# US 10,767,742 B2 · Transaxle having chain final drive > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,742 B2 - Document ID: US10767742B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/372,742 - Filed: 2016-12-08 - Published: 2018-06-14 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-08 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: David Allen Janson; Gregory Daniel Goleski; David Gon Oh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767742B2 ## CPC - F16H 37/0813: {with only one input shaft} - B60K 17/04: characterised by arrangement, location or kind of gearing - B60K 17/08: of mechanical type - B60K 17/105: {Units comprising at least a part of the gearing and a torque-transmitting axle, e.g. transaxles (B60K17/14 takes precedence)} - B60K 17/16: of differential gearing - B60K 17/342: having a longitudinal, endless element, e.g. belt or chain, for transmitting drive to wheels - F16H 3/66: composed of a number of gear trains without drive passing from one train to another - F16H 7/06: with chains - F16H 57/021: Shaft support structures, e.g. partition walls, bearing eyes, casing walls or covers with bearings - F16H 57/033: Series gearboxes, e.g. gearboxes based on the same design being available in different sizes or gearboxes using a combination of several standardised units - F16H 57/035: Gearboxes for gearing with endless flexible members - F16H 57/037: Gearboxes for accommodating differential gearings (rotating cases for differential gearings F16H48/40) - F16H 2057/02052: {Axle units; Transfer casings for four wheel drive} - F16H 2200/006: the gear ratios comprising eight forward speeds - F16H 2200/2012: with four sets of orbital gears - F16H 2200/2046: with six engaging means - F16H 2200/2066: using one freewheel mechanism - F16H 2200/2082: one freewheel mechanisms - F16H: GEARING - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract A transmission uses a chain and sprocket final drive that provides all final drive torque multiplication in addition to transferring power to the differential axis. The transmission includes a front support structure that provides for a small driving sprocket. The front support includes an insert made of hardened material that can serve as the inner bearing race for the driving sprocket. In some embodiments, four fluid passageways are provided to the torque converter. In some embodiments, the park gear may be integrated with the driven sprocket. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transmission comprising: a front support including a sleeve portion having an outer circumferential surface configured as an inner bearing race; a first sprocket defining an inner circumferential surface that circumscribes the sleeve portion; a roller bearing radially disposed between the inner and outer circumferential surfaces to supported the first sprocket for rotation about the sleeve portion, the roller bearing including an outer race seated against the inner circumferential surface and roller elements that ride directly on the outer circumferential surface; a second sprocket bolted to a differential carrier for rotation therewith; and a chain engaging the first and second sprockets. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The transmission of claim 1 further comprising a turbine shaft supported by the front support, the front support defining a first channel in fluid communication with an axial channel within the turbine shaft and defining a second channel in fluid communication with a channel defined between the front support and the turbine shaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The transmission of claim 2 further comprising a cast intermediate member fixed to the front support, a bell housing, and a valve body and having channels fluidly connecting the first and second channels of the front support to the valve body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The transmission of claim 3 wherein the front support comprises: a front support body configured to support the turbine shaft; and a front support insert fixed to the front support body such that the first and second. channels go through. both the front support body and the front support insert. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The transmission of claim 4 wherein the front support further defines third and fourth channels, the third channel fluidly connected to an outer surface of the front support body and the fourth channel fluidly connected to a space between the turbine shaft and a turbine shaft insert. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The transmission of claim 1 further comprising a planetary gear set having a sun gear supported for rotation around a portion of the first sprocket, a carrier splined to the first sprocket, a ring gear, and a plurality of planet gears supported for rotation with respect to the carrier and in meshing engagement with the sun gear and the ring gear. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The transmission of claim 6 further comprising a shell fixedly coupled to the sun gear and extending between the planetary gear set and the chain. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The transmission of claim 7 further comprising a brake configured to selectively hold the shell against rotation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The transmission of claim 1 further comprising a park gear fixedly coupled to the first sprocket. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The transmission of claim 1 further comprising a park gear fixedly coupled to the second sprocket. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The transmission. of claim 1 wherein the roller elements are needle bearings. ### Claim 12 A transmission comprising: a bell housing; an intermediate member fixed to the bell housing; a front support body fixed to the intermediate member and configured to support a turbine shaft; and a front support insert fixed to the front support body and configured to support a first sprocket; and wherein the intermediate member, front support body, front support insert, and turbine shaft define two fluid passageways from a valve body to a torque converter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The transmission of claim 12 further comprising: a second sprocket bolted to a differential carrier for rotation therewith; and a chain engaging the first and second sprockets. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The transmission of claim 12 Wherein a first of the two fluid passageways comprises: a first radial channel in the front support body; a second radial channel in the front support insert; a third radial channel in the turbine shaft; and an axial channel in the turbine shaft. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The transmission of claim 12 wherein a second of the two fluid passageways comprises: a second radial channel in the front support body; a first axial channel defined between the front support body and the front support insert; a second radial channel in the front support insert; and an axial channel defined between the turbine shaft and the front support body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The transmission of claim 12 wherein the intermediate member, front support body, front support insert, and turbine shaft define a third fluid passageway from the valve body to the torque converter comprising: a third radial channel in the front support body; a second axial channel defined between the front support body and the front support insert; a third radial channel in the front support insert; a second radial channel in the turbine shaft; an axial channel defined between the turbine shaft and a turbine shaft insert; and a third radial channel in the turbine shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The transmission of claim 12 wherein the intermediate member, front support body, front support insert, and turbine shaft define a fourth fluid passageway from the valve body to the torque converter comprising: a fourth radial channel in the front support body; and a third axial channel defined between the front support body and the front support insert. ### Claim 18 A transmission front support comprising: a front support body configured to support a turbine shaft; and a hollow front support insert fixed to the front support body and configured to support a first sprocket; and wherein the front support body, front support insert, and turbine shaft define four fluid passageways each fluidly connecting an intermediate member to a torque converter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The transmission front support of claim 18 wherein the four fluid passageways include: four radial channels in the front support body at four different circumferential positions; three axial channels defined between the front support body and the front support insert luidly connected to three of the four radial channels in the front support; three radial channel through. the front support insert including one fluidly connected to a fourth of the four radial channels in the front support body and two fluidly connected to two of the three axial channels; and a fifth axial channel in the front support body fluidly connecting an exterior surface of the front support body to a third of the three axial channels.