Automatic transmission with an add-on extension to increase the number of gear ratios
AssigneeMazda Motor Corporation
InventorKoki Ito
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic transmission includes first and second multi-step or speed transmissions mounted in parallel with each other with respect to a transmission shaft. The multi-step or speed transmissions are operationally coupled by a counter gear for transmitting engine torque from the first multi-step or speed transmission to the second multi-transmission. An extension unit having friction clutch elements is detachably coupled to the first multi-step or speed transmission for changing a transmission path of the engine torque through it. The number of shiftable gear ratios of the automatic transmission, therefore, can be increased.
Claims4
An automatic transmission comprising:
- a first transmission shaft for transmitting engine torque into said automatic transmission;
- a second transmission shaft juxtaposed in parallel with said first transmission shaft for transmitting said engine torque from said automatic transmission;
- first multi-transmission means, mounted on said first transmission shaft, for automatically shifting the automatic transmission into a plurality of gear ratios;
- said first frictional engagement means, mounted on said first transmission shaft, for controlling operation of said first multi-transmission means;
- second multi-transmission means, mounted on said second transmission shaft, for automatically shifting the automatic transmission into a plurality of gear ratios;
- second frictional engagement means mounted on said second transmission shaft, for controlling operations of said second multi-transmission means;
- counter gear means for transmitting said engine torque from said first multi-transmission means to said second multi-transmission means;
- an extension detachably coupled to said first multi-transmission means, having frictional engagement means for increasing the number of shiftable gear ratios of said automatic transmission;
- and
- a torque convertor, fastened to said automatic transmission at one end of said first transmission shaft, for multiplying said engine torque, said first multi-transmission means comprising two planetary gearsets disposed coaxially on said first transmission shaft on axially opposite sides of said counter gear means.
An automatic transmission comprising
- a first transmission shaft for transmitting engine torque into said automatic transmission;
- a second transmission shaft juxtaposed in parallel with said first transmission shaft for transmitting said engine torque from said automatic transmission;
- first multi-transmission means, mounted on said first transmission shaft, for automatically shifting the automatic transmission into a plurality of gear ratios;
- first frictional engagement means, mounted on said first transmission shaft, for controlling operation of said first multi-transmission means;
- second multi-transmission means, mounted on said second transmission shaft, for automatically shifting the automatic transmission into a plurality of gear ratios;
- second frictional engagement means mounted on said second transmission shaft, for controlling operation of said second multi-transmission means;
- counter gear means for transmitting said engine torque from said first multi-transmission means to said second multi-transmission means;
- a torque convertor, fastened to said automatic transmission at one end of said first transmission shaft, for multiplying said engine torque, said first multi-transmission means comprising two planetary gearsets both disposed between said torque converter and said counter gear means;
- and
- an extension means, disposed on a side of said counter gear means opposite to said two planetary gearsets and detachably coupled to said first multi-transmission means, having frictional engagement means for increasing the number of shiftable gear ratios of said automatic transmission.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.