Multi-speed transmission

• US 8,435,154 B1
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• 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: Mellet, Edward W., Borgerson, James B., Hart, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Justin
• Application Number:
  US13/284,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20130109527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 475/269, 475/275, 475/277, 475/278, 475/284
• US Class Current: 475/278
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2003/445 without permanent connection between the input and the set of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0073 the gear ratios comprising eleven forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2012 with four sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2048 with seven 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

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 each selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish a plurality of 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 third member of the second planetary gear set and the first member of the third planetary gear set;

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

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

seven torque transmitting devices each selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the first, second, and third members with at least one other of the first members, second members, third members and a stationary member, and wherein the torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish a plurality of 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 seven torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the first planetary gear set with the input member.

3. The transmission of claim 2 wherein a second of the seven torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the first planetary gear set and the second member of the second planetary gear set with the input member.

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

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

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

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

8. The transmission of claim 7 wherein a seventh of the seven torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the fourth planetary gear set with the stationary member.

9. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the first and fourth planetary gear sets are disposed between the second and third planetary gear sets.

10. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the first planetary gear set is disposed adjacent the second planetary gear set and the third planetary gear set is disposed adjacent the fourth planetary gear set.

11. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the first member of the first planetary gear set, the first member of the second planetary gear set, the first 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 wherein the carrier member of the second planetary gear set rotatable supports a first and second set of planet pinions and wherein the first set of planet pinions mesh with the sun gear and the second set of planet pinions and the second set of planet pinions mesh with the ring gear and the first set of planet pinions and the third member of the first planetary gear set, third member of the second planetary gear set, the third member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the fourth planetary gear set are ring gears.

12. The transmission of claim 11 wherein output member is continuously interconnected with the ring gear of the third planetary gear set and with the carrier member of the fourth planetary gear set.

13. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the first member of the first planetary gear set, the first member of the second planetary gear set, the first 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 third member of the fourth planetary gear set are carrier members and the third member of the first planetary gear set, third member of the second planetary gear set, the third member of the third planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set are ring gears and wherein the carrier member of the second planetary gear set rotatable supports a first and second set of planet pinions, wherein the first set of planet pinions mesh with the sun gear and the second set of planet pinions and the second set of planet pinions mesh with the ring gear and the first set of planet pinions and wherein the carrier member of the fourth planetary gear set rotatable supports a first and second set of planet pinions, wherein the first set of planet pinions mesh with the sun gear and the second set of planet pinions and the second set of planet pinions mesh with the ring gear and the first set of planet pinions.

14. The transmission of claim 13 wherein output member is continuously interconnected with the ring gear of the third planetary gear set and with the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set.

15. The transmission of claim 1 wherein four of the seven torque transmitting devices are brakes and three of the seven torque transmitting devices are clutches.

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

17. 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 third member of the second planetary gear set and the first member of the fourth planetary gear set;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

a seventh torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the third planetary gear set with the stationary member, and

wherein the torque transmitting devices are each selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish a plurality of forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.

18. The transmission of claim 17 wherein the first member of the first planetary gear set, the first member of the second planetary gear set, the first 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 third member of the fourth planetary gear set are carrier members and the third member of the first planetary gear set, third member of the second planetary gear set, the third member of the third planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set are ring gears wherein the carrier member of the second planetary gear set rotatable supports a first and second set of planet pinions and wherein the first set of planet pinions mesh with the sun gear and the second set of planet pinions and the second set of planet pinions mesh with the ring gear and the first set of planet pinions and wherein the carrier member of the fourth planetary gear set rotatable supports a first and second set of planet pinions, wherein the first set of planet pinions mesh with the sun gear and the second set of planet pinions and the second set of planet pinions mesh with the ring gear and the first set of planet pinions.

19. The transmission of claim 17 wherein the stationary member is a transmission housing.