Transmission having a low launch gear

• US 8,474,343 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2010
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Thomas, Steven G., Frait, Steven A., Maurer, Jeffrey E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers, Troy
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, ALEXANDER T
• Application Number:
  US12/876,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20110314939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 743/25, 74329-331, 743/39, 743/40, 746/40, 746/06.R, 475/211
• US Class Current: 74/331
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2003/0931 each countershaft having an output gear meshing with a single common gear on the output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0026 comprising at least one creep low gear, e.g. additional gear for extra low speed or creeping
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0047 the gear ratios comprising five forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0052 the gear ratios comprising six forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0056 the gear ratios comprising seven forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/006 the gear ratios comprising eight forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/006 power being selectively transmitted by either one of the parallel flow paths
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19219 Interchangeably locked
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19233 Plurality of counter shafts

Abstract

A vehicle transmission includes a pinion secured to an input shaft, a gear meshing with the pinion, an idler secured to the gear, a reverse gear meshing with the idler and secured to a second idler, a low gear supported on a layshaft and meshing with the second idler, and a coupler connecting the low gear to the layshaft.

Claims

1. A vehicle transmission, comprising:

a pinion secured to an input shaft;

a gear meshing with the pinion;

an idler secured to the gear;

a reverse gear meshing with the idler and secured to a second idler;

a low gear supported on a layshaft and meshing with the second idler;

a coupler connecting the low gear to the layshaft.

2. The transmission of claim 1, further comprising:

an output pinion secured to the layshaft and meshing with an output gear.

3. The transmission of claim 1, further comprising:

a second layshaft supporting the idler and the gear;

a second coupler for releaseably connecting the idler and the gear to the second layshaft;

a third layshaft supporting the reverse gear and the second idler;

a second coupler for releaseably connecting the reverse gear and second idler to the third layshaft.

4. The transmission of claim 1, further comprising:

a first clutch for producing a drive connection between the input shaft and a power source.

5. The transmission of claim 1, wherein:

the gear is driven by the pinion at a speed that is less than a speed of the pinion; and

the reverse gear is driven by the idler at a speed that is less than a speed of the idler; and

the low gear is driven by the second idler at a speed that is less than the speed of the second idler.

6. A vehicle transmission, comprising:

an input;

an output;

a pinion secured to the input;

a gear meshing with the pinion and driving the output at a forward speed;

an idler secured to the gear;

a reverse gear meshing with the idler, secured to a second idler and driving the output in reverse;

a low gear engaged with the second idler, and driving the output at a lower forward speed than the gear.

7. The transmission of claim 6, further comprising:

an output pinion secured to the layshaft and meshing with an output gear.

8. The transmission of claim 6, further comprising:

first, second and third layshafts, each layshaft driveably connected to the output;

a first coupler connecting the low gear to the first layshaft;

a second coupler connecting the idler and gear to the second layshaft; and

a third coupler connecting the reverse gear and the second idler to the third layshaft.

9. The transmission of claim 6, wherein the input includes an input shaft, further comprising:

a first layshaft driveably connected to the output;

a second pinion secured to the input shaft;

a second speed gear meshing with the second pinion and supported on the first layshaft;

a third pinion secured to the input shaft;

a sixth speed gear meshing with the third pinion and supported on the first layshaft;

a coupler for alternately connecting the second speed gear and the sixth speed gear to the first layshaft.

10. A vehicle transmission, comprising:

an input including first and second input shafts;

first, second and third layshafts;

a pinion secured to the first input shaft;

a gear meshing with the pinion, secured to an idler and supported on the first layshaft;

a reverse gear meshing with the idler, secured to a second idler and supported on the second layshaft;

a low gear supported on the third layshaft and meshing with the second idler;

a second pinion secured to the second input shaft;

a second speed gear meshing with the second pinion and supported on the first layshaft

a first coupler connecting the low gear to the third layshaft;

a second coupler connecting the idler and gear to the second layshaft; and

a third coupler connecting the reverse gear and the second idler to the second layshaft; and

a fourth coupler connecting the second speed gear and the second idler to the first layshaft.

11. The transmission of claim 10, further comprising:

a third pinion secured to the first input shaft;

a fifth speed gear meshing with the second pinion and supported on the third layshaft;

a seventh speed gear meshing with the third pinion and supported on the first layshaft;

the third coupler alternately connecting the fifth speed gear and the reverse gear to the second layshaft;

the second coupler alternately connecting the seventh speed gear and the idler to the first layshaft.