MULTI-SPEED TRANSMISSION

• US 20140371023A1
• Filed: 06/13/2013
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Janson, David Allen
• Granted Patent: US 9,222,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 475/275
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2003/442 comprising two or more sets of orbital gears arranged in a single plane
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/006 the gear ratios comprising eight forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0069 the gear ratios comprising ten forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2012 with four sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2043 with five engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2046 with six engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/62 Gearings having three or more central gears F16H3/68 - F16H3/78 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/66 composed of a number of gear trains without drive passing from one train to another
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/021 Shaft support structures, e.g. partition walls, bearing eyes, casing walls or covers with bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0265 for gearshift control, e.g. control functions for performing shifting or generation of shift signals

Abstract

A family of transmission gearing arrangements provides between eight and ten forward speed ratios and a reverse speed ratio. Three planetary gear sets are located on the input axis and a fourth planetary gear set is located on an offset axis. Axis transfer gears convey power between the input axis and the offset axis. One axis transfer gear is supported by a front support while another is supported by a center support. The center support also supports a clutch module and supplies pressurized fluid to engage the clutches in the clutch module.

Claims

1. A transmission comprising:

an input shaft configured to rotate about an input axis;

an output shaft configured to rotate about an output axis offset from the input axis;

first, second, third, and fourth shafts configured to rotate about the input axis;

fifth and sixth shafts configured to rotate about the output axis;

a first gearing arrangement configured to selectively impose an overdrive relationship between the second shaft and the first shaft;

a second gearing arrangement configured to fixedly impose a linear speed relationship among the first shaft, the input shaft, and the third shaft;

a third gearing arrangement configured to fixedly impose a linear speed relationship among the fifth shaft, the output shaft, and the sixth shaft;

a fourth gearing arrangement configured to fixedly impose a proportional speed relationship between the second shaft and the fifth shaft; and

a fifth gearing arrangement configured to fixedly impose a proportional speed relationship between the fourth shaft and the sixth shaft.

2. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the first gearing arrangement comprises:

a first sun gear fixedly coupled to the first shaft;

a first ring gear;

a first carrier fixedly coupled to the second shaft;

a first set of planet gears supported for rotation relative to the first carrier and in continuous meshing engagement with the first sun gear and the first ring gear; and

a first brake configured to selectively hold the first ring gear against rotation.

3. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the second gearing arrangement comprises:

a second sun gear fixedly coupled to the first shaft;

a second ring gear fixedly coupled to the third shaft;

a second carrier fixedly coupled to the input shaft; and

a second set of planet gears supported for rotation relative to the second carrier and in continuous meshing engagement with the second sun gear and the second ring gear.

4. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the third gearing arrangement comprises:

a third sun gear fixedly coupled to the sixth shaft;

a third ring gear fixedly coupled to the fifth shaft;

a third carrier fixedly coupled to the output shaft; and

a third set of planet gears supported for rotation relative to the third carrier and in continuous meshing engagement with the third sun gear and the third ring gear.

5. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the fourth gearing arrangement comprises:

a first axis transfer gear fixedly coupled to the second shaft; and

a second axis transfer gear fixedly coupled to the fifth shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the first axis transfer gear.

6. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the fifth gearing arrangement comprises:

a third axis transfer gear fixedly coupled to the fourth shaft; and

a fourth axis transfer gear fixedly coupled to the sixth shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the third axis transfer gear.

7. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the fourth gearing arrangement comprises:

a first axis transfer gear fixedly coupled to the second shaft;

a fifth axis transfer gear configured to rotate about an intermediate axis and in continuous meshing engagement with the first axis transfer gear;

a sixth axis transfer gear fixedly coupled to the fifth axis transfer gear; and

a second axis transfer gear fixedly coupled to the fifth shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the sixth axis transfer gear.

8. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the fifth gearing arrangement comprises:

a third axis transfer gear fixedly coupled to the fourth shaft; and

a seventh axis transfer gear configured to rotate about an intermediate axis and in continuous meshing engagement with the third axis transfer gear;

an eighth axis transfer gear fixedly coupled to the seventh axis transfer gear; and

a fourth axis transfer gear fixedly coupled to the sixth shaft and in continuous meshing engagement with the eighth axis transfer gear.

9. The transmission of claim 1 further comprising:

a seventh shaft configured to rotate about the input axis;

a second brake configured to selectively hold the first shaft against rotation;

a first clutch configured to selectively couple the input shaft to the fourth shaft;

a second clutch configured to selectively couple the second shaft to the seventh shaft; and

a third clutch configured to selectively couple the third shaft to the seventh shaft.

10. The transmission of claim 9 further comprising:

a sixth gearing arrangement configured to fixedly impose a linear speed relationship among the third shaft, the seventh shaft, and the fourth shaft.

11. The transmission of claim 10 wherein the sixth gearing arrangement comprises:

a fourth sun gear fixedly coupled to the third shaft;

a fourth ring gear fixedly coupled to the fourth shaft;

a fourth carrier fixedly coupled to the seventh shaft; and

a fourth set of planet gears supported for rotation relative to the fourth carrier and in continuous meshing engagement with the fourth sun gear and the fourth ring gear.

12. The transmission of claim 9 wherein the third clutch is configured to selectively couple the third shaft directly to the seventh shaft.

13. The transmission of claim 9 wherein the sixth gearing arrangement is located radially outside the second gearing arrangement.

14. The transmission of claim 9 further comprising:

a sixth gearing arrangement configured to selectively impose a linear speed relationship among the third shaft, the seventh shaft, and the fourth shaft.

15. The transmission of claim 14 wherein the sixth gearing arrangement comprises:

a fourth sun gear fixedly coupled to the third shaft;

a fourth ring gear fixedly coupled to the fourth shaft;

a fourth carrier;

a fourth set of planet gears supported for rotation relative to the fourth carrier and in continuous meshing engagement with the fourth sun gear and the fourth ring gear; and

a fourth clutch configured to selectively couple the seventh shaft to the fourth carrier.

16. The transmission of claim 14 wherein the sixth gearing arrangement is located radially outside the second gearing arrangement.

17. A transmission comprising:

a transmission case;

a center support fixedly coupled to the transmission case;

a first axis transfer gear supported by the center support and located on a first side of the center support; and

a clutch module having three clutches supported by the center support and located on a second side of the center support.

18. The transmission of claim 17 further comprising:

a front support fixedly coupled to the transmission case and located on the second side of the center support; and

a second axis transfer gear supported by the front support.

19. The transmission of claim 18 further comprising:

a first set of separator plates splined to the second axis transfer gear;

a first set of friction plates interleaved with the first sets of separator plates; and

a first piston configured to slide axially within a first chamber in the second axis transfer gear.

20. The transmission of claim 17 wherein the clutch module comprises:

a clutch housing defining second, third, and fourth chambers and further defining fluid passageways between each of the second, third, and fourth chambers and an inner surface; and

second, third, and fourth pistons configured to slide axially within the second, third, and fourth chambers respectively in response to pressurization of fluid in the respective passageway.

21. The transmission of claim 20 wherein the center support defines fluid passageways between the transmission case and a surface of the center support adjacent to the inner surface of the clutch housing.

22. A transmission comprising:

a transmission case;

a front support fixedly coupled to the transmission case;

a first axis transfer gear supported by the front support;

a center support fixedly coupled to the transmission case;

a clutch module supported by the center support and located between the front support and the center support; and

a second axis transfer gear supported by the center support.

23. The transmission of claim 22 wherein the clutch module comprises:

a housing;

a first clutch pack having a plurality of separator plates splined to the housing and a friction plate splined to a first hub wherein the first hub is fixedly coupled to the second axis transfer gear; and

a first piston configured to slide axially with respect to the housing, the first piston and the housing defining a first apply chamber.

24. The transmission of claim 23 wherein the clutch module further comprises:

a second clutch pack having a plurality of separator plates splined to the housing and a friction plate splined to a second hub; and

a second piston configured to slide axially with respect to the housing, the second piston and the housing defining a second apply chamber.

25. The transmission of claim 24 wherein:

the housing defines a first passageway between the first apply chamber and an inner surface of the housing;

the housing defines a second passageway between the second apply chamber and the inner surface of the housing; and

the center support defines a plurality of fluid passageways configured to convey fluid from the transmission case to the first and second passageways in the housing.

26. The transmission of claim 25 further comprising:

an input;

an output;

a first planetary gear set having a first sun gear, a first ring gear, a first carrier fixedly coupled to the second axis transfer gear, and a plurality of planet gears supported for rotation with respect to the first carrier and meshing with both the first sun gear and the first ring gear;

a second planetary gear set having a second sun gear fixedly coupled to the first sun gear, a second ring gear fixedly coupled to the second hub, a second carrier fixedly coupled to the input, and a plurality of planet gears supported for rotation with respect to the second carrier and meshing with both the second sun gear and the second ring gear;

a third planetary gear set having a third sun gear fixedly coupled to the second ring gear, a third ring gear fixedly coupled to the first axis transfer gear, a third carrier coupled to housing, and a plurality of planet gears supported for rotation with respect to the third carrier and meshing with both the third sun gear and the third ring gear;

a fourth planetary gear set having a fourth sun gear fixedly constrained to have a proportional speed relationship with the first axis transfer gear, a fourth ring gear fixedly constrained to have a proportional speed relationship with the second axis transfer gear, a fourth carrier fixedly coupled to the output, and a plurality of planet gears supported for rotation with respect to the fourth carrier and meshing with both the fourth sun gear and the fourth ring gear;

a first brake configured to selectively couple the first sun gear to the transmission case;

a second brake configured to selectively couple the first ring gear to the transmission case; and

a fourth clutch configured to selectively couple the first axis transfer gear to the input.

27. The transmission of claim 24 wherein the clutch module further comprises:

a third clutch pack having a plurality of separator plates splined to the housing and a friction plate splined to a third hub; and

a third piston configured to slide axially with respect to the housing, the third piston and the housing defining a third apply chamber.

28. The transmission of claim 27 wherein:

the housing defines a first passageway between the first apply chamber and an inner surface of the housing;

the housing defines a second passageway between the second apply chamber and the inner surface of the housing;

the housing defines a third passageway between the third apply chamber and the inner surface of the housing; and

the center support defines a plurality of fluid passageways configured to convey fluid from the transmission case to the first, second, and third passageways in the housing.

29. The transmission of claim 28 further comprising:

an input;

an output;

a first planetary gear set having a first sun gear, a first ring gear, a first carrier fixedly coupled to the second axis transfer gear, and a plurality of planet gears supported for rotation with respect to the first carrier and meshing with both the first sun gear and the first ring gear;

a second planetary gear set having a second sun gear fixedly coupled to the first sun gear, a second ring gear fixedly coupled to the second hub, a second carrier fixedly coupled to the input, and a plurality of planet gears supported for rotation with respect to the second carrier and meshing with both the second sun gear and the second ring gear;

a third planetary gear set having a third sun gear fixedly coupled to the second ring gear, a third ring gear fixedly coupled to the first axis transfer gear, a third carrier fixedly coupled to the third hub, and a plurality of planet gears supported for rotation with respect to the third carrier and meshing with both the third sun gear and the third ring gear;

a fourth planetary gear set having a fourth sun gear fixedly constrained to have a proportional speed relationship with the first axis transfer gear, a fourth ring gear fixedly constrained to have a proportional speed relationship with the second axis transfer gear, a fourth carrier fixedly coupled to the output, and a plurality of planet gears supported for rotation with respect to the fourth carrier and meshing with both the fourth sun gear and the fourth ring gear;

a first brake configured to selectively couple the first sun gear to the transmission case;

a second brake configured to selectively couple the first ring gear to the transmission case; and

a fourth clutch configured to selectively couple the first axis transfer gear to the input.