# US 2015/0031497 A1 · Multi-ratio transmission

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- Number: US 2015/0031497 A1
- Document ID: US20150031497A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/376,619
- Filed: 2013-01-10
- Published: 2015-01-29
- Earliest claimed: 2012-02-06
- Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
- Applicants: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
- Inventors: Stefan Beck; Timo Wehlen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150031497A1

## CPC

- F16H 3/62: Gearings having three or more central gears (F16H3/68 - F16H3/78 take precedence)
- B60K 6/48: Parallel type
- F16H 3/66: composed of a number of gear trains without drive passing from one train to another
- F16H 3/725: {with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing}
- F16H 37/04: Combinations of toothed gearings only (F16H37/06 takes precedence)
- B60Y 2304/01: Minimizing space with more compact designs or arrangements
- F16H 2200/006: the gear ratios comprising eight forward speeds
- F16H 2200/201: with three sets of orbital gears
- F16H 2200/2043: with five engaging means
- Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles
- 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
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A multi-stage transmission with eight forward and one reverse gear, including input and output shafts, planetary gearsets, gear stages, shift elements and shafts. Input shaft couples the carrier of gearset (P1) and, via clutch (15), can couple shaft (5) that couples the ring and sun gears respectively of gearsets (P2, P3). The ring gear of gearset (P1) couples shaft (6), which couples the sun gear of gearset (P2). Shaft (3) couples the sun gear of gearset (P1), can couple the housing via brake (03), and can couple shaft (8), which couples the ring gear of gearset (P3). The carrier of gearset (P2) couples shaft (4), which can couple the output shaft (2) via gear stage (S1) and clutch (24). The carrier of gearset (P3) couples shaft (7), which couples gear stage (S2), which couples the output shaft. A clutch (46, 56 or 45) can engage to block gearset (P2).

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-14. (canceled)

### Claim 15

A multi-stage auto transmission for a motor vehicle, comprising:
an input shaft (1) and an output shaft (2);
first, second and third three planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), each of the first, the second and the third planetary gear sets comprising a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier;
first and second spur gear stages (S1, S2) being connected to a countershaft, disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first, the second and the third planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), serving as the output shaft (2) of the transmission, and the first and second spur gear stages (S1, S2) being disposed inside a housing (G);
at least third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth rotatable shafts (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8);
at least five shift elements (03, 15, 24, 38, 45, 46, 56) comprising a brake (03) and first, second, third and fourth clutches (15, 24, 38, 45, 46, 56) which are selectively engagable to provide different transmission ratios between the input shaft (1) and the output shaft (2) such that eight forward gears and one reverse gear are implementable;
the input shaft (1) being connected to the carrier of the first planetary gear set (P1) and connectable, by engagement of the first clutch (15), to the fifth shaft (5), and the fifth shaft (5) being connected to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set (P2) and the sun gear of the third planetary gear seat (P3);
the ring gear of the first planetary gear set (P1) is connected to the sixth shaft (6) also being connected to the sun gear of the second planetary gear set (P2);
the third shaft (3) being connected to the sun gear of the first planetary gear set (P1), being connectable to the housing (G) of the transmission by engagement of the brake (03) and being connectable, by engagement of the third clutch (38), to the eighth shaft (8), and the eighth shaft (8) being connected to the ring gear of the third planetary gear set (P3);
the carrier of the second planetary gear set (P2) being connected to the fourth shaft (4), and the fourth shaft (4) being connectable to the output shaft (2) by the first spur gear stage (S1) and the second clutch (24);
the carrier of the third planetary gear set (P3) being connected to the seventh shaft (7) which is also connected to a first spur gear (ST3) of the second spur gear stage (ST2), and a second spur gear (ST4) of the second spur gear stage (S2) being connected to the output shaft (2); and
the fourth clutch (46, 56, 45) being engagable to block the second planetary gear set (P2).

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The multi-stage transmission according to claim 15, wherein the fourth clutch (46) detachably connects the sixth shaft (6) to the fourth shaft (4) and, when the fourth clutch (46) is engaged, the second planetary gear set (P2) is blocked due to coupling of the carrier of the second planetary gear set (P2) with the sun gear of the second planetary gear set (P2).

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The multi-stage transmission according to claim 15, wherein the fourth clutch (56) detachably connects the fifth shaft (5) to the sixth shaft (6), and when the fourth clutch (56) is engaged, the second planetary gear set (P2) is blocked due to coupling of the sun gear of the secondary planetary gear set (P2) with the ring gear of the second planetary gear set (P2).

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The multi-stage transmission according to claim 15, wherein the fourth clutch (45) detachably connects the fifth shaft (5) to the fourth shaft (4), and when the fourth clutch (45) is engaged, the second planetary gear set (P2) is blocked due to coupling of the carrier of the secondary planetary gear set (P2) with the ring gear of the second planetary gear set (P2).

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The multi-stage transmission according to claim 15, wherein the fourth shaft (4) is connected to a first spur gear (ST1) of the first spur gear stage (S1) and a second spur gear (ST2) of the first spur gear stage (S1) detachably connects the output shaft (2) by engagement of the second clutch (24).

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The multi-stage transmission according to claim 15, wherein the fourth shaft (4) detachably connects a first spur gear (ST1) of the first spur gear stage (S1) by engagement of the second clutch (24), and the second spur gear (ST2) of the first spur gear stage (S1) is connected to the output shaft (2).

### Claim 21 (depends on 15)

The multi-stage transmission according to claim 15, wherein the first, the second and the third planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3) are each configured as minus planetary gear sets.

### Claim 22 (depends on 15)

The multi-stage transmission according to claim 15, wherein, from a radial perspective, the second planetary gear set (P2) is disposed about the first planetary gear set (P1).

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The multi-stage transmission according to claim 22, wherein, from an axial perspective, the first, the second and the third planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3) are disposed in an order of the second planetary gear set (P2) surrounding the first planetary gear set (P1) to form a combined planetary gear set, and then the third planetary gear set (P3).

### Claim 24 (depends on 15)

The multi-stage transmission according to claim 15, wherein an electrical machine is provided that is either disposed on the input shaft of the transmission and directly connected to the input shaft, or is disposed axially parallel relative to the input shaft and connected to the input shaft by either a gear step or a chain drive.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The multi-stage transmission according to claim 24, wherein a fifth clutch is provided by which an internal combustion engine is decouplable from the transmission such that a totality of gears of the transmission are operatable by electrical means alone.

### Claim 26 (depends on 15)

The multi-stage transmission according to claim 15, wherein,
if the fourth clutch (46) detachably connects the fourth shaft (4) to the sixth shaft (6), then a first forward gear is implemented by engagement of the brake (03) and the first and the third clutches (15, 38),
a second forward gear is implemented by engagement of the brake (03) and the third and the fourth clutches (38, 46),
a third forward gear is implemented by engagement of the first, the third and the fourth clutches (15, 38, 46),
a fourth forward gear is implemented by engagement of the second, the third and the fourth clutches (24, 38, 46),
a fifth forward gear is implemented by engagement of the first, the second and the third clutches (15, 24, 38),
a sixth forward gear is implemented by engagement of the first, the second and the fourth clutches (15, 24, 46),
a seventh forward gear is implemented by engagement of the brake (03) and the first and the second clutches (15, 24),
an eighth forward gear is implemented by engagement of the brake (03) and the second and the fourth clutches (24, 46), and
the reverse gear is implemented by engagement of the brake (03) and the second and the third clutches (24, 38).

### Claim 27 (depends on 15)

The multi-stage transmission according to claim 15, wherein, the fourth clutch (56, 45) either detachably connects the sixth shaft (6) to the fifth shaft (5) or detachably connects the fifth shaft (5) to the fourth shaft (4).

### Claim 28 (depends on 15)

The multi-stage transmission according to claim 15, wherein at least one of a mechanical structural component, a belt, and a chain are disposed either instead of or additionally to at least one of the first spur gear stage and the second spur gear stage for transmission of torque.

### Claim 29 (depends on 15)

The multi-stage transmission according to claim 15, wherein the output shaft (2) is connected to the input shaft of a differential by at least one planetary gear set.

### Claim 30

A multi-stage automatic transmission for a motor vehicle, the transmission comprising:
an input shaft (1) and an output shaft (2);
first, second and third planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), each of the first, the second and the third planetary gear sets comprising a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier;
first and second spur gear stages (Si, S2) being connected to a countershaft, disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first, the second and the third planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), serving as the output shaft (2) of the transmission, and the first and second spur gear stages (S1, S2) being disposed inside a housing (G) of the transmission;
at least third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth rotatable shafts (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
five shift elements (03, 15, 24, 38, 45, 46, 56) comprising a brake (03) and first, second, third, and fourth clutches (15, 24, 38, 45, 46, 56) which are selectively engagable to provide different transmission ratios between the input shaft (1) and the output shaft (2) such that eight forward gears and one reverse gear are implementable;
the input shaft (1) being continuously connected to the carrier of the first planetary gear set (P1) and the input shaft (1) being connectable, via engagement of the first clutch (15), to the fifth shaft (5);
the output shaft (2) being continuously connected to the second spur gear (ST4) of the second spur gear stage (S2);
the third shaft (3) being continuously connected to the sun gear of the first planetary gear set (P1), the third shaft (3) being connectable, by engagement of the brake (03), to the housing (G) of the transmission, and the third shaft (3) being connectable, by engagement of the third clutch (38), to the eighth shaft (8);
the fourth shaft (4) being continuously connected to the carrier of the second planetary gear set (P2) and the fourth shaft (4) being connectable to the output shaft (2) via the first spur gear stage (S1) and the second clutch (24);
the fifth shaft (5) being continuously connected to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set (P2) and the sun gear of the third planetary gear seat (P3);
the sixth shaft (6) being continuously connected to both the ring gear of the first planetary gear set (P1) and the sun gear of the second planetary gear set (P2);
the seventh shaft (7) being continuously connected to the carrier of the third planetary gear set (P3) and the first spur gear (ST3) of the second spur gear stage (ST2);
the eighth shaft (8) being continuously connected to the ring gear of the third planetary gear set (P3); and
the fourth clutch (46, 56, 45) being engagable for blocking the second planetary gear set (P2).