Synchronizing disconnect device

• US 8,814,743 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2012
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Hart, James M., Wilton, Daryl A., Carey, Clinton E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, TISHA D
• Application Number:
  US13/680,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20140141925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 475275-292, 475/303, 475/329, 475/330
• US Class Current: 475/275
• 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

Abstract

A transmission includes an input member, an output member, a set of four planetary gear sets each having first, second, and third members, a plurality of torque transmitting mechanisms each selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the first, second, and third members with at least one other of the first, second, third members and a stationary member, and a synchronizer assembly that selectively connects and disconnects one member of one of the planetary gear sets.

Claims

1. A transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets concentrically disposed about the input member, each planetary gear set having first, second and third members;

six torque transmitting mechanisms each selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the first, second, and third members with at least one other of the first, second, third members and a stationary member;

a synchronizer assembly that selectively connects and disconnects one member of one of the planetary gear sets, the synchronizer assembly including a synchronizer piston that actuates the synchronizer assembly, the synchronizer assembly further including a synchronizer sleeve, a synchronizer cone, and a synchronizer hub coupled to the synchronizer sleeve and the synchronizer cone, the synchronizer piston applying a force to the synchronizer sleeve such that the synchronizer cone engages with a hub associated with the one member of one of the planetary gear sets to synchronize speeds, and

wherein the six torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least ten 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 synchronizer assembly incudes a dog ring coupled to the hub, and wherein the synchronizer sleeve fully engages the hub when the sleeve engages the dog ring.

3. The transmission of claim 1 wherein a first of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the third planetary gear set with the input member, the first member of the second planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set.

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

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

6. The transmission of claim 5 wherein a fourth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the second planetary gear set with the stationary member.

7. The transmission of claim 6 wherein a fifth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the first planetary gear set and the third member of the fourth planetary gear set with the stationary member.

8. The transmission of claim 7 wherein a sixth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms 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 input member is continuously connected for common rotation with the first member of the second planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set.

10. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the third member of the first planetary gear set, the third member of the fourth planetary gear set, the first member of the second planetary gear set and the first 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 first member of the first planetary gear set, the first member of the fourth planetary gear set, the third member of the second planetary gear set and the third member of the third planetary gear set are ring gears.

11. 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 third member of the second planetary gear set rotatable supports a set of planet gears;

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

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

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

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

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

six torque transmitting mechanisms each selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the first, second, and third members with at least one other of the first, second, third members and a stationary member;

a synchronizer assembly that selectively connects and disconnects one member of one of the planetary gear sets, and

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

12. The transmission of claim 11 wherein the synchronizer assembly includes a synchronizer piston that actuates the synchronizer assembly.

13. The transmission of claim 12 wherein the synchronizer assembly includes a synchronizer sleeve, synchronizer cone, and a synchronizer hub coupled to the synchronizer sleeve and the synchronizer cone, wherein the synchronizer piston applies a force to the synchronizer sleeve such that the synchronizer cone and sleeve the one member of one of the planetary gear sets with the hub associated with one torque transmitting mechanism.

14. The transmission of claim 13 wherein the synchronizer assembly incudes a dog ring coupled to the hub, and wherein the synchronizer sleeve fully engages the dog ring after the cone engages the hub.

15. The transmission of claim 11 wherein the input member is continuously connected for common rotation with the first member of the second planetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gear set.

16. The transmission of claim 11 wherein the output member is continuously connected for common rotation with the second member of the first planetary gear set and to third member of the third planetary gear set.

17. The transmission of claim 11 wherein the third member of the first planetary gear set, the third member of the fourth planetary gear set, the first member of the second planetary gear set and the first 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 first member of the first planetary gear set, the first member of the fourth planetary gear set, the third member of the second planetary gear set and the third member of the third planetary gear set are ring gears.