Automatic transmission

A transmission comprising:

• a first shaft driven by an engine;
• a second shaft;
• a plurality of gears interconnecting the first shaft and the second shaft, wherein each gear of the plurality of gears is radially supported by one of the first and second shafts;
• and
• a plurality of clutch assemblies, each clutch assembly comprising:
• a clutch plate rotationally coupled to one of the first and second shafts, wherein the clutch plate has an engaged state whereby a surface of the clutch plate abuts a mating surface of one of the plurality of gears to rotationally couple the one of the plurality of gears to one of the first and second shafts and a disengaged state whereby the clutch surface is spaced from the mating surface to rotationally uncouple the one of the plurality of gears and the clutch plate;
• a locking member disposed within a recess of the gear;
• and
• a biasing member abutting the locking member causing a portion of the locking member to protrude from the gear towards the clutch plate, wherein the clutch plate has a bore aligned with the locking member, and wherein the locking member engages the bore in the engaged state and thereby rotationally couples the gear and the clutch plate.

A transmission comprising:

• a first shaft driven by an engine;
• a second shaft;
• a first set gears interconnecting the first shaft and the second shaft and including a first gear, wherein the first gear is rotationally coupled to and concentric with the first shaft, and wherein the first set of gears has a speed-increasing gear ratio;
• a second set of gears interconnecting the first shaft and the second shaft and including a second gear, wherein the second gear is rotationally coupled to and concentric with the second shaft, and wherein the second set of gears has a speed-reducing gear ratio;
• a third set of gears interconnecting the first shaft and the second shaft and including a third gear, wherein the third gear is rotationally coupled to and concentric with the second shaft, and wherein the third set of gears has a speed-reducing gear ratio, and wherein each gear of the first set of gears, the second set of gears, and the third set of gears is radially supported by one of the first and second shafts;
• a first clutch assembly comprising:
• a first clutch plate rotationally coupled to the first shaft, wherein the first clutch assembly has an engaged whereby a surface of the first clutch plate engages a mating surface of the first gear to rotationally couple the first shaft and the first gear, and wherein the first clutch assembly has a disengaged state whereby the surface of the first clutch plate is spaced from the mating surface of the first gear to rotationally uncouple the first gear and the first shaft;
• a second clutch assembly comprising:
• a second clutch plate rotationally coupled to the second shaft, wherein the second clutch assembly has an engaged whereby a surface of the second clutch plate engages a mating surface of the second gear to rotationally couple the second shaft and the second gear, and wherein the second clutch assembly has a disengaged state whereby the surface of the second clutch plate is spaced from the mating surface of the second gear to rotationally uncouple the second gear and the second shaft;
• a third clutch assembly comprising:
• a third clutch plate rotationally coupled to the second shaft, wherein the third clutch assembly has an engaged whereby a surface of the third clutch plate engages a mating surface of the third gear to rotationally couple the second shaft and the second gear, and wherein the third clutch assembly has a disengaged state whereby the surface of the third clutch plate is spaced from the mating surface of the third gear to rotationally uncouple the third gear and the second shaft;
• wherein the first shaft has an operational range from a first rotational speed to a second rotational speed, and wherein the first, second, and third gear ratios are configured to maintain the second shaft between a third rotational speed and a fourth rotational speed, and wherein the difference between the first and second rotational speeds is greater than the difference between the third and fourth rotational speeds.