Multiple Speed Transmission Utilizing Co-Planar Gear Sets

• US 20100048346A1
• Filed: 08/19/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Thomas, Steven Gerald, Hoffman, Donald Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,016,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 475/284
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/006 the gear ratios comprising eight forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0086 the gear ratios comprising two reverse speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/201 with three sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2046 with six 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 3/663 with conveying rotary motion between axially spaced orbital gears, e.g. RAVIGNEAUX
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/70 in which the central axis of the gearing lies inside the periphery of an orbital gear

Abstract

A multiple speed power transmission, comprising an input shaft; a transmission case; a co-planar gear set; a rear epicyclic gearing assembly with four rotating members; a first clutch connecting the output of the co-planar gear set to the fourth rotating member; a second clutch connecting the output of the co-planar gear set to the first rotating member; a third clutch connecting the input shaft to the third rotating member; a first brake holding the fourth rotating member against rotation; a second brake holding the third rotating member against rotation; and an output shaft connected to the second rotating member.

Claims

1. A multiple speed power transmission, comprising:

an input shaft (30, 90);

a transmission case (34, 94);

a first co-planar gear set (36, 96) comprising a first sun (38, 98), a first ring (40, 100), a first carrier (42, 102), and a first eccentric gear (44, 104) supported by the first carrier and meshing with both the first sun and the first ring;

a rear epicyclic gearing assembly (50, 110) comprising first (60, 112), second (54 and 62, 118 and 124), third (56, 116 and 126), and fourth (52, 122) rotating members such that the speeds of the second and third rotating members are a weighted average of the speeds of the first and fourth rotating members; and

an output shaft (32, 92) connected to the second rotating member (54 and 62, 118 and 124).

2. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 1, further comprising:

a first clutch (72, 132) releasably connecting the first ring (40, 100) to the fourth rotating member (52, 122);

a second clutch (74, 134) releasably connecting the first ring (40, 100) to the first rotating member (60, 112);

a third clutch (76, 136) releasably connecting the input shaft (30, 90) to the third rotating member (56, 116 and 126);

a first brake (78, 138) releasably holding the fourth rotating member (52, 122) against rotation; and

a second brake (80, 140) substantially releasably holding the third rotating member (56, 116 and 126) against rotation.

3. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 2, wherein a first member of the set consisting of the first sun (38, 98) and the first carrier (42, 102) is driveably connected to the input shaft (30, 90).

4. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 3, further comprising a means of holding a second member of the set consisting of the first sun (38, 98) and the first carrier (42, 102) against rotation.

5. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 4, wherein said means of holding a second member of the set consisting of the first sun (38, 98) and the first carrier (42, 102) against rotation is a third selectively releasable brake (82).

6. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 4, wherein said means of holding a second member of the set consisting of the first sun (38, 98) and the first carrier (42, 102) against rotation is a fixed connection to the transmission case (34, 94).

7. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 6, further comprising a fourth clutch (70, 130) releasably connecting the input shaft (30, 90) to the fourth rotating member (52, 122).

8. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 3, wherein the rear epicyclic gearing assembly (50) comprises:

a simple planetary gear set comprising a second sun (52), a second ring (54), a second carrier (56), and a set of planet gears (58) supported by the second carrier and meshing with both the second sun and the second ring; and

a second co-planar gear set comprising a third sun (60), a third ring (62) driveably connected to the second ring (54), the second carrier (56), and a second eccentric gear (64) supported by the second carrier and meshing with both the third sun and the third ring.

9. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 3, wherein the rear epicyclic gearing assembly (110) comprises:

a first simple planetary gear set comprising a second sun (112), a second ring (114), a third ring (116), a second carrier (118), and a set of planet gears (120 and 121) supported by the second carrier, each planet gear meshing with the second sun, the second ring, and the third ring; and

a second simple planetary gear set comprising a third sun (122), a fourth ring (124) connected to the second carrier (118), a third carrier (126) connected to the third ring (116), and a second set of planet gears (128) supported by the third carrier and meshing with both the third sun and the fourth ring.

10. A multiple speed power transmission, comprising:

an input shaft (30);

a transmission case (34);

a first co-planar gear set (36) comprising a first sun (38), a first ring (40), a first carrier (42) driveably connected to the input shaft (30), and a first eccentric gear (44) supported by the first carrier and meshing with both the first sun and the first ring;

a means of holding the first sun (38) against rotation;

a rear epicyclic gearing assembly (50) comprising first (60), second (54 and 62), third (56), and fourth (52) rotating members such that the speeds of the second and third rotating members are a weighted average of the speeds of the first and fourth rotating members;

a first clutch (72) releasably connecting the first ring (40) to the fourth rotating member (52);

a second clutch (74) releasably connecting the first ring (40) to the first rotating member (60);

a third clutch (76) releasably connecting the input shaft (30) to the third rotating member (56);

a first brake (78) releasably holding the fourth rotating member (52) against rotation;

a second brake (80) releasably holding the third rotating member (56) against rotation; and

an output shaft (32) connected to the second rotating member (54 and 62).

11. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 10, wherein said means of holding the first sun (38) against rotation is a third selectively releasable brake (82).

12. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 10, wherein said means of holding the first sun (38) against rotation is a fixed connection to the transmission case (34).

13. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 12, further comprising a fourth clutch (70) releasably connecting the input shaft (30) to the fourth rotating member (52).

14. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 10, wherein the rear epicyclic gearing assembly (50) comprises:

a simple planetary gear set comprising a second sun (52), a second ring (54), a second carrier (56), and a set of planet gears (58) supported by the second carrier and meshing with both the second sun and the second ring; and

a second co-planar gear set comprising a third sun (60), a third ring (62) driveably connected to the second ring (54), the second carrier (56), and a second eccentric gear (64) supported by the second carrier and meshing with both the third sun and the third ring.

15. A multiple speed power transmission, comprising:

an input shaft (90);

a transmission case (94);

a co-planar gear set (96) comprising a first sun (98) driveably connected to the input shaft (90), a first ring (100), a first carrier (102) fixed to the transmission case (94), and an eccentric gear (104) supported by the first carrier and meshing with both the first sun and the first ring;

a rear epicyclic gearing assembly (110) comprising first (112), second (118 and 124), third (116 and 126), and fourth (122) rotating members such that the speeds of the second and third rotating members are a weighted average of the speeds of the first and fourth rotating members;

a first clutch (132) releasably connecting the first ring (100) to the fourth rotating member (122);

a second clutch (134) releasably connecting the first ring (100) to the first rotating member (112);

a third clutch (136) releasably connecting the input shaft (90) to the third rotating member (116 and 126);

a first brake (138) releasably holding the fourth rotating member (122) against rotation;

a second brake (140) substantially releasably holding the third rotating member (116 and 126) against rotation; and

an output shaft (92) connected to the second rotating member (118 and 124).

16. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 15, further comprising a fourth clutch (130) releasably connecting the input shaft (90) to the fourth rotating member (122).

17. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 15, wherein the rear epicyclic gearing assembly (110) comprises:

a first simple planetary gear set comprising a second sun (112), a second ring (114), a third ring (116), a second carrier (118), and a set of planet gears (120 and 121) supported by the second carrier, each planet gear meshing with the second sun, the second ring, and the third ring; and

a second simple planetary gear set comprising a third sun (122), a fourth ring (124) connected to the second carrier (118), a third carrier (126) connected to the third ring (116), and a second set of planet gears (128) supported by the third carrier and meshing with both the third sun and the fourth ring.

18. An epicyclic gearing assembly, comprising:

a simple planetary gear set comprising a first sun (52), a first ring (54), a first carrier (56), and a set of planet gears (58) supported by the first carrier and meshing with both the first sun and the first ring; and

a first co-planar gear set comprising a second sun (60), a second ring (62) driveably connected to the first ring, the first carrier (56), and a first eccentric gear (64) supported by the first carrier and meshing with both the second sun and the second ring.

19. A multiple speed power transmission comprising:

an input shaft (30);

an output shaft (32); and

gearing, brakes, and clutches arranged to produce multiple speed ratios between the input shaft and output shaft, the gearing including;

a simple planetary gear set comprising a first sun (52), a first ring (54), a first carrier (56), and a set of planet gears (58) supported by the first carrier and meshing with both the first sun and the first ring; and

a first co-planar gear set comprising a second sun (60), a second ring (62) driveably connected to the first ring and the output shaft, the first carrier (56), and a first eccentric gear (64) supported by the first carrier and meshing with both the second sun and the second ring.

20. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 19, wherein the gearing, brakes, and clutches further comprise:

a front epicyclic gearing assembly (36) comprising first (38), second (40), and third (42) members such that the rotational speed of the second member is a weighted average of the speeds of the first and third members, wherein the third member is driveably connected to the input shaft (30);

a means of holding the first member against rotation;

a first clutch (72) releasably connecting the second member (40) to the first sun (52);

a second clutch (74) releasably connecting the second member (40) to the second sun (60);

a third clutch (76) releasably connecting the input shaft (30) to the first carrier (56);

a first brake (78) releasably holding the first sun (52) against rotation; and

a second brake (80) releasably holding the first carrier (56) against rotation.

21. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 20, wherein said means of holding the first member against rotation is a third selectively releasable brake (82).

22. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 20, wherein said means of holding the first member against rotation is a fixed connection to the transmission case (34).

23. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 22, further comprising a fourth clutch (70) releasably connecting the input shaft (30) to the first sun (52).

24. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 20, wherein the front epicyclic gearing assembly (36) is a second co-planar gear set comprising:

a third sun (38) fixed to the transmission case (34);

a third ring (40);

a second carrier (42) driveably connected to the input shaft (30); and

a second eccentric gear (44) supported by the second carrier and meshing with both the third sun and the third ring.

25. An epicyclic gearing assembly, comprising:

a first sun (112);

a first ring (114);

a second ring (116);

a first carrier (118) extending radially between first ring and second ring;

a first set of planet gears (120 and 121) supported by the first carrier and meshing with the first sun, the first ring, and the second ring;

a second sun (122);

a third ring (124) driveably connected to the first carrier;

a second carrier (126) driveably connected to the second ring; and

a second set of planet gears (128) supported by the second carrier and meshing with both the second sun and the third ring.

26. A multiple speed power transmission comprising:

an input shaft (90);

an output shaft (92); and

gearing, brakes, and clutches arranged to produce multiple speed ratios between the input shaft and output shaft, the gearing including;

a first sun (112);

a first ring (114);

a second ring (116);

a first carrier (118) extending radially between first ring and second ring;

a first set of planet gears (120 and 121) supported by the first carrier and meshing with the first sun, the first ring, and the second ring;

a second sun (122);

a third ring (124) driveably connected to the first carrier and to the output shaft;

a second carrier (126) driveably connected to the second ring; and

a second set of planet gears (128) supported by the second carrier and meshing with both the second sun and the third ring.

27. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 26, wherein the gearing, brakes, and clutches further comprise:

a front epicyclic gearing assembly (96) comprising first (98), second (100), and third (102) members such that the rotational speed of the second member is a weighted average of the speeds of the first and third members, and wherein the third member is driveably connected to the input shaft (90);

a transmission case (94) fixed to the third member;

a first clutch (132) releasably connecting the second member (100) to the second sun (122);

a second clutch (134) releasably connecting the second member (100) to the first sun (112);

a third clutch (136) releasably connecting the input shaft (90) to the second ring (116) and the second carrier (126);

a first brake (138) releasably holding the second sun (122) against rotation;

a second brake (140) releasably holding the first ring (114) against rotation.

28. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 27, further comprising a fourth clutch (130) releasably connecting the input shaft (90) to the second sun (122).

29. The multiple speed power transmission of claim 27, wherein the front epicyclic gearing assembly (96) is a co-planar gear set comprising:

a third sun (98) driveably connected to the input shaft (90);

a fourth ring (100);

a third carrier (102) fixed to the transmission case (94); and

an eccentric gear (104) supported by the third carrier and meshing with both the third sun and the fourth ring.