Multi-speed transmission

• US 8,007,400 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• 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): Le; David D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bishop; Erin D
• Application Number:
  US12/102,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20080280724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 475/296
• US Class Current: 475/296
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/006 the gear ratios comprising eight 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 2200/2097 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 is provided having 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. A first interconnecting member continuously interconnects the third member of the first planetary gear set with a stationary member, a second interconnecting member continuously interconnects the first member of the second planetary gear set with the stationary member, a third interconnecting member continuously interconnects the third member of the second planetary gear set with the first member of the third planetary gear set, and a fourth interconnecting member continuously interconnects the third member of the third planetary gear set with a third member of the fourth planetary gear set. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches.

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 a stationary member;

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

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

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

five torque-transmitting mechanisms each selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the first, second, and third members of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets with at least one other of the first, second, and third members of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets; and

wherein the torque-transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least eight 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 five torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the second planetary gear set with the second member of the fourth planetary gear set.

3. The transmission of claim 2 wherein a second of the five torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the third planetary gear set with the second member of the fourth planetary gear set.

4. The transmission of claim 3 wherein a third of the five torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the third planetary gear set with the second member of the first planetary gear set.

5. The transmission of claim 4 wherein a fourth of the five torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the fourth planetary gear set with the third member of the third planetary gear set.

6. The transmission of claim 5 wherein a fifth of the five torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the first planetary gear set with the first member of the fourth planetary gear set.

7. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the first, the second, the third, the fourth, and the fifth torque transmitting mechanisms are clutches.

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

9. The transmission of claim 5 wherein the input member is continuously interconnected with the second member of the second planetary gear set and the output member is continuously interconnected with the second member of the first planetary gear set.

10. 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 the second member of the second planetary gear set, and the output member is continuously interconnected with the second member of the first planetary gear set;

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

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

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

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

a first torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the second planetary gear set with the second member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a second torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the third planetary gear set with the second member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a third torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set;

a fourth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the fourth planetary gear set with the third member of the third planetary gear set;

a fifth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the first planetary gear set with the first member of the fourth planetary gear set; and

wherein the torque-transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.

11. The transmission of claim 10 wherein the first, the second, the third, the fourth, and fifth torque transmitting mechanisms are clutches.

12. The transmission of claim 10 wherein the first members of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets are sun gears, the second members of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets are carrier members, and the third members of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets are ring gears.

13. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets each having a sun gear, a carrier member, and a ring gear, wherein the input member is continuously interconnected with the carrier member of the second planetary gear set, and the output member is continuously interconnected with the carrier member of the first planetary gear set;

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

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

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

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

a first torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the input member and the carrier member of the second planetary gear set with the carrier member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a second torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the carrier member of the third planetary gear set with carrier member of the fourth planetary gear set;

a third torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the carrier member of the third planetary gear set with the carrier member of the first planetary gear set;

a fourth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set with the ring gear of the third planetary gear set;

a fifth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engageable to interconnect the sun gear of the first planetary gear set with sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set; and

wherein the torque-transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.