Nine or ten speed split clutch countershaft automatic transmission

A transmission comprising:

• an input member;
• an output member;
• first and second countershafts arranged generally parallel to said input and output members;
• a plurality of torque transmitting mechanisms consisting of:
• a first and a second rotary clutch on said first countershaft;
• a third and a fourth rotary clutch on said second countershaft;
• a dog clutch;
• and
• three additional torque transmitting mechanisms;
• a plurality of intermeshing gears arranged on said input member, said first countershaft and said second countershaft forming a plurality of gear planes, wherein one of the rotary clutches and one head gear set define one of said gear planes;
• a planetary gear set operatively connecting said input member and said countershafts with said output member via selected ones of said torque transmitting mechanisms;
• wherein at least one countershaft has its rotary clutches split apart from one another;
• and
• wherein said rotary clutches, torque transmitting mechanisms and dog clutch are selectively engageable in different combinations to establish at least nine forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between said input member and said output member, said forward ratios utilizing gears in only four of said five gear planes.

A transmission comprising:

• an input member;
• an output member;
• first and second countershafts positioned in a generally parallel arrangement;
• a plurality of torque transmitting mechanisms consisting of:
• a first and second rotary clutch spaced apart from one another on said first countershaft;
• a third and fourth rotary clutch spaced apart from one another on said second countershaft;
• a dog clutch;
• and
• three additional torque transmitting mechanisms;
• a plurality of intermeshing gears arranged on said input member said first countershaft and said second countershaft forming a plurality of gear planes, wherein said plurality of intermeshing gears include:
• a first head gear set of coplanar intermeshing gears for transferring torque from said input member to said first countershaft;
• wherein said first head gear set has one gear concentric with and driveably coupled to said first countershaft;
• wherein said first head gear set has a different gear concentric with and driveably coupled to said input member;
• a second head gear set of coplanar intermeshing gears for transferring torque from said input member to said second countershaft;
• wherein said second head gear set has one gear concentric with and driveably coupled to said second countershaft;
• wherein said second head gear set has a different gear concentric with and driveably coupled to said input member;
• wherein one of the rotary clutches and one of the head gear sets defines one of said gear planes;
• a planetary gear set operatively connecting said input member and said countershafts with said output member via selected ones of the torque transmitting mechanisms;
• wherein at least one of said rotary clutches is supported in a cantilever fashion by a support plate separating a span of at least one of said countershafts from said cantilevered rotary clutch;
• and
• wherein said rotary clutches, torque transmitting mechanisms and dog clutch are selectively engageable in different combinations to establish at least nine forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between said input member and said output member.