Single rail shift actuator for a manual transmission

A single rail shift actuator for a manual transmission is disclosed herein. The shift actuator comprises a support rail adapted to be fixedly attached to a transmission case and has a plurality of slots disposed therein. Each slot houses an actuation pin and a resilient member. A camshaft is transversely and rotatably supported within the support rail. The camshaft has a plurality of radially and transversely disposed recesses which are formed thereon. Each recess corresponds to one of the actuation pins. A plurality of actuation sleeves are transversely and rotatably mounted on the camshaft. Each of the actuation sleeves has an aperture of receiving one of the actuation pins. Each of the actuation pins is at least partially disposed within each of the apertures. Only one actuation sleeve may be selected at a time for shifting the transmission. Each nonselected actuation sleeve is coupled to the support rail by a corresponding actuation pin. A selected actuation sleeve is coupled to the camshaft by rotation of the camshaft allowing an actuation pin to be urged into the corresponding aperture by a resilient member. A plurality of shift forks are provided for selecting and deselecting gears. Each shift fork is fixedly attached to one of the actuation sleeves. Rotation of the cam is provided by a rotation actuator and translation of the cam is provided by a translation actuator. As such, the present invention may be adapted to automate a manual transmission or may be operated by manual means.