Apparatus with a dual-clutch gearbox for a motor vehicle

A transmission for a motor vehicle, the transmission comprising:

• an input shaft configured to be connected to a power source of the motor vehicle;
• a first shaft extending along a straight axis and carrying a plurality of first gearwheels, each of the first gearwheels being carried either in a fixed manner by the first shaft, thus defining an element of a set of first rotationally fixed gearwheels, or in a rotatable manner with respect to the first shaft, thus defining an element of a set of first engageable gearwheels;
• a second shaft carrying a plurality of second gearwheels, each of the second gearwheels being carried in a fixed manner by the second shaft, thus defining an element of a set of second rotationally fixed gearwheels, or in a rotating manner with respect to the second shaft, thus defining an element of a set of second engageable gearwheels;
• an output shaft configured to be connected to an axle of the motor vehicle, the output shaft carrying:
• a plurality of third gearwheels meshing with the first gearwheels to form first gear trains, each of the third gearwheels being carried in a fixed manner by the output shaft, thus defining an element of a set of third rotationally fixed gearwheels, or in a rotating manner with respect to the output shaft, thus defining an element of a set of third engageable gearwheels;
• and
• a plurality of fourth gearwheels meshing with the second gearwheels to form second gear trains, each of the fourth gearwheels being carried in a fixed manner by the output shaft, thus defining an element of a set of fourth rotationally fixed gearwheels, or in a rotating manner with respect to the output shaft, thus defining an element of a set of fourth engageable gearwheels;
• a double clutch controllable to selectively connect one of the first and second shafts with the input shaft;
• at least one first engagement device controllable for rotationally fixing a related first engageable gearwheel of the first engageable gearwheels to the first shaft selectively;
• at least one second engagement device controllable for rotationally fixing a related second engageable gearwheel of the second engageable gearwheels to the second shaft selectively;
• a third engagement device arranged between one of said third gearwheels and one of said fourth gearwheels and controllable to selectively and mutually exclusive rotationally fix either the said one of said third gearwheels or the said one of said fourth gearwheels to the output shaft;
• and
• a fourth engagement device controllable to rotationally fix another one of said third gearwheels to the output shaft selectively,
• characterized in that the third engagement device comprises a sleeve element rotationally fixed to the output shaft and axially sliding on the output shaft between the said one of said third gearwheels and the said one of said fourth gearwheels to engage with one of first axial ends of the said one of said third gearwheels and the said one of said fourth gearwheels, the said one of said third gearwheels and the said one of said fourth gearwheels comprising second axial ends axially opposite to the first axial ends, wherein the double clutch comprises a radial bearing supporting the output shaft and arranged axially between the sleeve element and the second axial end of one of the said one of said third gearwheels and the said one of said fourth gearwheels, the radial bearing being arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the first axial end of the one of the said one of said third gearwheels and the said one of said fourth gearwheels, so as to support the output shaft via the first axial end of the one of the said one of said third gearwheels and the said one of said fourth gearwheels.

A motor vehicle, comprising:

• a first power drive;
• a second power drive;
• a drive axle;
• and
• a transmission, comprising:
• an input;
• a first shaft carrying a plurality of first gearwheels, each of the first gearwheels being carried either in a fixed manner by the first shaft, thus defining an element of a set of first rotationally fixed gearwheels, or in a rotatable manner with respect to the first shaft, thus defining an element of a set of first engageable gearwheels;
• a second shaft carrying a plurality of second gearwheels, each of the second gearwheels being carried in a fixed manner by the second shaft, thus defining an element of a set of second rotationally fixed gearwheels, or in a rotating manner with respect to the second shaft, thus defining an element of a set of second engageable gearwheels;
• an output shaft connected to the drive axle, the output shaft carrying:
• a plurality of third gearwheels meshing with the first gearwheels to form first gear trains, each of the third gearwheels being carried in a fixed manner by the output shaft, thus defining an element of a set of third rotationally fixed gearwheels, or in a rotating manner with respect to the output shaft, thus defining an element of a set of third engageable gearwheels;
• and
• a plurality of fourth gearwheels meshing with the second gearwheels to form second gear trains, each of the fourth gearwheels being carried in a fixed manner by the output shaft, thus defining an element of a set of fourth rotationally fixed gearwheels, or in a rotating manner with respect to the output shaft, thus defining an element of a set of fourth engageable gearwheels;
• a double clutch controllable to selectively connect one of the first and second shafts with the input;
• at least one first engagement device controllable for rotationally fixing a related first engageable gearwheel of the first engageable gearwheels to the first shaft selectively;
• at least one second engagement device controllable for rotationally fixing a related second engageable gearwheel of the second engageable gearwheels to the second shaft selectively;
• a third engagement device arranged between one of said third gearwheels and one of said fourth gearwheels and controllable to selectively and mutually exclusive rotationally fix either the said one of third gearwheels or the said one of fourth gearwheels to the output shaft;
• and
• a fourth engagement device controllable to rotationally fix another one of said third gearwheels to the output shaft selectively,
• characterized in that the third engagement device comprises a sleeve element rotationally fixed to the output shaft and axially sliding on the output shaft between the said one of said third gearwheels and the said one of said fourth gearwheels to engage with one of first axial ends of the said one of said third gearwheels and the said one of said fourth gearwheels, the said one of said third gearwheels and the said one of said fourth gearwheels comprising second axial ends axially opposite to the first axial ends, wherein the double clutch comprises a radial bearing supporting the output shaft and arranged axially between the sleeve element and the second axial end of one of the said one of said third gearwheels and the said one of said fourth gearwheels, the radial bearing being arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the first axial end of the one of the said one of said third gearwheels and the said one of said fourth gearwheels, so as to support the output shaft via the first axial end of the one of the said one of said third gearwheels and the said one of said fourth gearwheels.