Multi-speed transmission

• US 8,858,386 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2011
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Wittkopp, Scott H., Phillips, Andrew W., Hart, James M., Mellet, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, TISHA D
• Application Number:
  US13/041,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20120231920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 475275-293, 475/303, 475311-328
• US Class Current: 475/275
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2003/442 comprising two or more sets of orbital gears arranged in a single plane
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0065 the gear ratios comprising nine 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 3/666 with compound planetary gear units, e.g. two intermeshing orbital gears F16H3/663 takes precedence

Abstract

A transmission includes an input and output member, four planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members, five interconnecting members continuously interconnecting members of the four planetary gear sets and six torque transmitting mechanisms selectively engageable to interconnect one of the first members, second members, and third members with at least one of another of the first members, second members, third members, and a stationary member. The torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least nine 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;

first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members, wherein the input member is continuously interconnected with at least one of the first and third members of the first and second planetary gear sets and the output member is continuously interconnected with the second member of the third planetary gear set;

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

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

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

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

a fifth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting at least one member of the first and second planetary gear sets with the first member of the third planetary gear set; and

six torque transmitting mechanisms, wherein three of the six torque transmitting mechanisms are each selectively engageable to interconnect the second planetary gear set to a stationary member and three of the six torque transmitting mechanisms are each selectively engageable to interconnect the fourth planetary gear set with the stationary member or the input member, and

wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least nine forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member and the second planetary gear set includes a first and a second set of pinion gears.

2. The transmission of claim 1 wherein a first of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the first member of the first planetary gear set and the first member of the second planetary gear set with the stationary member.

3. The transmission of claim 2 wherein a second of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the fourth planetary gear set with the stationary member.

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

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

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

7. The transmission of claim 6 wherein a sixth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the third member of the second planetary gear set, the first member of the third planetary gear set, the third member of the first planetary gear set, the second member of the first planetary gear set and the second member of the second planetary gear set with the stationary member.

8. The transmission of claim 7 wherein each of the first members are sun gear members, each of the second members are planet carrier members and each of the third members are ring gear members.

9. The transmission of claim 7 wherein each of the first members of the first and third planetary gear sets are sun gear members, each of the third members of the second and fourth planetary gear sets are ring gear members, each of the third members of the first and third planetary gear sets are combined with each of the first members of the second and fourth planetary gear sets, respectively, to form a sun-ring combination gear member and each of the second members of the planetary gear sets are planet carrier members.

10. The transmission of claim 7 wherein each of the first members of the first, second and third planetary gear sets are sun gear members, each of the third members of the first, second and fourth planetary gear sets are ring gear members, the third member of the third planetary gear set is combined with the first member of the fourth planetary gear set to form a sun-ring combination gear member and each of the second members of the planetary gear sets are planet carrier members.

26. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the input member is continuously interconnected with a member of the second planetary gear set and the output member is continuously interconnected with the third interconnecting member.

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 input member is continuously interconnected to the first member of the first planetary gear set and the output member is continuously interconnected with the second member of the third and fourth planetary gear sets;

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

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

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

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

a fifth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting at least one member of the first and second planetary gear sets with the first member of the third planetary gear set; and

six torque transmitting mechanisms, wherein three of the six torque transmitting mechanisms are each selectively engageable to interconnect the second planetary gear set to a stationary member and three of the six torque transmitting mechanisms are each selectively engageable to interconnect the fourth planetary gear set with the stationary member or the input member, and

wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least nine forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member and the second planetary gear set includes a first and a second set of pinion gears.

12. The transmission of claim 11 wherein a first of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the first member of the first planetary gear set and the first member of the second planetary gear set with the stationary member, a second of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the fourth planetary gear set with the stationary member, a third of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the fourth planetary gear set with the input member, a fourth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the third member of the third planetary gear set and the first member of the fourth planetary gear set with the input member, a fifth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the second member of the first planetary gear set, the second member of the second planetary gear set, the third member of the second planetary gear set and the third member of the first planetary gear set with the stationary member and a sixth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the third member of the second planetary gear set, the first member of the third planetary gear set, the third member of the first planetary gear set, the second member of the first planetary gear set and the second member of the second planetary gear set with the stationary member.

13. The transmission of claim 12 wherein the fifth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms 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 stationary member.

14. The transmission of claim 12 wherein the fifth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the first planetary gear set and the third member of the second planetary gear set with the stationary member.

15. The transmission of claim 12 wherein the 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 second planetary gear set with the stationary member.

16. The transmission of claim 12 wherein the sixth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the second planetary gear set and the first member of the third planetary gear set with the stationary member.

17. The transmission of claim 12 wherein a sixth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the second planetary gear set and the third member of the first planetary gear set with the stationary member.

18. The transmission of claim 12 wherein a sixth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the first planetary gear set and the second member of the second planetary gear set with the stationary member.

19. The transmission of claim 12 wherein a sixth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the third planetary gear set and the second member of the first planetary gear set with the stationary member.

20. The transmission of claim 12 wherein the each of the first members are sun gear members, each of the second members are planet carrier members and each of the third members are ring gear members.

21. The transmission of claim 12 wherein:

the input member is continuously interconnected with the third member of the first planetary gear set and the first member of the second planetary gear set;

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

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

the fifth interconnecting member continuously interconnects the third member of the second planetary gear set with the first member of the third planetary gear set.

22. The transmission of claim 12 wherein:

the input member is continuously interconnected with the first member of the second planetary gear set;

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

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

the fifth interconnecting member continuously interconnects the second member of the second planetary gear set with the first member of the third planetary gear set.

23. The transmission of claim 12 wherein:

the input member is continuously interconnected with the first member of the first planetary gear set;

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

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

the fifth interconnecting member continuously interconnects the third member of the first planetary gear set with the first member of the third planetary gear set.

24. The transmission of claim 12 wherein:

the input member is continuously interconnected with the first member of the first planetary gear set;

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

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

the fifth interconnecting member continuously interconnects the second member of the first planetary gear set with the first member of the third planetary gear set.

25. The transmission of claim 12 wherein:

the input member is continuously interconnected with the third member of the second planetary gear set;

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

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

the fifth interconnecting member continuously interconnects the second member of the first planetary gear set with the first member of the third planetary gear set.