Dual clutch transmission with continuouiswly variable final drive assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016348777-A1
Application number	US-201514725007-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 29, 2015
Priority date	May 29, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A dual clutch transmission includes a pair of concentric clutches which selectively drive a pair of concentric drive shafts, pairs of gears in constant mesh, a first portion of which are associated with the first drive shaft and a first, parallel countershaft and a second portion of which are associated with the second drive shaft and a second, parallel countershaft. Synchronizer clutches disposed adjacent the gears on the countershafts selectively connect the gears to the countershafts. Both countershafts drive a single output shaft through transfer gears. The output shaft is coupled to a drive (input) pulley of a continuously variable final drive assembly which receives a chain which drives a driven (output) pulley which is coupled to and drives the cage of a differential assembly. A pair of axles are driven by the side gears of the differential and, in turn, drive the vehicle wheel

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A motor vehicle transmission comprising, in combination,
a first clutch for selectively driving a first transmission drive shaft, a second clutch for selectively driving a second transmission drive shaft, a least a first gear secured to said first transmission drive shaft and at least a second gear secured to said second transmission drive shaft, a first countershaft adjacent said first transmission drive shaft and a freely rotatable third gear on said first countershaft in mesh with said first gear, a first synchronizer clutch operably disposed between said third gear and said first countershaft, a second countershaft adjacent said second transmission drive shaft and a freely rotatable fourth gear on said second countershaft in mesh with said second gear, a second synchronizer clutch operably disposed between said fourth gear and said second countershaft, a first output gear on said first countershaft and a second output gear on said second countershaft, said first and said second output gears meshing with a transmission output gear, a continuously variable drive assembly having an input pulley driven by said transmission output gear, an output pulley, a chain partially encircling said input and output pulleys and actuators for adjusting the effective diameters of said pulleys, and a differential assembly coupled to said output pulley of said continuously variable assembly and a pair of shafts coupled to and driven by a respective pair of side gears in said differential assembly.

2 . The motor vehicle transmission of claim 1 further including an input member for driving said first and said second clutches.

3 . The motor vehicle transmission of claim 1 further including a damper assembly having an output coupled to said first and second clutches.

4 . The motor vehicle transmission of claim 1 wherein said first and second countershafts are parallel to said transmission drive shafts.

5 . The motor vehicle transmission of claim 1 wherein said differential assembly includes a cage and said cage is integral with said output pulley of said continuously variable drive assembly.

6 . A dual clutch motor vehicle transmission comprising, in combination,
an input member, a first clutch coupled to said input member and selectively driving a first transmission drive shaft, a second clutch coupled to said input member and selectively driving a second transmission drive shaft, a least a first gear secured to said first transmission drive shaft and at least a second gear secured to said second transmission drive shaft, a first countershaft disposed parallel to said first transmission drive shaft and a freely rotatable third gear on said first countershaft in mesh with said first gear, a first synchronizer clutch disposed between said third gear and said first countershaft, a second countershaft disposed parallel to said second transmission drive shaft and a freely rotatable fourth gear on said second countershaft in mesh with said second gear, a second synchronizer clutch disposed between said fourth gear and said second countershaft, a first output gear on said first countershaft and a second output gear on said second countershaft, said first and said second output gears both meshing with a transmission output gear, a continuously variable drive assembly having an input pulley coupled to and driven by said transmission output gear, an output pulley, a multi-link chain partially encircling said input and output pulleys and actuators for adjusting the effective diameters of said pulleys, and a differential having a cage coupled to said output pulley of said continuously variable assembly and a pair of shafts coupled to and driven by a respective pair of side gears in said differential cage.

7 . The dual clutch motor vehicle transmission of claim 6 further including a damper assembly operably disposed between said input member and said first and second clutches.

8 . The dual clutch motor vehicle transmission of claim 6 wherein said gears disposed on said countershafts include needle bearing assemblies.

9 . The dual clutch motor vehicle transmission of claim 6 wherein said differential includes a cage and said cage is integral with said output pulley of said continuously variable drive assembly.

10 . The dual clutch motor vehicle transmission of claim 6 wherein said actuators are hydraulic actuators.

11 . The dual clutch motor vehicle transmission of claim 6 further including first and second hydraulic actuators for engaging and disengaging said first and second clutches.

12 . A dual clutch motor vehicle transmission comprising, in combination,
an input member adapted to be driven by a prime mover, a damper assembly coupled to said input member a first clutch coupled to said damper assembly and selectively driving a first transmission drive shaft, a second clutch coupled to said damper assembly and selectively driving a second transmission drive shaft, a least a first gear secured to said first transmission drive shaft and at least a second gear secured to said second transmission drive shaft, a first countershaft disposed parallel to said first transmission drive shaft and a freely rotatable third gear on said first countershaft in mesh with said first gear on said first transmission drive shaft, a first synchronizer clutch operably disposed between said third gear and said first countershaft, a second countershaft disposed parallel to said second transmission drive shaft and a freely rotatable fourth gear on said second countershaft in mesh with said second gear on said second transmission drive shaft, a second synchronizer clutch operably disposed between said fourth gear and said second countershaft, a first output gear on said first countershaft and a second output gear on said second countershaft, said first and said second output gears both meshing with a transmission output gear, a continuously variable drive assembly having an input pulley coupled to and driven by said transmission output gear, an output pulley, a multi-link chain partially encircling said input and output pulleys and actuators for adjusting the effective diameters of said pulleys, and a differential having a cage coupled to said output pulley of said continuously variable assembly and a pair of shafts coupled to and driven by a respective pair of side gears in said differential cage.

13 . The dual clutch motor vehicle transmission of claim 12 wherein said damper assembly includes a plurality of compression springs.

14 . The dual clutch motor vehicle transmission of claim 12 wherein said differential includes a cage and said cage is integral with said output pulley of said continuously variable drive assembly.

15 . The dual clutch motor vehicle transmission of claim 12 further including first and second hydraulic actuators for engaging and disengaging said first and second clutches.

16 . The dual clutch motor vehicle transmission of claim 12 wherein said differential includes a pair of center gears in constant mesh with said pair of side gears.

17 . The dual clutch motor vehicle transmission of claim 12 wherein said actuators for adjusting the effective diameters of said pulleys are hydraulic actuators.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Khanzode Tushar P
• Pagare Sachin Chandrakant

Classifications

• F16H37/0813 Primary

  with only one input shaft · CPC title

• F16H37/021 Primary

  toothed gearing combined with continuously variable friction gearing · CPC title

• F16H2200/0043

  the gear ratios comprising four forward speeds · CPC title

• F16H2003/0931

  each countershaft having an output gear meshing with a single common gear on the output shaft · CPC title

• F16H57/037

  Gearboxes for accommodating differential gearings (rotating cases for differential gearings F16H48/40) · CPC title