Quad-clutch multi-speed transmission
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A transmission comprising:
- an input member;
an output member;
a first planetary gear set having first, second and third members;
a second planetary gear set having first, second and third members wherein the second member of the first planetary gear set is connected to the second member of the second planetary gear set and the third member of the first planetary gear set is connected to the third member of the second planetary gear set;
a clutch assembly having a first, a second, a third and a fourth torque-transmitting mechanism each selectively engageable to connect the input member with a respective different one of the members of the first and second planetary gear sets;
a first intermediate shaft connected for common rotation with the first member of the first planetary gear set;
a second intermediate shaft connected for common rotation with the second members of the first and second planetary gear sets, wherein the second intermediate shaft is concentric with the first intermediate shaft;
a third intermediate shaft connected for common rotation with the third members of the first and second planetary gear sets, wherein the third intermediate shaft is concentric with the second intermediate shaft;
a first countershaft radially offset from the intermediate shafts;
a second countershaft radially offset from the intermediate shafts;
a first countershaft transfer gear connected for common rotation with the first countershaft and in communication with the output member to transfer torque from the first countershaft to the output member;
a second countershaft transfer gear connected for common rotation with the second countershaft and in communication with the output member to transfer torque from the second countershaft to the output member;
at least three co-planar intermeshing gear sets, wherein at least one of the gears of the at least three co-planar intermeshing gear sets is fixed for common rotation with at least one of the intermediate shafts; and
a plurality of synchronizers, wherein at least one of the plurality of synchronizers is selectively engagable to connect at least one of the gears of the at least three co-planar intermeshing gear sets with at least one of the first and second countershafts for common rotation therewith, thereby transferring torque from the first and second planetary gear sets to at least one of the first and second countershafts through at least one of the intermediate shafts and at least one of the sets of co-planar intermeshing gear sets.
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Abstract
A transmission has a first and a second planetary gear set with four input torque-transmitting mechanisms, such as friction clutches, to achieve torque flow through the planetary gear sets to a countershaft gearing arrangement. The transmission includes an input member, an output member, a pair of planetary gear sets, an input clutch assembly having four input clutches and a countershaft gearing arrangement. The countershaft gearing arrangement is operatively connected with the planetary gear sets and includes: three co-planar intermeshing gear sets, first and second countershafts, a first intermediate shaft, a second intermediate and a third intermediate shaft concentric with the input shaft.
29 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A transmission comprising:
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an input member; an output member; a first planetary gear set having first, second and third members; a second planetary gear set having first, second and third members wherein the second member of the first planetary gear set is connected to the second member of the second planetary gear set and the third member of the first planetary gear set is connected to the third member of the second planetary gear set; a clutch assembly having a first, a second, a third and a fourth torque-transmitting mechanism each selectively engageable to connect the input member with a respective different one of the members of the first and second planetary gear sets; a first intermediate shaft connected for common rotation with the first member of the first planetary gear set; a second intermediate shaft connected for common rotation with the second members of the first and second planetary gear sets, wherein the second intermediate shaft is concentric with the first intermediate shaft; a third intermediate shaft connected for common rotation with the third members of the first and second planetary gear sets, wherein the third intermediate shaft is concentric with the second intermediate shaft; a first countershaft radially offset from the intermediate shafts; a second countershaft radially offset from the intermediate shafts; a first countershaft transfer gear connected for common rotation with the first countershaft and in communication with the output member to transfer torque from the first countershaft to the output member; a second countershaft transfer gear connected for common rotation with the second countershaft and in communication with the output member to transfer torque from the second countershaft to the output member; at least three co-planar intermeshing gear sets, wherein at least one of the gears of the at least three co-planar intermeshing gear sets is fixed for common rotation with at least one of the intermediate shafts; and a plurality of synchronizers, wherein at least one of the plurality of synchronizers is selectively engagable to connect at least one of the gears of the at least three co-planar intermeshing gear sets with at least one of the first and second countershafts for common rotation therewith, thereby transferring torque from the first and second planetary gear sets to at least one of the first and second countershafts through at least one of the intermediate shafts and at least one of the sets of co-planar intermeshing gear sets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A transmission comprising:
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an input member; an output member; a first planetary gear set having a sun gear, a carrier member and ring gear, wherein the carrier member rotatably supports a set of planet pinion gears that intermesh with both the sun gear and the ring gear of the first planetary gear set; a second planetary gear set having a sun gear, a carrier member and a ring gear, wherein the carrier member of the second planetary gear set rotatably supports a set of planet pinion gears that intermesh with both the sun gear and the ring gear of the second planetary gear set and wherein the carrier member of the first planetary gear set is connected to the carrier member of the second planetary gear set and the ring gear of the first planetary gear set is connected to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set and wherein the carrier; a clutch assembly having a first, a second, a third and a fourth clutch, wherein the first clutch is selectively engageable to connect the input member with the ring gears of the first and second planetary gear sets, the second clutch is selectively engageable to connect the input member with the carrier members of the first and second planetary gear sets, the third clutch is selectively engageable to connect the input member with the sun gear of the second planetary gear set and the fourth clutch is selectively engageable to connect the input member with the sun gear of the first planetary gear set; a first intermediate shaft connected for common rotation with the sun gear of the first planetary gear set, wherein the first intermediate shaft is concentric with the input shaft; a second intermediate shaft connected for common rotation with the carrier members of the first and second planetary gear sets, wherein the second intermediate shaft is concentric with the first intermediate shaft; a third intermediate shaft connected for common rotation with the ring gears of the first and second planetary gear sets, wherein the third intermediate shaft is concentric with the second intermediate shaft; a first countershaft radially offset from the intermediate shafts and in communication with the output member; a second countershaft radially offset from the intermediate shafts and in communication with the output member; a first, second and third co-planar intermeshing gear sets, wherein the first and second co-planar intermeshing gear sets each having a first gear intermeshing with a second gear and a third gear and the third co-planar intermeshing gear set has a first gear intermeshing with a second gear, wherein the first gears of the first and second co-planar intermeshing gear sets are fixed for common rotation with the third intermediate shaft and the first gear of the third co-planar intermeshing gear set is fixed for common rotation with the first intermediate shaft; and a plurality of synchronizers, wherein each of the plurality of synchronizers is selectively engagable to connect at least one of the gears of the at least three co-planar intermeshing gear sets with at least one of the first and second countershafts for common rotation therewith, thereby transferring torque from the first and second planetary gear sets to at least one of the first and second countershafts through at least one of the intermediate shafts and at least one of the sets of co-planar intermeshing gear sets. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification