Multi-speed 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 torque transmitting device selectively engageable to connect the third member of the second planetary gear set with the output member;

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

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

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

a fifth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to connect the first member of the fourth planetary gear set with a stationary member;

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

at least five continuous connections from at least one of the first members, the second members, the third members, and the stationary member to at least one other of the first members, the second members, and the third members, and

wherein the torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least nine 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 the at least five continuous connections include a first continuous connection between the first member of the first planetary gear set and the first member of the second planetary gear set, a second continuous connection between the first member of the first planetary gear set and the third member of the third planetary gear set, a third continuous connection between the second member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the fourth planetary gear set, a fourth continuous connection between the second member of the second planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set, and a fifth continuous connection between the third member of the first planetary gear set and the stationary member.

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

4. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the input member is continuously connected with at least one of the second member of the second planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set.

5. 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 first members of the first and second planetary gear sets and the third member of the third planetary gear set are connected to form a first rotary member, the second member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the fourth planetary gear set are connected to form a second rotary member, the second members of the second and fourth planetary gear sets are connected to form a third rotary member, and the third member of the first planetary gear set is continuously connected with a stationary member;

a first torque transmitting device selectively engageable to connect the third member of the second planetary gear set with the output member;

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

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

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

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

a sixth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to connect the second rotary member with the stationary member, and

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

6. The transmission of claim 5 wherein the input member is continuously connected with the third rotary member.

7. The transmission of claim 5 wherein the second, third, and sixth torque transmitting mechanisms are engaged in one of the at least one reverse speed ratios.

8. The transmission of claim 7 wherein the second, third, and fourth torque transmitting mechanisms are engaged in a first of the at least nine forward speed ratios.

9. The transmission of claim 8 wherein the second, fourth, and fifth torque transmitting mechanisms are engaged in a second of the at least nine forward speed ratios.

10. The transmission of claim 9 wherein the second, third, and fifth torque transmitting mechanisms are engaged in a third of the at least nine forward speed ratios.

11. The transmission of claim 10 wherein the first, second, and fifth torque transmitting mechanisms are engaged in a fourth of the at least nine forward speed ratios.

12. The transmission of claim 11 wherein the first, third, and fifth torque transmitting mechanisms are engaged in a fifth of the at least nine forward speed ratios.

13. The transmission of claim 12 wherein the first, fourth, and fifth torque transmitting mechanisms are engaged in a sixth of the at least nine forward speed ratios.

14. The transmission of claim 13 wherein the first, third, and fourth torque transmitting mechanisms are engaged in a seventh of the at least nine forward speed ratios.

15. The transmission of claim 14 wherein the first, fourth, and sixth torque transmitting mechanisms are engaged in an eighth of the at least nine forward speed ratios.

16. The transmission of claim 15 wherein the first, third, and sixth torque transmitting mechanisms are engaged in a ninth of the at least nine forward speed ratios.

17. The transmission of claim 5 wherein the first members of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets are sun gears, the second members of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets are carrier members, and the third members of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets are ring gears.

18. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets each having a sun gear, a carrier member, and a ring gear, wherein the sun gears of the first and second planetary gear sets and the ring gear of the third planetary gear set are connected to form a first rotary member, the carrier member of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set are connected to form a second rotary member, the carrier members of the second and fourth planetary gear sets and the input member are connected to form a third rotary member, and the ring gear of the first planetary gear set is continuously connected with a stationary member;

a first torque transmitting device selectively engageable to connect the ring gear of the second planetary gear set with the output member;

a second torque transmitting device selectively engageable to connect the carrier member of the first planetary gear set with the output member;

a third torque transmitting device selectively engageable to connect the sun gear of the third planetary gear set with the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set;

a fourth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to connect the sun gear of the third planetary gear set with the second rotary member;

a fifth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to connect the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set with the stationary member; and

a sixth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to connect the second rotary member with the stationary member, and

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

19. The transmission of claim 18 wherein the first torque transmitting device is engaged in a fourth through a ninth of the at least nine forward speed ratios, the second torque transmitting device is engaged in a first through the fourth of the at least nine forward speed ratios and a first of the at least one reverse speed ratios, the third torque transmitting device is engaged in the first, a third, a fifth, a seventh, and the ninth of the at least nine forward speed ratios and the first of the at least one reverse speed ratios, the fourth torque transmitting device is engaged in the first, a second, a sixth, the seventh, and an eighth of the at least nine forward speed ratios, the fifth torque transmitting device is engaged in the second through the sixth of the at least nine forward speed ratios, and the sixth torque transmitting device is engaged in the eighth and the ninth of the at least nine forward speed ratios and the first of the at least one reverse speed ratios.

20. The transmission of claim 18 wherein the stationary member is a transmission housing.