Transmission with dog clutch brake

1. A transmission comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of planetary gear sets disposed in the housing and each including a first member, a second member, and a third member;

a structural member secured to the housing, wherein the structural member includes a plurality of splines and defines a cavity;

a sprocket member rotationally supported by the structural member;

a first dog clutch member disposed in the cavity of the structural member, the first dog clutch including a plurality of splines and a plurality of dogteeth, wherein the plurality of splines are engaged with the plurality of splines of the structural member;

a second dog clutch member disposed substantially radially inward of the second dog clutch member and having an axis of rotation, the second dog clutch member including a plurality of dogteeth that are aligned with the dogteeth of the first dog clutch member at a common radial distance from the axis of rotation of the second dog clutch member, and wherein the second dog clutch member is rotationally coupled with at least one of the first, second, third members of at least one of the plurality of planetary gear sets; and

a biasing member disposed between the structural member and the first dog clutch member to bias the first dog clutch member out of engagement with the second dog clutch member.

2. The transmission of claim 1 further including a simple fluid coupling.

3. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the housing is aluminum and the structural member is cast iron.

4. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the cavity of the structural member is a cylinder bore, and wherein the second dog clutch member includes a piston portion disposed for translation through the cylinder bore.

5. The transmission of claim 4 wherein the structural member further defines a fluid passageway in fluid communication with the cylinder bore for communicating an actuation fluid.

6. The transmission of claim 1 further including a plurality of fluid seals, wherein a first of the plurality of fluid seals is disposed between the structural member and the first dog clutch member, a second of the plurality of fluid seals is disposed between the first dog clutch member and the second dog clutch member, and a third of the plurality of fluid seals is disposed between the second dog clutch member and the structural member.

7. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the plurality of planetary gear sets includes a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, and a fourth planetary gear set.

8. The transmission of claim 7 further comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the first member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the second planetary gear set;

a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the second member of the first planetary gear set with the third member of the third planetary gear set;

a third interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the third member of the first planetary gear set with the third member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a fourth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the first member of the second planetary gear set with the second member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a fifth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the third member of the second planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set;

a first torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the third planetary gear set with the input member, the first member of the second planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a second torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the second planetary gear set and the second member of the third planetary gear set with the input member, the first member of the second planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a third torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the third planetary gear set with the housing;

a fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the second planetary gear set with the housing; and

a sixth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the fourth planetary gear set with the housing, and

wherein the first dog clutch member, the second dog clutch member, and the biasing member form a fifth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the first planetary gear set and the third member of the fourth planetary gear set with the structural member, and

wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least ten forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.

9. The transmission of claim 8 wherein the input member is continuously connected for common rotation with the first member of the second planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set.

10. The transmission of claim 8 wherein the output member is continuously connected for common rotation with the second member of the first planetary gear set and to the third member of the third planetary gear set.

11. The transmission of claim 8 wherein the third member of the first planetary gear set, the third member of the fourth planetary gear set, the first member of the second planetary gear set and the first member of the third planetary gear set are sun gears, the second members of the first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets are carrier members and the first member of the first planetary gear set, the first member of the fourth planetary gear set, the third member of the second planetary gear set and the third member of the third planetary gear set are ring gears.

12. The transmission of claim 8 further including a seventh torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the second planetary gear set with the third member of the third planetary gear set and the second member of the first planetary gear set, and wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least twelve forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.

13. The transmission of claim 8 further including a seventh torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the third planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set, and wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least twelve forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.

14. The transmission of claim 8 wherein the third interconnecting member is integrally formed with the second dog clutch member.

15. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

a housing;

first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets disposed in the housing and each having first, second and third members;

a structural member secured to the housing, wherein the structural member includes a plurality of splines and defines a cavity;

a sprocket member rotationally supported by the structural member;

a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the first member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the second planetary gear set;

a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the second member of the first planetary gear set with the third member of the third planetary gear set;

a third interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the third member of the first planetary gear set with the third member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a fourth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the first member of the second planetary gear set with the second member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a fifth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the third member of the second planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set;

a first torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the third planetary gear set with the input member, the first member of the second planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a second torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the second planetary gear set and the second member of the third planetary gear set with the input member, the first member of the second planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a third torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the third planetary gear set with the housing;

a fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the second planetary gear set with the housing;

a fifth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the first planetary gear set and the third member of the fourth planetary gear set with the structural member, the fifth torque transmitting mechanism comprising:

a first dog clutch member disposed in the cavity of the structural member, the first dog clutch including a plurality of splines and a plurality of dogteeth, wherein the plurality of splines are engaged with the plurality of splines of the structural member;

a second dog clutch member disposed substantially radially inward of the second dog clutch member and integrally formed with the third interconnecting member, the second dog clutch member including a plurality of dogteeth that are aligned with the dogteeth of the first dog clutch member at a common radial distance from an axis of rotation of the second dog clutch member; and

a biasing member disposed between the structural member and the first dog clutch member to bias the first dog clutch member out of engagement with the second dog clutch member; and

a sixth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the fourth planetary gear set with the housing, and

wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least ten forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.

16. The transmission of claim 15 further including a simple fluid coupling connected to the input member.

17. The transmission of claim 15 wherein the housing is aluminum and the structural member is cast iron, and wherein the cavity of the structural member is a cylinder bore, and wherein the second dog clutch member includes a piston portion disposed for translation through the cylinder bore, and wherein the structural member further defines a fluid passageway in fluid communication with the cylinder bore for communicating an actuation fluid.

18. The transmission of claim 15 further including a plurality of fluid seals, wherein a first of the plurality of fluid seals is disposed between the structural member and the first dog clutch member, a second of the plurality of fluid seals is disposed between the first dog clutch member and the second dog clutch member, and a third of the plurality of fluid seals is disposed between the second dog clutch member and the structural member.

19. The transmission of claim 15 wherein the third member of the first planetary gear set, the third member of the fourth planetary gear set, the first member of the second planetary gear set and the first member of the third planetary gear set are sun gears, the second members of the first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets are carrier members and the first member of the first planetary gear set, the first member of the fourth planetary gear set, the third member of the second planetary gear set and the third member of the third planetary gear set are ring gears.

20. The transmission of claim 15 further including a seventh torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the second planetary gear set with the third member of the third planetary gear set and the second member of the first planetary gear set, and wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least twelve forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.

21. The transmission of claim 15 further including a seventh torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the third planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set, and wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least twelve forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.

22. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

a housing;

first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets disposed in the housing and each having a sun gear, a ring gear, and a carrier member;

a structural member secured to the housing, wherein the structural member includes a plurality of splines and defines a cavity;

a sprocket member rotationally supported by the structural member;

a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the ring gear of the first planetary gear set with the carrier member of the second planetary gear set;

a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the carrier member of the first planetary gear set with the ring gear of the third planetary gear set;

a third interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the sun gear of the first planetary gear set with the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set;

a fourth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the sun gear of the second planetary gear set with the carrier member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a fifth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the ring gear of the second planetary gear set with the carrier member of the third planetary gear set;

a first torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the sun gear of the third planetary gear set with the input member, the sun gear of the second planetary gear set and the carrier member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a second torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the ring gear of the second planetary gear set and the carrier member of the third planetary gear set with the input member, the sun gear of the second planetary gear set and the carrier member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a third torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the sun gear of the third planetary gear set with the housing;

a fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the carrier member of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear of the second planetary gear set with the housing;

a fifth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the sun gear of the first planetary gear set and the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set with the structural member, the fifth torque transmitting mechanism comprising:

a first dog clutch member disposed in the cavity of the structural member, the first dog clutch including a plurality of splines and a plurality of dogteeth, wherein the plurality of splines are engaged with the plurality of splines of the structural member;

a second dog clutch member disposed substantially radially inward of the second dog clutch member and integrally formed with the third interconnecting member, the second dog clutch member including a plurality of dogteeth that are aligned with the dogteeth of the first dog clutch member at a common radial distance from an axis of rotation of the second dog clutch member; and

a biasing member disposed between the structural member and the first dog clutch member to bias the first dog clutch member out of engagement with the second dog clutch member; and

a sixth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set with the housing, and

wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least ten forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.

23. The transmission of claim 22 further including a seventh torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the carrier member of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear of the second planetary gear set with the ring gear of the third planetary gear set and the carrier member of the first planetary gear set, and wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least twelve forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.

24. The transmission of claim 22 further including a seventh torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the sun gear of the third planetary gear set with the carrier member of the third planetary gear set, and wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least twelve forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.