position such that one of the first and second range rails, respectively, may move to the respective at least one engaged position;
• and
• wherein, when the creeper rail is in the at least one engaged position, the first end of the creeper interlock does not extend into the creeper rail recess, the creeper interlock recess being thereby aligned so as not to receive the first end of the range rail interlock, the creeper interlock thereby causing the range rail interlock to lock the first and the second rail interlock members, respectively, in the first and the second rail lock positions, the first and second rail interlock members thereby locking each of the first and second range rails in the respective disengaged position.

An interlock system for a transmission assembly having a gear unit with a plurality of selectable gear ratios, the interlock system comprising:

• a first range rail being movable between a disengaged position and at least one engaged position, the first range rail including at least one first rail recess;
• a second range rail being movable between a disengaged position and at least one engaged position, the second range rail including at least one second rail recess, the first and second range rails being generally parallel to one another and generally defining a plane;
• a creeper rail being moveable between a disengaged position and at least one engaged position, the creeper rail being oriented out of the plane defined by the first and second range rails, the creeper rail including at least one creeper rail recess;
• a creeper interlock being moveable between a creeper lock position and a creeper release position, the creeper interlock extending from a first end in contact with the creeper rail towards the plane defined by the first and second range rails, the creeper interlock including at least one creeper interlock recess removed from the first end of the creeper interlock;
• and
• a range rail interlock including a first rail interlock member moveable between a first rail lock position corresponding to the disengaged position of the first range rail and a first rail release position corresponding to the at least one engaged position of the first range rail, the range rail interlock also including a second rail interlock member moveable between a second rail lock position corresponding to the disengaged position of the second range rail and a second rail release position corresponding to the at least one engaged position of the second range rail, the range rail interlock extending between a first end in contact with the creeper interlock and one or more of the first and the second rail interlock members;
• wherein, when the first range rail is in the at least one engaged position, the first range rail prevents the second rail interlock member from moving to the second rail release position, and when the second range rail is in the at least one engaged position, the second rail interlock member prevents the first range rail from moving to the at least one engaged position;
• wherein, when the creeper rail is in the disengaged position, the first end of the creeper interlock extends into the creeper rail recess, the creeper interlock recess being thereby aligned to receive the first end of the range rail interlock, the range rail interlock thereby permitting one of the first and the second range rail interlock members to move, respectively, from the first or second rail lock position to the first or second rail release position;
• wherein, when the creeper rail is in the at least one engaged position, the first end of the creeper interlock does not extend into the creeper rail recess, the creeper interlock recess being thereby aligned so as not to receive the first end of the range rail interlock, the range rail interlock thereby locking the first and the second rail interlock members, respectively, in the first and the second rail lock positions;
• wherein, when the first end of the creeper interlock extends into the creeper rail recess, the creeper interlock recess and the first and the second rail interlock members are aligned along a line within the plane;
• and
• wherein, when the first and the second range rails are in their respective disengaged positions, the first and the second rail interlock members, and the at least one first and second rail recesses are aligned along the line within the plane.