Dual torque path transmission with switchable radially displacing one-way clutch and fluid coupling brake

1. A transmission for a vehicle, comprising:

an input shaft;

a first dual planetary gearset including first and second planetary gearsets and a first switch for connecting and disconnecting the first planetary gearset from the input shaft;

a second dual planetary gearset including third and fourth planetary gearsets and a second switch for connecting and disconnecting the third planetary gearset from the input shaft;

third and fourth switches; and,

first and second brakes, wherein said first and second dual planetary gearsets are arranged to transmit torque, independent of each other, from the input shaft for said transmission to an output for said transmission, wherein said third switch is arranged to connect a sun for said second planetary gearset to said first brake in a first position and to connect a carrier for said second planetary gearset in a second position and wherein said fourth switch is arranged to connect a sun for said fourth planetary gearset to said second brake in a third position and to connect a carrier for said fourth planetary gearset in a fourth position.

2. The transmission of claim 1 wherein in a gear for said transmission, one of said first or second dual gearsets is arranged to transmit said torque to said output and the other of said first or second dual gearsets is arranged to be ungrounded.

3. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the first and second brakes are arranged to ground a respective portion of said first and second dual planetary gearsets, respectively.

4. The transmission of claim 3 wherein said second and fourth planetary gearsets are connected to said first and second brakes, respectively.

5. The transmission of claim 1 wherein said first and second switches further comprise at least one first and second clutch, respectively.

6. The transmission of claim 1 wherein in first and second positions for said first switch, a sun and a ring, respectively, for said first planetary gearset are arranged to connect to said input shaft and wherein in first and second positions for said second switch, a sun and a ring, respectively, for said third planetary gearset are arranged to connect to said input shaft.

7. The transmission of claim 6 further comprising at least one first and second one-way clutch, connected to the first and second switches, respectively.

8. A transmission for a vehicle, comprising:

an input shaft;

a first dual planetary gearset disconnectable from the input shaft and including a first carrier; and,

a second dual planetary gearset disconnectable from the input shaft and including a second carrier, wherein said first and second dual planetary gearsets are each separately connected to a single output for said transmission, wherein the first dual planetary gearset includes first and second sun gears, wherein the second dual planetary gearset includes third and fourth sun gears, and wherein the first and second carriers are directly connected to the output.

9. A transmission for a vehicle, comprising:

first and second separate torque paths connected to a single output for said transmission;

first and second brakes connected to said first and second torque paths and arranged to switch torque from an input shaft for said transmission between said first and second torque paths; and,

first and second dual planetary gearsets disposed in said first and second torque paths, respectively, wherein:

the first brake is connectable and disconnectable to two separate components of the first dual planetary gearset;

the first brake is for grounding the two separate components of the first dual planetary gearset to a casing for the transmission;

the second brake is connectable and disconnectable to two separate components of the second dual planetary gearset; and,

the second brake is for grounding the two separate components of the second dual planetary gearset to the casing.