Wide ratio transmissions having three planetary gear sets and at least six clutches

A multi-speed transmission comprising:

• an input shaft;
• an output shaft;
• first, second and third planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members;
• said input shaft being continuously interconnected with a member of said planetary gear sets, and said output shaft being continuously interconnected with another member of said planetary gear sets;
• 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;
• 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;
• a third interconnecting member continuously interconnecting said third member of said first planetary gear set with a stationary member, said third member of said first planetary gear set being different from said members interconnected with said input shaft and said output shaft, respectively;
• a first torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting a member of said first planetary gear set with a member of said third planetary gear set;
• a second torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting a member of said first planetary gear set with a member of said third planetary gear set, the pair of members interconnected by said second torque-transmitting mechanism being different than the pairs of members interconnected by said first torque-transmitting mechanism;
• a third torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting a member of said second planetary gear set with a member of said third planetary gear set, the pair of members interconnected by said third torque-transmitting mechanism being different from the pairs of members interconnected by said first and second torque-transmitting mechanisms, respectively;
• a fourth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting a member of said second planetary gear set with a member of said third planetary gear set, the pair of members interconnected by said fourth torque-transmitting mechanism being different from the pairs of members interconnected by said first, second and third torque-transmitting mechanisms, respectively;
• a fifth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting a member of said third planetary gear set with a member of said first planetary gear set, the pair of members interconnected by said fifth torque-transmitting mechanism being different from the pairs of members interconnected by said first, second, third and fourth torque-transmitting mechanisms, respectively;
• a sixth torque-transmitting mechanism selectively interconnecting a member of said third planetary gear set with a member of said second planetary gear set, the pair of members interconnected by said sixth torque-transmitting mechanism being different from the pairs of members interconnected by said first, second, third, fourth and fifth torque-transmitting mechanisms, respectively;
• and
• a seventh torque-transmitting mechanism 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 seventh torque-transmitting mechanism being different from the pairs of members interconnected by said first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth torque-transmitting mechanisms, respectively, and said member interconnected with said stationary member being different from said members interconnected with said input and said output shaft, respectively;
• said torque-transmitting mechanisms being engaged in combinations of two to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between said input shaft and said output shaft.