Planetary layshaft transmission

1. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

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

first and second transfer gears each having a first member intermeshed with a second member, wherein the input member is continuously interconnected to at least one of the first and second transfer gears and the output member is continuously interconnected to at least one of the first and second planetary gear sets;

a layshaft continuously interconnecting the second gear of the first transfer gear with the first gear of the second transfer gear;

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 third member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the second planetary gear set; and

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

wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least eight 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 second transfer gear with the third member of the second planetary gear set.

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

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

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

6. The transmission of claim 5 wherein a fifth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the third 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 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.

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

9. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the first and second planetary gear sets are combined into a planetary gear assembly wherein the second member of the second planetary gear set and the first interconnecting member are integrated into the third member of the first planetary gear set and the first member of the second planetary gear set and the second interconnecting member are integrated into the second member of the first planetary gear set.

10. The transmission of claim 9 wherein the first member of the first planetary gear set and the third member of the second planetary gear set are sun gears, the second member of the first planetary gear set is a carrier member, and the third member of the first planetary gear set is a ring gear.

11. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the input member is continuously interconnected to the first member of the first transfer gear.

12. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the output member is continuously interconnected to the third member of the first planetary gear set.

13. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

a planetary gear assembly having first, second, third, and fourth members;

a first co-planar gear set having a first member intermeshed with a second member;

a second co-planar gear set having a first member intermeshed with a second member;

an interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the second member of the first co-planar gear with the first member of the second co-planar gear;

a first torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the second co-planar gear set with the second member of the planetary gear assembly;

a second torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the second co-planar gear set with the first member of the planetary gear assembly;

a third torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the first co-planar gear set and the input member with the third member of the planetary gear assembly;

a fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the first co-planar gear set and the input member with the first member of the planetary gear assembly;

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

a sixth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the planetary gear assembly with the stationary member, and

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

14. The transmission of claim 13 wherein the first member of the planetary gear assembly is a sun gear, the second member of the planetary gear assembly is a sun gear, the third member of the planetary gear assembly is a carrier member, and the fourth member of the planetary gear assembly is a ring gear.

15. The transmission of claim 14 wherein the input member is continuously interconnected to the first member of the first co-planar gear set.

16. The transmission of claim 15 wherein the output member is continuously interconnected to the fourth member of the planetary gear assembly.

17. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

a planetary gear assembly having first, second, third, and fourth members;

a first co-planar gear set having a first member intermeshed with a second member;

a second co-planar gear set having a first member intermeshed with a second member;

an interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the second member of the first co-planar gear with the first member of the second co-planar gear;

a first torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the second co-planar gear set with the second member of the planetary gear assembly;

a second torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the second co-planar gear set with the first member of the planetary gear assembly;

a third torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the first co-planar gear set and the input member with the third member of the planetary gear assembly;

a fourth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the first co-planar gear set and the input member with the first member of the planetary gear assembly;

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

a sixth torque transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the planetary gear assembly with the stationary member, and

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

18. The transmission of claim 17 wherein the first member of the planetary gear assembly is a sun gear, the second member of the planetary gear assembly is a sun gear, the third member of the planetary gear assembly is a carrier member, and the fourth member of the planetary gear assembly is a ring gear.

19. The transmission of claim 17 wherein the input member is continuously interconnected to the first member of the first co-planar gear set and the output member is continuously interconnected to the fourth member of the planetary gear assembly.