Multiple speed automatic transmission

• US 20080113844A1
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Baldwin, Reid A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,686,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 475/276
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0026 comprising at least one creep low gear, e.g. additional gear for extra low speed or creeping
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/006 the gear ratios comprising eight forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0065 the gear ratios comprising nine forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2012 with four sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2048 with seven engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2097 comprising an orbital gear set member permanently connected to the housing, e.g. a sun wheel permanently connected to the housing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/66 composed of a number of gear trains without drive passing from one train to another

Abstract

A multiple speed transmission includes an input and output; a first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and the ring gear; a first epicyclic gearing assembly including the first gear set, the second gear set, a first clutch, a first brake, a second brake, and first, second, third and fourth rotating members, said first clutch being operable to couple said first rotating member to the input, said first brake being operable to hold said fourth rotating member against rotation, and said second brake being operable to hold said second rotating member against rotation; and a second epicyclic gearing assembly including the third gear set, the fourth gear set, a second clutch, a third clutch, a third brake, and fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth rotating members, the third rotating member being secured to the eighth rotating member, said second control clutch being operable to couple said fifth rotating member to the input, said second control clutch being operable to couple said seventh rotating member to the input, said third brake being operable to hold the seventh rotating member against rotation, and said sixth rotating member being secured for rotation to the output.

Claims

1. A multiple speed transmission for automotive vehicles, comprising:

an input and an output;

a first epicyclic gearing assembly including a first clutch, a first brake, a second brake, and first, second, third and fourth rotating members, said first clutch being operable to couple said first rotating member to the input, said first brake being operable to hold said fourth rotating member against rotation, and said second brake being operable to hold said second rotating member against rotation; and

a second epicyclic gearing assembly including a second clutch, a third clutch, a third brake, and fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth rotating members, the third rotating member being secured to the eighth rotating member, said second control clutch being operable to couple said fifth rotating member to the input, said second control clutch being operable to couple said seventh rotating member to the input, said third brake being operable to hold the seventh rotating member against rotation, and said sixth rotating member being secured for rotation to the output.

2. The transmission of claim 1, wherein:

the transmission produces eight forward gears by selective operation of the first, second and third clutches and the first, second and third brakes,

the second clutch and third brake being operable to produce a first forward gear,

the first clutch, second clutch and second brake being operable to produce a second forward gear,

the second clutch, first brake and second brake being operable to produce a third forward gear,

the first clutch, second clutch and first brake being operable to produce a fourth forward gear,

the second clutch and third clutch being operable to produce a fifth forward gear,

the first clutch, third clutch and first brake being operable to produce a sixth forward gear,

the third clutch, first brake and second brake being operable to produce a seventh forward gear, and

the first clutch, third clutch and second brake being operable to produce a eighth forward gear.

3. The transmission of claim 2, wherein the third brake is a one-way brake.

6. The transmission of claim 1, wherein:

the transmission produces a reverse gear by selective operation of the first clutch, first brake and third brake being operable to produce the reverse gear.

7. The transmission of claim 6, wherein the third brake is a hydraulically actuated friction brake.

8. The transmission of claim 1, wherein:

the transmission produces a low gear by selective operation of the first clutch, second brake and third brake being operable to produce the low gear.

10. The transmission of claim 1, wherein:

the first epicyclic gearing assembly comprises first and second planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear,

the first rotating member includes the sun gear of the first gear set,

the second rotating member includes the carrier of the first gear set and the ring gear of the second gear set,

the third rotating member includes the ring gear of the first gear set and the carrier of the second gear set,

the fourth rotating member includes the sun gear of the second gear set.

11. The transmission of claim 1, wherein:

the first epicyclic gearing assembly comprises first and second planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear,

the first rotating member includes the ring gear of the first gear set and the sun gear of the second gear set,

the second rotating member includes the carrier of the first gear set and the carrier of the second gear set,

the third rotating member includes the ring gear of the first gear set,

the fourth rotating member includes the sun gear of the first gear set,

12. The transmission of claim 1, wherein:

the second epicyclic gearing assembly comprises third and fourth planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear,

the fifth rotating member includes the sun gear of the fourth gear set,

the sixth rotating member includes the ring gear of the third gear set and the carrier gear of the fourth gear set,

the seventh rotating member includes the carrier of the third gear set and the ring gear of the fourth gear set, and

the eighth rotating member includes the sun gear of the third gear set.

13. The transmission of claim 1, wherein:

the second epicyclic gearing assembly comprises third and fourth planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear,

the fifth rotating member includes the sun gear of the third gear set and the sun gear of the fourth gear set,

the sixth rotating member includes the carrier gear of the fourth gear set,

the seventh rotating member includes the carrier of the third gear set and the ring gear of the fourth gear set, and

the eighth rotating member includes the ring gear of the third gear set.

14. The transmission of claim 1, wherein:

the first epicyclic gearing assembly comprises first and second planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear,

the second epicyclic gearing assembly comprises third and fourth planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear,

the first rotating member includes the sun gear of the first gear set,

the second rotating member includes the carrier of the first gear set and the ring gear of the second gear set,

the third rotating member includes the ring gear of the first gear set and the carrier of the second gear set,

the fourth rotating member includes the sun gear of the second gear set,

the fifth rotating member includes the sun gear of the fourth gear set,

the sixth rotating member includes the ring gear of the third gear set and the carrier gear of the fourth gear set, the seventh rotating member includes the carrier of the third gear set and the ring gear of the fourth gear set, and

the eighth rotating member includes the sun gear of the third gear set.

15. The transmission of claim 1, wherein:

the first epicyclic gearing assembly comprises first and second planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear,

the second epicyclic gearing assembly comprises third and fourth planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear,

the first rotating member includes the ring gear of the first gear set and the sun gear of the second gear set,

the second rotating member includes the carrier of the first gear set and the carrier of the second gear set,

the third rotating member includes the ring gear of the first gear set,

the fourth rotating member includes the sun gear of the first gear set,

the fifth rotating member includes the sun gear of the third gear set and the sun gear of the fourth gear set,

the sixth rotating member includes the carrier gear of the fourth gear set,

the seventh rotating member includes the carrier of the third gear set and the ring gear of the fourth gear set, and

the eighth rotating member includes the ring gear of the third gear set.

16. The transmission of claim 1, wherein:

the first epicyclic gearing assembly comprises first and second planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear,

the second epicyclic gearing assembly comprises third and fourth planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear,

the first rotating member includes the sun gear of the second gear set,

the second rotating member includes the ring gear of the first gear set and the carrier of the second gear set,

the third rotating member includes the carrier of the first gear set and ring gear of the second gear set,

the fourth rotating member includes the sun gear of the first gear set,

the fifth rotating member includes the sun gear of the third gear set and the sun gear of the fourth gear set,

the sixth rotating member includes the carrier gear of the fourth gear set,

the seventh rotating member includes the carrier of the third gear set and the ring gear of the fourth gear set, and

the eighth rotating member includes the ring gear of the third gear set.

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

17. A multiple speed transmission for automotive vehicles, comprising:

an input and an output;

a first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and the ring gear;

the carrier of the first gear set being secured to the ring gear of the second gear set;

the ring gear of the first gear set, the carrier of the second gear set and the sun gear of the third gear set being secured mutually;

the carrier of the third gear set and ring gear of the fourth gear set being secured mutually;

the ring gear of the third gear set, the carrier of the fourth gear set, and the output being secured mutually;

a first clutch for alternately driveably connecting and disconnecting the input and the sun gear of the first gear set;

a second clutch for alternately driveably connecting and disconnecting the input and the sun gear of the fourth gear set;

a third clutch for alternately driveably disconnecting and connecting the input to the carrier of the third gear set and the ring gear of the fourth gear set;

a first brake for holding the carrier of the first gear set and the ring gear of the second gear set against rotation; and

a second brake for holding the sun gear of the second gear set against rotation.

18. The transmission of claim 17, further comprising:

a third brake for holding the carrier of the third gear set and the ring gear of the fourth gear set against rotation.

19. The transmission of claim 18 wherein the third brake is a one-way brake.

20. The transmission of claim 18, wherein the third brake is hydraulically actuated friction brake.

21. A multiple speed transmission for automotive vehicles, comprising:

an input and an output;

a first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and the ring gear;

the carrier of the first gear set being secured to the carrier of the second gear set;

the ring gear of the first gear set being secured to the sun gear of the second gear set;

the ring gear of the second gear set being secured to the ring gear of the third gear set;

the sun of the third gear set and the sun gear of the fourth gear set being secured mutually;

the carrier of the third gear set and the ring gear of the fourth gear set being secured mutually;

the carrier of the fourth gear set and the output being secured mutually;

a first clutch for alternately driveably connecting and disconnecting the input to the sun gear of the third gear set and sun gear of the fourth gear set;

a second clutch for alternately driveably connecting and disconnecting the input to the carrier of the third gear set and ring gear of the fourth gear set;

a third clutch for alternately driveably connecting and disconnecting the input to the sun gear of the second gear set and ring gear of the first gear set;

a first brake for holding the sun gear of the first gear set against rotation; and

a second brake for holding the carrier of the first gear set and the carrier of the second gear set against rotation.

22. The transmission of claim 21, further comprising:

a third brake for holding the carrier of the third gear set and the ring gear of the fourth gear set against rotation.

23. The transmission of claim 22, wherein the third brake is a one-way brake.

24. The transmission of claim 22, wherein the third brake is hydraulically actuated friction brake.

25. A multiple speed transmission for automotive vehicles, comprising:

an input and an output;

a first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and the ring gear;

the carrier of the first gear, ring gear of the second gear set, and ring gear of the third gear set being secured mutually;

the ring gear of the first gear set being secured to the carrier gear of the second gear set;

the sun of the third gear set and sun gear of the fourth gear set being secured mutually;

the carrier of the third gear set and ring gear of the fourth gear set being secured mutually;

the carrier of the fourth gear set and the output being secured mutually;

a first clutch for alternately driveably connecting and disconnecting the input to the sun gear of the third gear set and sun gear of the fourth gear set;

a second clutch for alternately driveably connecting and disconnecting the input to the carrier of the third gear set and ring gear of the fourth gear set;

a third clutch for alternately driveably connecting and disconnecting the input and the sun gear of the second gear set;

a first brake for holding the sun gear of the first gear set against rotation; and

a second brake for holding the carrier of the first gear set and the carrier of the second gear set against rotation.

26. The transmission of claim 25, further comprising:

a third brake for holding the carrier of the third gear set and the ring gear of the fourth gear set against rotation.

27. The transmission of claim 26, wherein the third brake is a one-way brake.

28. The transmission of claim 26, wherein the third brake is hydraulically actuated friction brake.