Manual transmission with a gearshift locking mechanism and method

1. A manual transmission with a gearshift locking arrangement, comprising:

a first rail having a first shifter having a first slot between first forward and rear ears of the first shifter, first forward and rear engagement members in the form of one of protrusions and protrusion receiving recesses being provided on the first forward and rear ears of the first shifter;

a second rail having a second shifter having only a single slot consisting of a second slot between second forward and rear ears of the second shifter; and

a shift lever, an engaging portion of the shift lever being movable between the first slot and the second slot, the shift lever being adapted to move the second rail between a second rail forward and rear position when the engaging portion is in the second slot, the engaging portion comprising at least one of a protrusion receiving recess and a protrusion for engaging with the first forward engagement member when the second rail is in the second rail forward position and with the first rear engagement member when the second rail is in the second rail rear position; and

at least one of a compressed resilient member, hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure, and an electromagnet provided to urge the engaging portion into engagement with either of the first forward or rear engagement members.

2. The manual transmission with a gearshift locking arrangement as set forth in claim 1 , comprising a piston member disposed in the second slot, the at least one of the compressed resilient member, hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure, and electromagnet being arranged to urge the piston against the shift lever.

3. The manual transmission with a gearshift locking arrangement as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the shift lever is adapted to more the first rail between a first rail forward and a rear position when the engaging portion is in the first slot.

4. The manual transmission with a gearshift locking arrangement as set forth in claim 3 , comprising second forward and rear engagement members provided on the second forward and rear ears of the second shifter, the engaging portion being engageable with the second forward engagement member when the first rail is in the first rail forward position and the engaging portion being engageable with the second rear engagement member when the first rail is in the first rail rear position.

5. The manual transmission with a gearshift locking arrangement as set forth in claim 4 , comprising at least one of a compressed resilient member, hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure, and an electromagnet provided to urge the engaging portion into engagement with either of the first forward or rear engagement member and at least another one of a compressed resilient member, hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure, and an electromagnet provided to urge the engaging portion into engagement with either of the second forward or rear engagement members.

6. The manual transmission with a gearshift locking arrangement as set forth in claim 4 , comprising a detent arrangement for retaining the engaging portion in engagement with either of the second forward or rear engagement members.

7. The manual transmission with a gearshift locking arrangement as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the detent arrangement comprises a resilient member associated with the first slot and adapted to engage with a notch in the shift lever.

8. The manual transmission with a gearshift locking arrangement as set forth in claim 1 , comprising a third rail on a right side of the first rail, the second rail being disposed on a left side of the first rail, the third rail having a third shifter having a third slot between third forward and rear ears of the third shifter, wherein the first rail has first forward and rear engagement members on left and right sides of the first forward and rear ears of the tint shifter, and the engaging portion of the shift lever being movable between the first slot and the third slot, the shift lever being adapted to move the third rail between a third rail forward and rear position when the engaging portion is in the third slot, the engaging portion being engageable with the right-side first forward engagement member when the third rail is in the third rail forward position and the engaging portion being engageable with the right-side first rear engagement member when the third rail is in the third rail rear position.

9. The manual transmission with a gearshift locking arrangement as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the shift lever is adapted to move the first rail between a first rail forward and a rear position when the engaging portion is in the first slot.

10. The manual transmission with a gearshift locking arrangement as set forth in claim 9 , comprising second forward and rear engagement members provided on the second forward and rear ears of the second shifter, and third forward and rear engagement members provided on the third forward and rear ears of the third shifter, the engaging portion being engageable with at least one of the second forward engagement member and the third forward engagement member when the first rail is in the first mil forward position and the engaging portion being engageable with at least one of the second rear engagement member and the third rear engagement member when the first rail is in the first rail rear position.

11. The manual transmission with a gearshift locking arrangement as set forth in claim 10 , comprising a detent arrangement for retaining the engaging portion in engagement with any of the second forward or rear engagement members and the third forward or rear engagement members.

12. The manual transmission with a gearshift locking arrangement as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the detent arrangement comprises a resilient member associated with the first slot and adapted to engage with a notch in the shift lever.

13. The manual transmission with a gearshift locking arrangement as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the protrusion receiving recess and the protrusion engage with the first forward engagement member when the second rail is in the second rail forward position and with the first rear engagement member when the second rail is in the second rail rear position while the engaging portion is in the second slot.

14. A method of operating a gearshift mechanism, comprising:

moving an engaging portion of a shift lever between a first slot in a first shifter of a first rail, the first slot being disposed between first forward and rear ears of the first shifter, and a second slot in a second shifter of a second rail, the second slot being disposed between second forward and rear ears of the second shifter and the second shifter having only a single slot consisting of the second slot, the engaging portion comprising at least one of a protrusion receiving recess and a protrusion;

using the shift lever, moving the second rail one of forwardly and rearwardly relative to the first rail; and

when the second rail is moved forwardly, engaging with the engaging portion a first forward engagement member provided on the first forward ear of the first shifter and, when the second rail is moved rearwardly, engaging with the engaging portion a first rear engagement member provided on the first rear ear of the first shifter the forward engagement member, the rear engagement member being in the form of one of protrusions and protrusion receiving recesses for engaging with the engaging portion, by urging the engaging portion into engagement with either of the first forward or rear engagement members with at least one of a compressed resilient member, hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure, and an electromagnet.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14 , comprising, using the shift lever, moving the first rail one of forwardly and rearwardly relative to the second rail; and

when the first rail is moved forwardly, engaging with the engaging portion a second forward engagement member provided on the second forward ear of the second shifter and, when the first rail is moved rearwardly, engaging with the engaging portion a second rear engagement member provided on the second rear ear of the second shifter.

16. The method as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the at least one of the protrusion receiving recess and the protrusion engage With the first forward engagement member when the second rail is in the second rail forward position. and with the first rear engagement member when the second rail is in the second rail rear position while the engaging portion is in the second slot.