Multi-speed transmission with a series disconnect clutch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8939863-B2
Application number	US-201313782663-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2013
Priority date	Mar 1, 2013
Publication date	Jan 27, 2015
Grant date	Jan 27, 2015

Abstract

A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a plurality of planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. One of the plurality of torque transmitting devices is an integrated friction launch clutch. A disconnect clutch is in series relationship with the launch clutch and is configured to disconnect the launch clutch from at least one of the plurality of planetary gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes actuatable in combinations of two to establish at least ten forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A powertrain comprising:
an engine; and
a transmission including:
an input member connected to the engine;
an output member;
a plurality of planetary gear sets connected between the input member and the output member;
a launch clutch connected to one of the plurality of planetary gear sets, wherein the launch clutch is configured to engage during a first gear and a reverse gear, wherein the first gear provides the largest gear ratio of any other forward gear provided by the transmission; and
a disconnect clutch connected between the launch clutch and the one of the plurality of planetary gear sets, wherein the disconnect clutch is configured to couple the launch clutch with the one of the plurality of planetary gear sets when the launch clutch is engaged and to disconnect the launch clutch with the one of the plurality of planetary gear sets when the launch clutch is not engaged.

2. The powertrain of claim 1 wherein the launch clutch includes a housing and a hub, and wherein the disconnect clutch is connected to the hub of the launch clutch and a member connected to the one of the planetary gear sets.

3. The powertrain of claim 1 wherein the input member of the transmission is not connected to a hydrodynamic starting device disposed between the engine and the input member.

4. The powertrain of claim 1 wherein the transmission is a ten-speed transmission.

5. The powertrain of claim 4 wherein the transmission includes five torque transmitting devices, and wherein engagement of the launch clutch, the disconnect clutch, and a first of the five torque transmitting devices provides the first gear.

6. The powertrain of claim 5 wherein engagement of the launch clutch, the disconnect clutch, and a second of the five torque transmitting devices provides the reverse gear.

7. A transmission including:
an input member;
an output member;
first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members;
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;
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, wherein one of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is a launch device engaged in first gear and reverse gear; and
a disconnect clutch in series relationship with the launch device and configured to connect the launch device with one of the first, second, and third members when the launch device is engaged and configured to disconnect the launch device from one of the first, second, and third members when the launch device is disengaged, 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.

8. The transmission of claim 7 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 and wherein the input member is not connected to a hydrodynamic starting device.

9. The transmission of claim 7 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.

10. The transmission of claim 7 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. The transmission of claim 7 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.

12. The transmission of claim 11 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.

13. The transmission of claim 12 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.

14. The transmission of claim 13 wherein a fourth of the six torque transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to interconnect the disconnect clutch with the stationary member.

15. The transmission of claim 14 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.

16. The transmission of claim 15 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.

17. The transmission of claim 16 wherein the fourth torque transmitting mechanism is the launch device.

18. A transmission comprising:
first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets each having a sun gear, a carrier member and a ring gear;
an input member continuously connected for common rotation with the sun gear of the second planetary gear set and the carrier member of the fourth planetary gear set;
an output member continuously connected for common rotation with the carrier member of the first planetary gear set and the ring gear of the third planetary gear set;
a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the ring gear of the first planetary gear set with the carrier member of the second planetary gear set;
a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the carrier member of the first planetary gear set with the ring gear of the third planetary gear set;
a third interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the sun gear of the first planetary gear set with the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set;
a fourth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the sun gear of the second planetary gear set with the carrier member of the fourth planetar

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc
• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Hart James M
• Wilton Daryl A
• Borgerson James B

Classifications

• F16H3/62 Primary

  Gearings having three or more central gears (F16H3/68 - F16H3/78 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16H3/66 Primary

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

• F16H2200/2048

  with seven engaging means · CPC title

• F16D21/08

  Serially-arranged clutches interconnecting two shafts only when all the clutches are engaged (F16D13/08, F16D13/12 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16D2021/0661

  Hydraulically actuated multiple lamellae clutches · CPC title