Automatic multi-speed transmission and overdrive combination

An automatic multi-speed transmission and overdrive combination comprising:

• a. engine input shaft for connection to an engine and supplying drive therefrom;
• b. a fluid torque converter having a pump, a turbine, and a stator;
• c. an overdrive unit having a planetary gear set with a sun gear, a ring gear, pinion gears and a carrier, said sun gear and ring gear being separated by and meshing with the pinion gears supported by the rotary carrier,
• first brake means engagable with and actuable to prevent rotation of said sun gear, and
• normal drive clutch means connected to said sun gear for being actuated during normal drive of said combination;
• d. a multi-speed change gear unit;
• e. first connection means connecting said engine input shaft with said pump of the fluid torque converter for driving said converter;
• f. a turbine shaft connecting said turbine of the fluid torque converter with said carrier of said planetary gear set of said overdrive unit for driving said planetary gear set;
• g. a second input shaft connecting to said multi-speed change gear unit and selectively connectable to said normal drive clutch means and to said ring gear of the overdrive unit, whereby said multi-speed change gear unit may be normally driven by said sun gear of the planetary gear set and may be driven by said ring gear of the planetary gear set during non-actuation of said normal drive clutch means;
• h. an output shaft for supplying output drive from said multi-speed change gear unit to an automobile wheel unit drive means;
• i. means including said first connection means, said turbine shaft, and said second input shaft for connecting said fluid torque converter, said overdrive unit, and said multi-speed change gear unit, in series;
• j. normally unactuated lock up clutch means connecting said engine input shaft directly to said turbine shaft for bypassing said fluid torque converter during overdrive operation;
• and
• k. a one-way clutch means which is provided in association with said normal drive clutch means, and which during forward normal drive transmission by said combination carries a portion of torque load imposed in transmission of drive from said turbine shaft to said second input shaft.