Transmission

A transmission comprising:

• an input shaft that is rotated by a driving force of an engine, the input shaft including a first input shaft and a second input shaft;
• a first main shaft and a second main shaft disposed to be free to rotate relative to the input shaft;
• pluralities of drive gears fixed respectively to the first main shaft and the second main shaft;
• an output shaft disposed parallel to the input shaft, the first main shaft, and the second main shaft;
• driven gears disposed on the output shaft to be free to rotate relative thereto, the driven gears being configured to mesh respectively with the pluralities of drive gears;
• a gear switching mechanism to switch selectively between a connected condition in which a driven gear is connected to the output shaft such that the driven gear rotates integrally with the output shaft, and a disconnected condition in which the output shaft and the driven gears are capable of rotating relatively;
• and
• a shaft switching mechanism to switch a transmission path of a rotary power of the input shaft selectively between the first main shaft and the second main shaft,
• wherein the shaft switching mechanism includes:
• an engagement member provided either on each of the first main shaft and the second main shaft or on the input shaft to be capable of moving in an axial direction of the input shaft;
• and
• a dog provided on the other of each of the first and second main shafts and the input shaft so as to engage with the engagement member when the engagement member moves, thereby causing either one of the first main shaft and the second main shaft to rotate integrally with the input shaft,
• wherein an upstream end of the first input shaft is connected to the engine via a clutch in a transmission path for transmitting power from the engine,
• wherein a downstream end of the first input shaft is connected to a dampening mechanism including a friction plate that is disposed downstream of the clutch, the damping mechanism generating a sliding motion when a torque variation occurs as a result of the engagement between the engagement member and the dog, thereby cutting the torque variation to a preset set torque,
• wherein an upstream end of the second input shaft is connected to the damping mechanism,
• wherein a downstream end of the second input shaft is connected to the first main shaft,
• and
• wherein the damping mechanism is axially spaced from the clutch via the first input shaft so as to define two separate and independent arrangements.