Multi-speed transmission having three planetary gear sets

1. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

first, second, and third planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members, wherein the input member is continuously interconnected to the first member of the first planetary gear set and the output member is continuously interconnected to the first member of the third planetary gear set;

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

a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the second member of the second 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 second planetary gear set; and

six torque transmitting mechanisms each selectively engageable to interconnect one of the first, second, and third members of the planetary gear sets with another one of the first members, second members, and third members of the planetary gear sets, and a stationary member, and

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

2. The transmission of claim 1 wherein a first of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the first planetary gear set and the first member of the second planetary gear set with the stationary member.

3. The transmission of claim 2 wherein a second of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the first planetary gear set and the third member of the second planetary gear set with the stationary member.

4. The transmission of claim 3 wherein a third of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the second planetary gear set and the third member of the third planetary gear set with the stationary member.

5. The transmission of claim 4 wherein a fourth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the third planetary gear set with the stationary member.

6. The transmission of claim 5 wherein a fifth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the first planetary gear set and the first member of the second planetary gear set with the first member of the third planetary gear set.

7. The transmission of claim 6 wherein a sixth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set.

8. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the third members of the first, second, and third planetary gear sets are sun gears, the second members of the first and second planetary gear sets and the first member of the third planetary gear set are carrier members, and the first members of the first and second planetary gear sets and the second member of the third planetary gear set are ring gears.

9. The transmission of claim 1 wherein four of the torque transmitting mechanisms are brakes and two of the torque transmitting mechanisms are clutches.

10. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

first, second, and third planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members, wherein the input member is continuously interconnected to the first member of the first planetary gear set and the output member is continuously interconnected to the first member of the third planetary gear set;

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

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

a first torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the first planetary gear set and the first member of the second planetary gear set with a stationary member;

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

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

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

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

a sixth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the first 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 a plurality of forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.

11. The transmission of claim 10 wherein the third members of the first, second, and third planetary gear sets are sun gears, the second members of the first and second planetary gear sets and the first member of the third planetary gear set are carrier members, and the first members of the first and second planetary gear sets and the second member of the third planetary gear set are ring gears.

12. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

first, second, and third planetary gear sets each having a first member, a second member, and a third member, wherein the input member is continuously interconnected to the first member of the first planetary gear set and the output member is continuously interconnected to the first member of the third planetary gear set;

a plurality of interconnecting members each connecting one of the first, second, and third members of the planetary gear sets with another one of the first member, second member, and third member of the planetary gear sets;

a first torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the first planetary gear set and the first member of the second planetary gear set with a stationary member;

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

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

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

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

a sixth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the first 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 a plurality of forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.

13. The transmission of claim 12 wherein a first of the plurality of interconnecting members continuously interconnects the second member of the first planetary gear set with the first member of the second planetary gear set.

14. The transmission of claim 13 wherein a second of the plurality of interconnecting members continuously interconnects the second member of the second planetary gear set with the third member of the third planetary gear set.

15. The transmission of claim 14 wherein a third of the plurality of interconnecting members continuously interconnects the third member of the first planetary gear set with the third member of the second planetary gear set.

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