EIGHT, NINE AND TEN SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS

• US 20090221394A1
• Filed: 05/11/2009
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Carey, Clinton E., Phillips, Andrew W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,388,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 475/213
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2003/445 without permanent connection between the input and the set of orbital gears
• 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 2200/201 with three sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2012 with four sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2023 using a Ravigneaux set with 4 connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2053 with nine engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2064 using at least one positive clutch, e.g. dog clutch
• 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 3/663 with conveying rotary motion between axially spaced orbital gears, e.g. RAVIGNEAUX
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/666 with compound planetary gear units, e.g. two intermeshing orbital gears F16H3/663 takes precedence

Abstract

An automatic transmission includes four planetary gear sets, a plurality of friction and synchronizing clutches and two drive assemblies. Input torque is provided to four clutches which selectively provide torque to various elements of the first and second planetary gear assemblies. Similarly, various elements of the first and second planetary gear assemblies provide power to the two drive assemblies which may either be chain drive or gear assemblies. The outputs of the drive assemblies drive sun gears of the third and fourth planetary gear assemblies. The transmission output is connected to and driven by the planet carriers of the third and fourth planetary assemblies. Sequenced operation of the friction and synchronizing clutches provides eight, nine or ten forward speeds or gear ratios.

Claims

1. A multiple speed automatic transmission comprising, in combination,

an input member,

an output member,

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

a first and a second means for transferring power from a first axis to at least one, parallel, spaced-apart axis,

a first connecting member for connecting one of said members of said first planetary gear assembly with one of said members of said second planetary gear assembly,

a second connecting member for connecting another of said members of said first planetary gear assembly with another of said members of said second planetary gear assembly,

a third connecting member connected with yet another of said members of said first planetary gear assembly,

a fourth connecting member connected with one of said members of said third planetary gear assembly

a fifth connecting member for connecting said first power transferring means with another of said members of said third planetary gear assembly,

a sixth connecting member for connecting yet another of said members of said second planetary gear assembly with said second power transferring means,

a seventh connecting member for connecting said second power transferring means with one of said members of said fourth planetary gear assembly,

an eighth connecting member connected with another of said members of said fourth planetary gear assembly,

said output member connected with yet another of said members of said third planetary gear assembly and yet another of said members of said fourth planetary gear assembly,

a plurality of torque transmitting mechanisms selectively engageable to connect said input member to said first, second, third and sixth connecting members, said second connecting member to ground, said fourth connecting member to said fifth connecting member and said first means for transferring power, said fourth connecting member to ground, said eighth connecting member to said seventh connecting member and said second means for transferring power, and said eighth connecting member to ground.

2. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 1 wherein said torque transmitting mechanisms connecting said first, second, third and sixth connecting members to said input member are friction clutches.

3. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 1 wherein said first, second and third members of said planetary gear assemblies are one of sun gear, planet gear carrier and ring gear.

4. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 1 wherein said ground is a housing surrounding said transmission.

5. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 1 wherein said first and second means for transferring power includes chain drive assemblies each having a pair of chain engaging sprockets and a chain.

6. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 1 wherein said first and second means for transferring power each includes a pair of meshing gears.

7. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 1 wherein said first and said second planetary gear assemblies and a portion of said first and said second means for transferring power are disposed on a first axis and said third and said fourth planetary gear assemblies and another portion of said first and said second means for transferring power are disposed on a second axis.

8. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 1 wherein said first planetary gear assembly is a compound planetary gear assembly and said second, third and fourth planetary gear assemblies are simple planetary gear assemblies.

9. A multiple speed automatic transmission comprising, in combination,

an input member defining a first axis,

an output member defining a second axis parallel to said first axis,

a first compound planetary gear assembly having first, second and third members,

second, third and fourth simple planetary gear assemblies each having first, second and third members,

first and second means for transferring power from said first axis to said second axis,

a first connecting member for connecting one of said members of said first planetary gear assembly to one of said members of said second planetary gear assembly,

a second connecting member for connecting another of said members of said first planetary gear assembly to another of said members of said second planetary gear assembly,

a third connecting member connected to yet another of said members of said first planetary gear assembly,

a fourth connecting member connected to one of said members of said third planetary gear assembly

a fifth connecting member for connecting said first power transferring means to another of said members of said third planetary gear assembly,

a sixth connecting member for connecting yet another of said members of said second planetary gear assembly to said second power transferring means,

a seventh connecting member for connecting said second power transferring means to one of said members of said fourth planetary gear assembly,

an eighth connecting member connected to another of said members of said fourth planetary gear assembly,

said output member connected to yet another of said members of said third planetary gear assembly and yet another of said members of said fourth planetary gear assembly,

a plurality of friction clutches for selectively connecting said input member to said first, second, third and sixth connecting members and a plurality of synchronizer clutches for connecting said second connecting member to ground, said fourth connecting member to said fifth connecting member and said first means for transferring power, said fourth connecting member to ground, said eighth connecting member to said seventh connecting member and said second means for transferring power, and said eighth connecting member to ground.

10. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 9 wherein said first members of said planetary gear assemblies are sun gears, said second members of said planetary gear assemblies are planet carriers and said third members of said planetary gear assemblies are ring gears.

11. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 9 wherein said input member and said output member are shafts disposed on said axes.

12. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 9 wherein said first and second means for transferring power includes chain drive assemblies each having a pair of chain engaging sprockets and a chain.

13. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 9 wherein said first and second means for transferring power each includes a first gear disposed on said first axis and a second gear disposed on said second axis.

14. A multiple speed automatic transmission comprising, in combination,

an input member defining a first axis,

a pair of output members defining a second axis and a third axis, both of said axes parallel and spaced from said first axis,

a first, a second, a third and a fourth planetary gear assembly each having sun, planet carrier and ring members,

a first and a second drive assembly, said first drive assembly including a drive member disposed on said first axis and a driven member disposed on said second axis and said second drive assembly including a drive member disposed on said first axis and a driven member disposed on said third axis,

a first connecting member for connecting said sun members of said first and said second planetary gear assemblies to said drive member of said first drive assembly,

a second connecting member connecting said planet carrier members of said first and said second planetary gear assemblies,

a third connecting member connected to said ring member of said first planetary gear assembly,

a fourth connecting member connected to said ring member of said third planetary gear,

a fifth connecting member connecting said driven member of said first drive assembly to said sun member of said third planetary gear assembly,

a sixth connecting member connecting said ring member of said second planetary gear assembly to a drive member of said second drive assembly,

a seventh connecting member connecting said sun member of said fourth planetary gear assembly to said driven member of said second drive assembly,

an eighth connecting member connected to said ring member of said fourth planetary gear assembly.

said output members connected to a respective one of said planet carrier members of said third planetary gear assembly and said fourth planetary gear assembly,

a plurality of friction clutches for selectively connecting said input member to said first, second, third and sixth connecting members and a plurality of synchronizer clutches for connecting said second connecting member to ground, said fourth connecting member to said fifth connecting member and said driven member of said first drive assembly, said fourth connecting member to ground, said eighth connecting member to said seventh connecting member and said driven member of said second drive assembly, and said eighth connecting member to ground.

15. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 14 wherein said input member and said output members are shafts disposed on said parallel, spaced-apart axes.

16. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 14 wherein said first planetary gear assembly is a partial planetary gear assembly and said second, third and fourth planetary gear assemblies are simple planetary gear assemblies.

17. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 14 wherein said output members each include drive gears.

18. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 14 wherein said first and second drive assemblies each includes a pair of meshing gears

19. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 14 wherein said ground is a housing surrounding said transmission.