Eight speed automatic transmission

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 rotary member formed by directly connecting the third member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set;

a second rotary member formed by directly connecting the first member of the second planetary gear set with the first member of the third planetary gear set;

a third rotary member formed by directly connecting the third member of the third planetary gear set with the first member of the fourth planetary gear set; and

five torque transmitting devices each selectively engageable to interconnect one of the first members, second members, third members, first rotary member, second rotary member, and third rotary member with at least one of another of the first members, second members, third members, first rotary member, second rotary member, third rotary member, and a stationary member, and

wherein the torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member, and

wherein at least two torque transmitting devices are disengaged in each of the at least eight forward speed ratios and the at least one reverse speed ratio.

2. The transmission of claim 1 wherein a first of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the second rotary member with the second member of the first planetary gear set.

3. The transmission of claim 2 wherein a second of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the second planetary gear set with at least one of the second member of the fourth planetary gear set and the output member.

4. The transmission of claim 3 wherein a third of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the second rotary member with the third rotary member.

5. The transmission of claim 4 wherein a fourth of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the first planetary gear with the stationary member.

6. The transmission of claim 5 wherein a fifth of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the fourth planetary gear set with the stationary member.

7. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the first members are sun gears, the second members are carrier members, and the third members are ring gears.

8. The transmission of claim 1 further including a fourth rotary member formed by interconnecting at least two of the input member, the first member of the first planetary gear set, and the second member of the second planetary gear set, and wherein the output member is continuously interconnected with the second member of the fourth planetary gear set.

9. The transmission of claim 1 wherein a first of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the first planetary gear set with the third member of the second planetary gear set.

10. The transmission of claim 9 wherein a second of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the second rotary member with the second member of the first planetary gear set.

11. The transmission of claim 10 wherein a third of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the second member of the fourth planetary gear set and the output member with the third member of the second planetary gear set.

12. The transmission of claim 11 wherein a fourth of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the first rotary member with the stationary member.

13. The transmission of claim 12 wherein a fifth of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the fourth planetary gear set with the stationary member.

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

15. The transmission of claim 1 wherein a first of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the second planetary gear set with the first rotary member.

16. The transmission of claim 15 wherein a second of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the second planetary gear set with the second member of the first planetary gear set.

17. The transmission of claim 16 wherein a third of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the second member of the fourth planetary gear set and the output member with the second member of the first planetary gear set.

18. The transmission of claim 17 wherein a fourth of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the second rotary member with the stationary member.

19. The transmission of claim 18 wherein a fifth of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the fourth planetary gear set with the stationary member.

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

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

22. 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 input member is continuously interconnected with the first member of the first planetary gear set and the second member of the second planetary gear set and the output member is continuously interconnected with the second member of the fourth planetary gear set;

at least three rotary members formed by interconnecting at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth members with another of the first, second, third, and fourth members;

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

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

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

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

a fifth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the fourth planetary gear set with the stationary member, and

wherein the torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member, and

wherein at least two torque transmitting devices are disengaged in each of the at least eight forward speed ratios and the at least one reverse speed ratio.

23. The transmission of claim 22 wherein the first members are sun gears, the second members are carrier members, and the third members are ring gears.

24. The transmission of claim 22 wherein a first of the at least three rotary members is formed by interconnecting the third member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set, a second of the at least three rotary members is formed by interconnecting the first member of the second planetary gear set with the first member of the third planetary gear set, and a third of the at least three rotary members is formed by interconnecting the third member of the third planetary gear set with the first member of the fourth planetary gear set.