Ranged dual clutch transmission for motor vehicles

1. A multiple speed power transmission, comprising:

first and second input shafts;

an output shaft;

a layshaft;

a first set of selectable torque paths between the first input shaft and layshaft;

a second set of selectable torque paths between the second input shaft and layshaft;

a third set of selectable torque paths between the layshaft and the output shaft; and

a selectable bridge torque path between the first input shaft and the output shaft.

2. The transmission of claim 1 , further comprising:

an input;

a first clutch driveably connected to the input and first input shaft for alternately connecting and disconnecting the input and the first input shaft; and

a second clutch driveably connected to the input and second input shaft for alternately connecting and disconnecting the input and the second input shaft.

3. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the first set of torque paths comprises:

first and second pinions secured to the first input shaft;

first and second gears journalled on the layshaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the first and second pinions, respectively; and

a first coupler secured to the layshaft for releasably coupling the first gear and second gear alternately to the layshaft.

4. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the first set of torque paths comprises:

a first pinion secured to the first input shaft;

a first gear journalled on the layshaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the first pinion; and

a first coupler secured to the layshaft for releasably coupling the first gear to the layshaft.

5. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the second set of torque paths comprises:

third and fourth pinions secured to the second input shaft;

third and fourth gears journalled on the layshaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the third and fourth pinions, respectively; and

a second coupler secured to the layshaft for releasably coupling the third gear and fourth gear alternately to the layshaft.

6. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the third set of torque paths comprises:

a low range selectable torque path; and

a high range selectable torque path.

7. The transmission of claim 6 , wherein the third set of torque paths further comprises:

a reverse range selectable torque path that causes the output shaft to rotate in an opposite direction from a direction of rotation of the output shaft produced by the low range torque path and the high range torque path.

8. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the third set of torque paths comprises:

fifth and sixth pinions journalled on the layshaft;

fifth and sixth gears secured to the output shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the fifth and sixth pinions, respectively; and

a third coupler secured to the layshaft for releasably coupling the fifth pinion and sixth pinion alternately to the layshaft.

9. The transmission of claim 8 , wherein the third set of torque paths further comprises:

an idler shaft;

a seventh pinion secured to the layshaft;

a seventh gear journalled on the idler shaft and driveably connected to the seventh pinion;

an eighth pinion secured to the idler shaft in continuous meshing engagement with the fifth gear; and

a fourth coupler secured to the idler shaft for releasably coupling the seventh gear to the idler shaft.

10. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the third set of torque paths comprises:

an auxiliary shaft;

a sun gear secured to the auxiliary shaft;

a planet carrier driveably connected to the output shaft;

a ring gear secured against rotation;

a set of planet gears supported on the planet carrier and in continuous meshing engagement with the sun gear and ring gear;

ninth and tenth pinions journalled on the layshaft;

a ninth gear secured to the auxiliary shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the ninth pinion;

a tenth gear driveably connected to the output shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the tenth pinion; and

a third coupler secured to the layshaft for releasably coupling the ninth pinion and tenth pinion alternately to the layshaft.

11. The transmission of claim 10 , wherein the third set of torque paths further comprises:

an idler shaft;

a seventh pinion secured to the layshaft;

a seventh gear journalled on the idler shaft and driveably connected to the seventh pinion;

an eleventh pinion secured to the idler shaft;

an eleventh gear secured to the auxiliary shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the eleventh pinion; and

a fourth coupler secured to the idler shaft for releasably coupling the seventh gear to the idler shaft.

12. The transmission of claim 8 , wherein the bridge torque path comprises:

an idler shaft;

a second pinion secured to the first input shaft;

a second gear journalled on the idler shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the second pinion;

an eighth pinion secured to the idler shaft;

a fifth gear secured to the output shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the eighth pinion; and

a fourth coupler secured to the idler shaft for releasably coupling the second gear to the idler shaft.

13. The transmission of claim 10 wherein the bridge torque path comprises:

a first pinion secured to the first input shaft;

an idler shaft;

an eleventh pinion secured to the idler shaft;

an eleventh gear secured to the auxiliary shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the eleventh pinion;

a thirteenth gear journalled on the idler shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the first pinion; and

a fourth coupler secured to the idler shaft for releasably coupling the thirteenth gear to the idler shaft.

14. A multiple speed power transmission, comprising:

an input;

first and second input shafts;

a first clutch driveably connected to the input and first input shaft for alternately connecting and disconnecting the input and the first input shaft;

a second clutch driveably connected to the input and second input shaft for alternately connecting and disconnecting the input and the second input shaft;

an output shaft;

a layshaft;

a first set of selectable torque paths between the first input shaft and layshaft;

a second set of selectable torque paths between the second input shaft and layshaft;

a third set of selectable torque paths between the layshaft and the output shaft; and

a selectable bridge torque path between the first input shaft and the output shaft.

15. The transmission of claim 14 , wherein the first set of torque paths comprises:

first and second pinions secured to the first input shaft;

first and second gears journalled on the layshaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the first and second pinions, respectively; and

a first coupler secured to the layshaft for releasably coupling the first gear and second gear alternately to the layshaft.

16. The transmission of claim 14 , wherein the first set of torque paths comprises:

a first pinion secured to the first input shaft;

a first gear journalled on the layshaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the first pinion; and

a first coupler secured to the layshaft for releasably coupling the first gear to the layshaft.

17. The transmission of claim 14 , wherein the second set of torque paths comprises:

third and fourth pinions secured to the second input shaft;

third and fourth gears journalled on the layshaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the third and fourth pinions, respectively; and

a second coupler secured to the layshaft for releasably coupling the third gear and fourth gear alternately to the layshaft.

18. The transmission of claim 14 , wherein the third set of torque paths comprises:

a low range selectable torque path; and

a high range selectable torque path.

19. The transmission of claim 18 , wherein the third set of torque paths further comprises:

a reverse range selectable torque path that causes the output shaft to rotate in an opposite direction from a direction of rotation of the output shaft produced by the low range torque path and the high range torque path.

20. The transmission of claim 14 , wherein the third set of torque paths comprises:

fifth and sixth pinions journalled on the layshaft;

fifth and sixth gears secured to the output shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the fifth and sixth pinions, respectively; and

a third coupler secured to the layshaft for releasably coupling the fifth pinion and sixth pinion alternately to the layshaft.

21. The transmission of claim 20 , wherein the third set of torque paths further comprises:

an idler shaft;

a seventh pinion secured to the layshaft;

a seventh gear journalled on the idler shaft and driveably connected to the seventh pinion;

an eighth pinion secured to the idler shaft in continuous meshing engagement with the fifth gear; and

a fourth coupler secured to the idler shaft for releasably coupling the seventh gear to the idler shaft.

22. The transmission of claim 14 , wherein the third set of torque paths comprises:

an auxiliary shaft;

a sun gear secured to the auxiliary shaft;

a planet carrier driveably connected to the output shaft and auxiliary shaft;

a ring gear secured against rotation;

a set of planet gears supported on the planet carrier and in continuous meshing engagement with the sun gear and ring gear;

ninth and tenth pinions journalled on the layshaft;

a ninth gear secured to the auxiliary shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the ninth pinion;

a tenth gear driveably connected to the output shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the tenth pinion; and

a third coupler secured to the layshaft for releasably coupling the ninth pinion and tenth pinion alternately to the layshaft.

23. The transmission of claim 22 , wherein the third set of torque paths further comprises:

an idler shaft;

a seventh pinion secured to the layshaft;

a seventh gear journalled on the idler shaft and driveably connected to the seventh pinion;

an eleventh pinion secured to the idler shaft;

an eleventh gear secured to the auxiliary shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the eleventh pinion; and

a fourth coupler secured to the idler shaft for releasably coupling the seventh gear to the idler shaft.

24. The transmission of claim 21 , wherein the bridge torque path comprises:

an idler shaft;

a second pinion secured to the first input shaft;

a second gear journalled on the idler shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the second pinion;

an eighth pinion secured to the idler shaft;

a fifth gear secured to the output shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the eighth pinion; and

a fourth coupler secured to the idler shaft for releasably coupling the second gear to the idler shaft.

25. The transmission of claim 22 , wherein the bridge torque path comprises:

a first pinion secured to the first input shaft;

an idler shaft;

an eleventh pinion secured to the idler shaft;

an eleventh gear secured to the auxiliary shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the eleventh pinion;

a thirteenth gear journalled on the idler shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the first pinion; and

a fourth coupler secured to the idler shaft for releasably coupling the thirteenth gear to the idler shaft.