IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,128,527
Granted Patent B2
US 8,128,527 · App. 12/371,086 · Granted Mar 6, 2012

Multi-speed transmission

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,128,527
App. No.
12/371,086
Granted
Mar 6, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least ten forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.

Claims (53)

1. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members;

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

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

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

six torque transmitting devices selectively engageable to interconnect one of the first, second, and third members with at least one other of the first members, second members, third members, and a stationary member, and

wherein the torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least ten 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 devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the input member with the third member of the first planetary gear set.

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

4. The transmission of claim 3 wherein a third of the six torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the input member with at least one of the second member of the third planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set.

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

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

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

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

9. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the input member is selectively interconnected with at least one of the third member of the third planetary gear set, the third member of the first planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set and wherein the output member is continuously interconnected with the third member of the fourth planetary gear set.

10. The transmission of claim 1 wherein two of the six torque transmitting devices are brakes and four of the six torque transmitting devices are clutches.

11. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the stationary member is a transmission housing.

12. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

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

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

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

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

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

a second torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the second planetary gear set with the second member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a third torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the input member with at least one of the second member of the third planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a fourth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the third planetary gear set with the input member; and

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

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

wherein the torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least ten 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 the first member of the first planetary gear set, the first member of the second planetary gear set, the third member of the third planetary gear set and the first member of the fourth planetary gear set are sun gears, the second member of the first planetary gear set, the second member of the second planetary gear set, the second member of the third planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set are carrier members and the third member of the first planetary gear set, third member of the second planetary gear set, the first member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the fourth planetary gear set are ring gears.

14. The transmission of claim 12 wherein the stationary member is a transmission housing.

15. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets each having sun gears, carrier members and ring gears, wherein the output member is continuously interconnected with the ring gear member of the fourth planetary gear set;

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

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

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

a first torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the input member with the ring gear member of the first planetary gear set;

a second torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set with the carrier member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a third torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the input member with at least one of the carrier member of the third planetary gear set and the carrier member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a fourth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the sun gear member of the third planetary gear set with the input member; and

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

a sixth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the carrier member of the second planetary gear set with the stationary member; and

wherein the torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three 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 wherein the stationary member is a transmission housing.