Transmission arrangement for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10584772-B2
Application number	US-201515758254-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2015
Priority date	Sep 9, 2015
Publication date	Mar 10, 2020
Grant date	Mar 10, 2020

Abstract

A transmission arrangement for a vehicle includes a first, a second, a third, and a fourth planetary gear set including a sun gear, a planet carrier and a ring gear, respectively, wherein the transmission arrangement further includes a transmission housing, an input shaft and an output shaft, wherein the sun gear of the first planetary gear set and the input shaft are operatively connected to each other; the ring gear of the first planetary gear set and the ring gear of the second planetary gear set are operatively connected to each other; the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set and the sun gear of the third planetary gear set are operatively connected to each other; the sun gear of the second planetary gear set and the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set are operatively connected to each other; the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set are operatively connected to each other; and the planet carrier of the fourth planetary gear set and the output shaft are operatively connected to each other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A transmission arrangement for a vehicle, the transmission arrangement comprising a first, a second, a third, and a fourth planetary gear set comprising a sun gear, a planet carrier and a ring gear, respectively, wherein the transmission arrangement further comprises a transmission housing, an input shaft and an output shaft, wherein
the sun gear of the first planetary gear set and the input shaft are operatively connected to each other;
the ring gear of the first planetary gear set and the ring gear of the second planetary gear set are operatively connected to each other;
the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set and the sun gear of the third planetary gear set are operatively connected to each other;
the sun gear of the second planetary gear set and the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set are operatively connected to each other;
the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set are operatively connected to each other; and
the planet carrier of the fourth planetary gear set and the output shaft are operatively connected to each other.

2. The transmission arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission arrangement comprises a first connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the input shaft to the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set.

3. The transmission arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission arrangement comprises a second connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the planet carrier of the fourth planetary gear set to the sun gear of the third planetary gear set and to the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set.

4. The transmission arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission arrangement comprises a third connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set to the ring gear of the first planetary gear set and to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set.

5. The transmission arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission, arrangement comprises a fourth connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set to the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set.

6. The transmission arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission arrangement comprises a first locking mechanism for selectively locking the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set to the transmission housing.

7. The transmission arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission arrangement comprises a second locking mechanism for selectively locking the ring gear of the third planetary gear set to the transmission housing.

8. The transmission arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission arrangement comprises a third locking mechanism for selectively locking the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set to the transmission housing.

9. The transmission arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the stationary gear ratio of each one of the first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets are negative.

10. A vehicle comprising a prime mover and a gearbox, wherein the gearbox comprises a transmission arrangement according to claim 1 .

11. A method for controlling a transmission arrangement, the transmission arrangement comprising a first, a second, a third, and a fourth planetary gear set comprising a sun gear, a planet carrier and a ring gear, respectively, wherein the transmission arrangement further comprises a transmission housing, an input shaft and an output shaft, whereby:
the sun gear of the first planetary gear set being operatively connected to the input shaft;
the ring gear of the first planetary gear set being operatively connected to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set;
the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set being operatively connected to the sun gear of the third planetary gear set;
the sun gear of the second planetary gear set being operatively connected to the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;
the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set being operatively connected to the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set;
the planet carrier of the fourth planetary gear set being operatively connected to the output shaft; wherein the transmission arrangement further comprises:
a first connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the input shaft to the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set;
a second connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the planet carrier of the fourth planetary gear set to the sun gear of the third planetary gear set and to the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set;
a third connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set to the ring gear of the first planetary gear set and to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set;
a fourth connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set to the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set;
a first locking mechanism for selectively locking the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set to the transmission housing;
a second locking mechanism tier selectively locking the ring gear of the third planetary gear set to the transmission housing; and
a third locking mechanism for selectively locking the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set to the transmission housing; wherein for at least one of the gears of the transmission arrangement, the method comprises the steps of:
positioning three of the locking and connecting mechanisms in an engaged state; and
positioning four of the locking and connecting mechanisms in a disengaged state.

12. A control unit configured to control a transmission arrangement, the transmission arrangement comprising a first, a second, a third, and a fourth planetary gear set comprising a gear, a planet carrier and a ring gear, respectively, wherein the transmission arrangement further comprises a transmission housing, an input shaft and an output shaft, wherein:
the sun gear of the first planetary gear set being operatively connected to the input shaft;
the ring gear of the first planetary gear set being operatively connected to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set;
the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set being operatively connected to the sun gear of the third planetary gear set;
the sun gear of the second planetary gear set being operatively connected to the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;
the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set being operatively connected to the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set;
the planet carrier of the fourth planetary gear set being operatively connected to the output shalt wherein the transmission arrangement further comprises;
a first connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the input shaft to the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set;
a second connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the planet carrier of the fourth planetary gear set to the sun gear of the third planetary gear set and to the planet carder of the second planetary gear set;
a third connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set to the ring gear of the first planetary gear set and to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set;
a fourth connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set to the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set;
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Assignees

• Volvo Constr Equip Ab

Inventors

• Dersjö Jan
• Mattsson Per
• Lehikoinen Mathias
• Åkerblom Mats
• Müller Jörg
• Leesch Mirko
• Resch Rico

Classifications

• F16H3/66 Primary

  composed of a number of gear trains without drive passing from one train to another · CPC title

• F16H2200/2097

  comprising an orbital gear set member permanently connected to the housing, e.g. a sun wheel permanently connected to the housing · CPC title

• F16H2200/0069

  the gear ratios comprising ten forward speeds · CPC title

• F16H2200/0078

  the gear ratio comprising twelve or more forward speeds · CPC title

• F16H2200/2012

  with four sets of orbital gears · CPC title