IP Library Granted Patent US 7,018,318
Granted Patent B2
US 7,018,318 · App. 10/819,448 · Granted Mar 28, 2006

Seven-speed transmission

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,018,318
App. No.
10/819,448
Granted
Mar 28, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A seven-speed transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, and three planetary gear sets. An interconnecting member continuously connects members of the second and third planetary gear sets. Six torque-transmitting mechanisms are provided between the planetary gear sets and a transmission housing. The six torque-transmitting mechanisms are engaged in combinations of two to establish seven forward speed ratios and a reverse speed ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft. A unique engagement sequence is provided for the torque-transmitting mechanisms to minimize sun gear loading.

Claims (59)

1. A multi-speed transmission comprising:

an input shaft;

an output shaft;

a planetary gear arrangement having first, second and third planetary gear sets, each planetary gear set having first, second and third members;

said input shaft being continuously interconnected with said first member of said first planetary gear set, and said output shaft being continuously interconnected with said first member of said third planetary gear set;

said first member of said second planetary gear set being integrally connected with said first member of said third planetary gear set; and said third member of said first planetary gear set being continuously connected with a transmission housing;

an interconnecting member continuously interconnecting said second member of said second planetary gear set with said second member of said third planetary gear set;

a first torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set with said third member of said third planetary gear set;

a second torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said first member of said first planetary gear set with said third member of said third planetary gear set;

a third torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said third member of said second planetary gear set with said transmission housing;

a fourth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set with said third member of said second planetary gear set;

a fifth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said first member of said first planetary gear set with said second member of said third planetary gear set; and

a sixth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said second member of said second planetary gear set with said transmission housing;

wherein a first forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said first and sixth torque-transmitting mechanisms; a second forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said second and sixth torque-transmitting mechanisms; a third forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said second and third torque-transmitting mechanisms; a fourth forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said second and fourth torque-transmitting mechanisms; a fifth forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said second and fifth torque-transmitting mechanisms; a sixth forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said fourth and fifth torque-transmitting mechanisms; and a seventh forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said third and fifth torque-transmitting mechanisms.

2. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein said first member of said second planetary gear set and said first member of said third planetary gear set comprise a single elongated ring gear.

3. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein said first and second planetary gear sets are simple planetary gear sets, and said third planetary gear set is a compound planetary gear set.

4. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein each of said first members is a ring gear, each of said second members is a planet carrier assembly member, and each of said third members is a sun gear.

5. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein said first, second, fourth and fifth torque-transmitting mechanisms comprise rotating clutches, and said third and sixth torque-transmitting mechanisms comprise brakes.

6. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein said fifth forward speed ratio is a 1:1 ratio.

7. The transmission of claim 4 , wherein said ring gear of said first planetary gear set has 79 teeth; said sun gear of said first planetary gear set has 49 teeth; said ring gear of said second planetary gear set has 79 teeth; said sun gear of said second planetary gear set has 49 teeth; said ring gear of said third planetary gear set has 79 teeth; and said sun gear of said third planetary gear set has 31 teeth.

8. The transmission of claim 4 , wherein said ring gear of said first planetary gear set has 79 teeth; said sun gear of said first planetary gear set has 39 teeth; said ring gear of said second planetary gear set has 79 teeth; said sun gear of said second planetary gear set has 45 teeth; said ring gear of said third planetary gear set has 79 teeth; and said sun gear of said third planetary gear set has 39 teeth.

9. A multi-speed transmission comprising:

an input shaft;

an output shaft;

a planetary gear arrangement having first, second and third planetary gear sets, each planetary gear set having a ring gear, a planet carrier assembly member, and a sun gear;

said input shaft being continuously interconnected with said ring gear of said first planetary gear set, and said output shaft being continuously interconnected with said ring gear of said third planetary gear set;

said ring gear of said second planetary gear set being integrally connected with said ring gear of said third planetary gear set; and said sun gear of said first planetary gear set being continuously connected with a transmission housing;

an interconnecting member continuously interconnecting said planet carrier assembly member of said second planetary gear set with said planet carrier assembly member of said third planetary gear set;

a first torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said planet carrier assembly member of said first planetary gear set with said sun gear of said third planetary gear set;

a second torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said ring gear of said first planetary gear set with said sun gear of said third planetary gear set;

a third torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said sun gear of said second planetary gear set with said transmission housing;

a fourth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said planet carrier assembly member of said first planetary gear set with said sun gear of said second planetary gear set;

a fifth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said ring gear of said first planetary gear set with said planet carrier assembly member of said third planetary gear set;

a sixth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said planet carrier assembly member of said second planetary gear set with said transmission housing; and

wherein a first forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said first and sixth torque-transmitting mechanisms; a second forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said second and sixth torque-transmitting mechanisms; a third forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said second and third torque-transmitting mechanisms; a fourth forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said second and fourth torque-transmitting mechanisms; a fifth forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said second and fifth torque-transmitting mechanisms; a sixth forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said fourth and fifth torque-transmitting mechanisms; and a seventh forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said third and fifth torque-transmitting mechanisms.

10. The transmission of claim 9 , wherein said ring gear of said second planetary gear set and said ring gear of said third planetary gear set comprise a single elongated ring gear.

11. The transmission of claim 9 , wherein said first and second planetary gear sets are simple planetary gear sets, and said third planetary gear set is a compound planetary gear set.

12. The transmission of claim 9 , wherein said first, second, fourth and fifth torque-transmitting mechanisms comprise rotating clutches, and said third and sixth torque-transmitting mechanisms comprise brakes.

13. The transmission of claim 9 , wherein said fifth forward speed ratio is a 1:1 ratio.

14. The transmission of claim 9 , wherein said ring gear of said first planetary gear set has 79 teeth; said sun gear of said first planetary gear set has 49 teeth; said ring gear of said second planetary gear set has 79 teeth; said sun gear of said second planetary gear set has 49 teeth; said ring gear of said third planetary gear set has 79 teeth; and said sun gear of said third planetary gear set has 31 teeth.

15. The transmission of claim 9 , wherein said ring gear of said first planetary gear set has 79 teeth; said sun gear of said first planetary gear set has 39 teeth; said ring gear of said second planetary gear set has 79 teeth; said sun gear of said second planetary gear set has 45 teeth; said ring gear of said third planetary gear set has 79 teeth; and said sun gear of said third planetary gear set has 39 teeth.

16. A multi-speed transmission comprising:

an input shaft;

an output shaft;

a planetary gear arrangement having first, second and third planetary gear sets, each planetary gear set having a ring gear, a planet carrier assembly member, and a sun gear;

wherein said first and second planetary gear sets are simple planetary gear sets, and said third planetary gear set is a compound planetary gear set;

said input shaft being continuously interconnected with said ring gear of said first planetary gear set, and said output shaft being continuously interconnected with said ring gear of said third planetary gear set;

said ring gear of said second planetary gear set being integrally connected with said ring gear of said third planetary gear set; and said sun gear of said first planetary gear set being continuously connected with a transmission housing;

an interconnecting member continuously interconnecting said planet carrier assembly member of said second planetary gear set with said planet carrier assembly member of said third planetary gear set;

a first torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said planet carrier assembly member of said first planetary gear set with said sun gear of said third planetary gear set;

a second torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said ring gear of said first planetary gear set with said sun gear of said third planetary gear set, wherein said second torque-transmitting mechanism is positioned between said first and second planetary gear sets;

a third torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said sun gear of said second planetary gear set with said transmission housing;

a fourth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said planet carrier assembly member of said first planetary gear set with said sun gear of said second planetary gear set;

a fifth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said ring gear of said first planetary gear set with said planet carrier assembly member of said third planetary gear set;

a sixth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting said planet carrier assembly member of said second planetary gear set with said transmission housing;

wherein a first forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said first and sixth torque-transmitting mechanisms; a second forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said second and sixth torque-transmitting mechanisms; a third forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said second and third torque-transmitting mechanisms; a fourth forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said second and fourth torque-transmitting mechanisms; a fifth forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said second and fifth torque-transmitting mechanisms; a sixth forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said fourth and fifth torque-transmitting mechanisms; and a seventh forward speed ratio is established with the engagement of said third and fifth torque-transmitting mechanisms; and

wherein said ring gear of said first planetary gear set has 79 teeth; said sun gear of said first planetary gear set has 39 teeth; said ring gear of said second planetary gear set has 79 teeth; said sun gear of said second planetary gear set has 45 teeth; said ring gear of said third planetary gear set has 79 teeth; and said sun gear of said third planetary gear set has 39 teeth.

17. The transmission housing of claim 16 , wherein said first, second, fourth and fifth torque-transmitting mechanisms comprise rotating clutches, and said third and sixth torque-transmitting mechanisms comprise brakes.

18. The transmission of claim 16 , wherein said planet carrier assembly member of said second planetary gear set is continuously connected with said planet carrier assembly member of said third planetary gear set.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034371/0676 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025780/0902 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025327/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0442 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025311/0770 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0052 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023127/0468 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0429 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022553/0446 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0610 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2009
From: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022117/0022 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2004
From: KLEMEN, DONALD; WAGNER, RICHARD L.
To: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014917/0229 →