Multi-speed transmission

• US 8,690,722 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2012
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew W Phillips, Clinton E. Carey, GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company), James M. Hart, Scott H. Wittkopp
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Phillips, Andrew W., Wittkopp, Scott H., Hart, James M., Carey, Clinton E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, TISHA D
• Application Number:
  US13/478,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20120231917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 475275-293, 475/303, 475311-328
• US Class Current: 475/282
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/00 Transmissions for multiple ratios
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0065 the gear ratios comprising nine 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 2200/2046 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: G06F 11/3688 for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites

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. The torque transmitting devices 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 between the input member and the output member.

Claims

1. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

a first and a second planetary gear set assembly each having a first, second, third, and fourth rotating members

a first torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the second rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly with the third rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly

a second torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the third rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly with the first rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly

a third torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the third rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly with the fourth rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly

a fourth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the fourth rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly with the fourth rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly

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

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

2. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the input member is continuously interconnected with the second rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly and the output member is continuously interconnected with the second rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly.

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

4. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the first planetary gear set assembly includes a first and a second planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set assembly includes a third and a fourth planetary gear set.

5. The transmission of claim 4 wherein the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets each include a first, second, and third member.

6. The transmission of claim 5 wherein the the first rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly includes the first member of the first planetary gear set and the first member of the second planetary gear set, the second rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly includes the second member of the first planetary gear set, the third rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly includes the third member of the first planetary gear set and the second member of the second planetary gear set, and the fourth rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly includes the third member of the second planetary gear set.

7. The transmission of claim 6 wherein the first rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly includes the first member of the third planetary gear set, the second rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly includes the second member of the third planetary gear set and the first member of the fourth planetary gear set, the third rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly includes the second member of the fourth planetary gear set, and the fourth rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly includes the third member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the fourth planetary gear set.

8. The transmission of claim 7 wherein the first members of the first, second, and fourth planetary gear sets and the third member of the third planetary gear set, 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, and fourth planetary gear sets, and the first member of the third planetary gear set are ring gears.

9. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

a first and a second planetary gear set assembly each having a first, second, third, and fourth rotating members, wherein the input member is continuously interconnected with the second rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly and the output member is continuously interconnected with the second rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly;

a first torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the first planetary gear set assembly with the second planetary gear set assembly;

a second torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the first planetary gear set assembly with the second planetary gear set assembly;

a third torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the first planetary gear set assembly with the second planetary gear set assembly;

a fourth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the first planetary gear set assembly with the second planetary gear set assembly;

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

a sixth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the second planetary gear set assembly 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.

10. The transmission of claim 9 wherein the first torque transmitting device is selectively engageable to interconnect the second rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly with the third rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly.

11. The transmission of claim 10 wherein the second torque transmitting device is selectively engageable to interconnect the third rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly with the first rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly.

12. The transmission of claim 11 wherein the third torque transmitting device is selectively engageable to interconnect the third rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly with the fourth rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly.

13. The transmission of claim 12 wherein the fourth torque transmitting device is selectively engageable to interconnect the fourth rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly with the fourth rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly.

14. The transmission of claim 13 wherein the fifth torque transmitting device is selectively engageable to interconnect the first rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly with the stationary member.

15. The transmission of claim 14 wherein the sixth torque transmitting device is selectively engageable to interconnect the first rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly with the stationary member.

16. The transmission of claim 9 wherein the first planetary gear set assembly includes a first and a second planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set assembly includes a third and a fourth planetary gear set.

17. The transmission of claim 16 wherein the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets each include a first, second, and third member.

18. The transmission of claim 17 wherein the the first rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly includes the first member of the first planetary gear set and the first member of the second planetary gear set, the second rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly includes the second member of the first planetary gear set, the third rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly includes the third member of the first planetary gear set and the second member of the second planetary gear set, and the fourth rotating member of the first planetary gear set assembly includes the third member of the second planetary gear set.

19. The transmission of claim 18 wherein the first rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly includes the first member of the third planetary gear set, the second rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly includes the second member of the third planetary gear set and the first member of the fourth planetary gear set, the third rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly includes the second member of the fourth planetary gear set, and the fourth rotating member of the second planetary gear set assembly includes the third member of the third planetary gear set, and the third member of the fourth planetary gear set.

20. The transmission of claim 19 wherein the first members of the first, second, and fourth planetary gear sets and the third member of the third planetary gear set 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, and fourth planetary gear sets, and the first member of the third planetary gear set are ring gears.