Multi-speed transmission

• US 7,985,159 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Hart, James M., Carey, Clinton E., Phillips, Andrew W., Wittkopp, Scott H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes; Justin
• Application Number:
  US12/372,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20100210401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 475/269, 475/271, 475/275, 475/284, 475/330
• US Class Current: 475/284
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2003/447 without permanent connection between the set of orbital gears and the output
• 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 2200/2046 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 3/66 composed of a number of gear trains without drive passing from one train to another

Abstract

A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. 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.

Claims

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 interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the third member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the second planetary gear set;

a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the first member of the second planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set;

a third interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the second member of the third planetary gear set with the first member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a fourth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the third member of the third planetary gear set with the third member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a fifth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the first member of the first planetary gear set with a stationary member; and

six torque transmitting devices each selectively engageable to interconnect one of the first, second, and third members with at least one other of the first members, second members, third members, and 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.

2. The transmission of claim 1 wherein a first of the six torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the third planetary gear set with the output member.

3. The transmission of claim 2 wherein a second of the six torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the second planetary gear set with at least one of the third member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the fourth planetary gear set.

4. The transmission of claim 3 wherein a third of the six torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the second planetary gear set with at least one of the third member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the fourth planetary gear set.

5. The transmission of claim 4 wherein a fourth of the six torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the first planetary gear set with the output member.

6. The transmission of claim 5 wherein a fifth of the six torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the fourth planetary gear set with the stationary member.

7. The transmission of claim 6 wherein a sixth of the six torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the second planetary gear set with the stationary member.

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

9. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the input member is continuously interconnected with at least one of the first member of the fourth planetary gear set and the second member of the third planetary gear set.

10. The transmission of claim 1 wherein two of the six torque transmitting devices are brakes and four of the six torque transmitting devices are clutches.

11. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the stationary member is a transmission housing.

12. 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 input member is continuously interconnected with at least one of the first member of the fourth planetary gear set and the second member of the third planetary gear set;

a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the third member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the second planetary gear set;

a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the first member of the second planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set;

a third interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the second member of the third planetary gear set with the first member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a fourth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the third member of the third planetary gear set with the third member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a fifth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the first member of the first planetary gear set with a stationary member;

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

a second torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the second planetary gear set with at least one of the third member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a third torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the second planetary gear set with at least one of the third member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the fourth planetary gear set;

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

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

a sixth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the second planetary gear set 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.

13. The transmission of claim 12 wherein the third member of the first planetary gear set, the third member of the second planetary gear set, the third member of the third planetary gear set and the first member of the fourth planetary gear set are sun gears, the second member of the first planetary gear set, the second member of the second planetary gear set, the second member of the third planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set are carrier members and the first member of the first planetary gear set, first member of the second planetary gear set, the first member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the fourth planetary gear set are ring gears.

14. The transmission of claim 12 wherein the stationary member is a transmission housing.

15. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets each having sun gears, carrier members and ring gears, wherein the input member is continuously interconnected with at least one of the sun gear member of the fourth planetary gear set and the carrier member of the third planetary gear set;

a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the sun gear member of the first planetary gear set with the carrier member of the second planetary gear set;

a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the ring gear member of the second planetary gear set with the carrier member of the third planetary gear set;

a third interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the carrier member of the third planetary gear set with the sun gear member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a fourth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the sun gear member of the third planetary gear set with the ring gear member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a fifth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the ring gear member of the first planetary gear set with a stationary member;

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

a second torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the carrier member of the second planetary gear set with at least one of the sun gear member of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a third torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set with at least one of the sun gear member of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a fourth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the carrier member of the first planetary gear set with the output member; and

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

a sixth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set 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.

16. The transmission of claim 15 wherein the stationary member is a transmission housing.