Gear shift device

1. A gear shift device used in a transmission of an engine, comprising:

a shift drum that changes a speed change stage of the transmission according to a rotational position of the shift drum about a first axis extending through the shift drum;

an actuator having a driving shaft extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first axis of the shift drum;

a worm shaped barrel cam that is arranged parallel to and engaged with the driving shaft of the actuator such that rotation of the driving shaft causes rotation of the barrel cam about a second axis extending longitudinally through the barrel cam, wherein the barrel cam further comprises a cam groove disposed on an outer circumference of the barrel cam;

a wheel gear that is coaxially fixed to an end of the shift drum and that comprises a plurality of pins extending parallel to the first axis of the shift drum towards the barrel cam, wherein the pins are arranged circumferentially about the first axis of the shift drum on an end face of the wheel gear, wherein:

at least two of the plurality of pins of the wheel gear are engaged in the cam groove of the barrel cam, such that the shift drum is rotated about the first axis when rotation of the driving shaft causes rotation of the barrel cam about the second axis, to thereby change the speed change stage of the transmission;

wherein the driving shaft is connected to the barrel cam via an intermediate gearing assembly;

the cam groove of the barrel cam comprises a plurality of holding range groove sections extending in a circumferential direction of around the barrel cam substantially perpendicular to the second axis of the barrel cam, and a plurality of variable range groove sections disposed intermediate the holding range sections and extending at a non-orthogonal angle with respect to the second axis of the barrel cam, such that when the at least two pins are respectively engaged within one of the plurality of variable range sections, a position of the at least two pins changes when the barrel cam rotates about the second axis, and

a sensor for detecting a rotational position of the barrel cam, wherein the sensor comprises two switch cams rotationally fixed to and coaxial with the barrel cam, and two switches, wherein each switch engages with a cam surface of a respective one of the two switch cams, such that each switch can be displaced relative to the second axis of the barrel cam by rotation of the switch cams;

whereby the rotational position of the barrel cam can be determined based on displacement of the switches by the cam surface of the switch cams.

2. The gear shift device according to claim 1 , wherein the two switches are each engaged with one of the two switch cams at angularly displaced positions.

3. The gear shift device according to claim 1 , wherein the respective switches detect a rotational position of the barrel cam by advancing and/or retracting switching pieces thereof when the respective switching pieces face a reference surface of each switch cam, and when the respective switching pieces face a lift surface of each switch cam.

4. The gear shift device according to claim 2 , wherein the respective switches detect a rotational position of the barrel cam by advancing and/or retracting switching pieces thereof when the respective switching pieces face a reference surface of each switch cam, and when the respective switching pieces face a lift surface of each switch cam.