Planetary transmissions with three interconnected gear sets and six selectable torque transmitting devices

A transmission comprising:

• an input shaft;
• an output shaft;
• first, second and third planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members;
• said output shaft being continuously interconnected with at least one member of said first or second planetary gear set, or continuously interconnected with a member of said third planetary gear set and selectively connectible with at least one member of said first, second or third planetary gear set;
• said input shaft being non-continuously interconnected with said members of said planetary gear sets, and only selectively connectable with at least one of said members of said planetary gear sets through at least one of six torque-transmitting mechanisms;
• a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting said first member of said first planetary gear set with said first member of said second planetary gear set and said first member of said third planetary gear set;
• a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting said second member of said first planetary gear set with said second member of said second planetary gear set;
• the first of said six torque-transmitting mechanisms selectively interconnecting said input shaft with a member of said first or second planetary gear set;
• the second of said six torque-transmitting mechanisms selectively interconnecting said input shaft with a member of said second or third planetary gear set, said member interconnected by said second torque-transmitting mechanism being different from said member interconnected by said first torque-transmitting mechanism;
• the third of said six torque-transmitting mechanisms selectively interconnecting a member of said first, second or third planetary gear set with said input shaft, or another member of said first, second or third planetary gear set;
• the fourth of said six torque-transmitting mechanisms selectively interconnecting a member of said first or second planetary gear set with a stationary member, said member of said first or second planetary ear set interconnected by said fourth torque-transmitting mechanism being different from said members interconnected with said output shaft;
• the fifth of said six torque-transmitting mechanisms selectively interconnecting a member of said second or third planetary gear set with said stationary member, said member of said second or third planetary gear set interconnected by said fifth torque-transmitting mechanism being different from said members interconnected by said fourth torque-transmitting mechanism or with said output shaft;
• the sixth of said six torque-transmitting mechanisms selectively interconnecting a member of said first, second or third planetary gear set with another member of said first, second or third planetary gear set, or with said stationary member, the pair of members interconnected by said sixth torque-transmitting mechanism being different from the member interconnected with said input shaft by said third torque-transmitting mechanism and from the pair of members interconnected by said third torque-transmitting mechanism;
• and
• said six torque-transmitting mechanisms being engaged in combinations of three to establish at least seven forward speed ratios and a reverse speed ratio between said input shaft and said output shaft.