US 6,422,969 B1Granted

Powertrain with a six speed planetary transmission having three planetary gear sets

AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation

InventorsMadhusudan Raghavan, Patrick Benedict Usoro

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Abstract

A powertrain has a prime mover and a final drive gearing interconnected by a planetary gear arrangement including three planetary gear sets and five torque transmitting mechanisms. The planetary gear sets each have three rotatable members. Two members of a first of the planetary gear sets are continuously interconnected respectively with members of a second of the planetary gear sets. One of the interconnected pairs is continuously connected with the prime mover. The third member of the second planetary gear set is continuously connected with one member of the third of the planetary gear sets. Another member of the third planetary gear set is continuously connected with the final drive gearing. Three of the torque transmitting mechanisms are operatively connected between the planetary gear sets and a transmission housing to selectively restrain rotation of selected members of the three planetary gear sets. The fourth of the torque transmitting mechanisms is an interconnecting mechanism that connects at least the prime mover and one member of the first planetary gear set with an otherwise unconnected member of the third planetary gear set. The fifth torque transmitting mechanism is selectively connectable between either one member of the first planetary gear set or the one interconnected members of the first and second planetary gear sets and either the output shaft or the otherwise unconnected member of the third planetary gear set.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A powertrain having a multi-speed transmission, said transmission comprising:

an input shaft connected to deliver power to said transmission;
an output shaft connected to deliver power from said transmission;
a planetary gear arrangement comprising first, second and third planetary gear sets, first, second and third stationary torque transmitting mechanisms, and first and second rotatable torque transmitting mechanisms, each planetary gear set having three rotatable members, a first connection continuously interconnecting a first member of said first planetary gear set, said input shaft, and a first member of said second planetary gear set, a second connection continuously interconnecting a second member of said first planetary gear set and a second member of said second planetary gear set, a third member of said first planetary gear set being operatively connected with said first stationary torque transmitting mechanism, a third connection continuously interconnecting a third member of said second planetary gear set and a first member of said third planetary gear set, said second stationary torque transmitting mechanism being operatively connected with said third connection, said third stationary torque transmitting mechanism being operatively connected with one of said second connection and a second member of said third planetary gear set, said first rotatable torque transmitting mechanism being operatively connectable between said first connection and said second member of said third planetary gear set, said second rotatable torque transmitting mechanism being operatively connectable between a member of said first planetary gear set and one of said second member of said third planetary gear set and said output shaft, and said third member of said third planetary gear set being continuously connected with said output shaft;
and
said torque transmitting mechanisms being selectively operated in combinations of two to establish six forward drive ratios and one reverse drive ratio between said input shaft and said output shaft.

2 more elements

A powertrain having a power source and a multi-speed transmission, said transmission comprising:

a transmission housing;
an input shaft for delivering power from said source to said transmission;
an output shaft for delivering power from said transmission;
first, second, and third planetary gear sets each having first, second, and third rotatable members;
first, second, and third selectively operable brakes each being operatively connected with said transmission housing;
first and second selectively operable clutches;
a first continuous connection for interconnecting said first rotatable members of said first and second planetary gear sets;
a second continuous connection for interconnecting said second rotatable members of said first and second planetary gear sets;
a third continuous connection for interconnecting said third member of said second planetary gear set and said first member of said third planetary gear set;
said first continuous connection being continuously connected with said input shaft, and said first clutch being selectively connectable between said first fixed interconnection and the second member of said third planetary gear set;
said third member of said third planetary gear set being continuously connected with said output shaft;
said second clutch being selectively connectable between one member of said first planetary gear set and either said second member of said third planetary gear set or said output shaft;
said first brake being operatively connected with said third member of said first planetary gear set;
said second brake being operatively connected with said third fixed connection;
said third brake being operatively connected with either said second fixed connection or said second member of said third planetary gear set;
and
said three brakes and said two clutches being selectively engaged in combinations of two to establish a plurality of forward drive ratios and a reverse drive ratio between said input shaft and said output shaft.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/638,007Filed 14 Aug 2000
Granted: 23 Jul 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

F16H 3/666
Composed of a number of gear trains without drive passing from one train to another: with intermeshing orbital gears
F16H 3/66
Gearings having three or more central gears: composed of a number of gear trains without drive passing from one train to another
F16H 2200/0052
Characterised by the number of forward speeds: the gear ratios comprising six forward speeds
F16H 2200/201
Characterised by the number of sets of orbital gears: with three sets of orbital gears