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US 2014/0179487 A1Published application
Multiple Speed Transmission With Integrated Low Range
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsSteven Gerald Thomas, Donald Edward Hoffman, Gregory Daniel Goleski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transmission gearing arrangement includes four simple planetary gear sets, three brakes, and four rotating clutches. The brakes and clutches may be engaged in combinations of three to establish at least ten forward transmission ratios and at least three reverse transmission ratios. The lowest forward transmission ratio and lowest reverse transmission ratio may be used to implement a low range mode, obviating the need for a two speed transfer case.
Claims23
A transmission comprising:
- an input shaft;
- an output shaft;
- a first gearing arrangement configured to fixedly constrain a first element to rotate at a speed between speeds of the input shaft and a second element;
- a second gearing arrangement configured to fixedly constrain a third element to rotate at a speed between speeds of the first element and a fourth element;
- and
- a third gearing arrangement configured to fixedly constrain the output shaft to rotate at a speed between speeds of a fifth element and a sixth element and to fixedly constrain the sixth element to rotate at a speed between speeds of the output shaft and the third element.
3 more elements
A transmission comprising:
- an input shaft;
- an output shaft;
- a transmission case;
- a first gearing arrangement configured to fixedly constrain a first element to rotate at a speed between speeds of the input shaft and a second element;
- a second gearing arrangement configured to fixedly constrain a third element to rotate at a speed between speeds of the first element and a fourth element;
- a third gearing arrangement configured to fixedly constrain a sixth element to rotate at a speed between speeds of the output shaft and the third element;
- and
- a fourth gearing arrangement configured to fixedly constrain a seventh element to rotate at a speed between speeds of a fifth element and an eighth element wherein the fifth element is coupled to the transmission case, the seventh element is coupled to output shaft, and the eighth element is coupled to the sixth element.
5 more elements
A method of operating a vehicle, the method comprising:
- in response to selection of high range, launching the vehicle in reverse at a first negative transmission ratio;
- and
- in response to selection of low range, launching the vehicle in reverse at a second negative transmission ratio.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.