Multi-speed gearbox

A multi-speed transmission comprising:

• an input drive shaft (70);
• an output drive shaft (71)
• a plurality of shift elements including, at least, a first brake (51), a second brake (52), a first clutch (61) and a second clutch (62);
• at least first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets (1,2,3,4) arranged within a housing (72), and each of the first, the second, the third and the fourth planetary gear sets comprising a sun gear, a ring gear, and a carrier:
• a plurality, of connections connecting at least two of the housing (72), the plurality a shift elements, and components of the first, the second, the third and the fourth planetary gear sets (1,2,3,4) with one another via either of a permanent connection or a detachable connection;
• wherein the plurality of connections includes:
• the sun gear (41) of the fourth planetary gear sets (4) is connected with the housing (72) in a rotationally fixed manner;
• the ring gear (13) of the first planetary gear set (1)) is permanently connected with the ring gear (43) of the fourth planetary gear set (4) via a radially outermost lying shaft (74) of the multi-speed transmission which surrounds both the second planetary near set (2), and the third planetary gear set (3);
• the sun gear set (11) of the first planetary gear set (1) is connectable with the housing (72), via the first brake (51);
• the carrier (12) of the first planetary gear set (1) is connectable with the housing (72), via the second brake (52);
• the input drive shaft (70) is connectable with the sun gear (11) of the first planetary dear set(1) via the first clutch (61);
• the output drive shaft (71) is connectable with the carrier (42) of the fourth planetary set (4), via the second clutch (62);
• the plurality of connections further includes at least first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connections of which four connections of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth connections are permanent connections and a remaing two connections of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth and the sixth connections are detachable connections facilitated by at least one of the plurality of shift elements:
• the input drive shaft (70) is permanently connected with the sun gear (21) of the second planetary gear set (2) to form the first connection;
• the input drive shaft (70) is permanently connected with the carrier (32) of the third planetary gear set (3) to form the second connection;
• the output drive shaft (71) is connected or connectable with the rind gear (33) of the third planetary gear set (3) to form the third connection;
• the ring gear (13) of the first planetary gear set (1) is connected or connectable with the sun gear (31) of the third planetary gear set (3) to form the fourth connection;
• the carrier (12) of the first planetary gear set (1) is connectable with the ring gear (23) of the second planetary gear set (2) via a third clutch (67) to form the fifth connection;
• and
• the ring gear (13) of the first planetary gear set (1) is permanently connected with the carrier (22) of the second planetary gear set (2) to form the sixth connection.

A multi-speed transmission comprising:

• an input drive shaft;
• an output drive shaft;
• first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets arranged within a housing, and each of the first, the second, the third and the fourth planetary gear sets comprising a sun gear, a ring gear, and a carrier;
• wherein the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set is directly connected to the housing so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween;
• the ring gear of the first planetary gear set is directly connected to the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween via a radially outermost lying shaft which surrounds both the second planetary gear set and the third planetary gear set;
• the sun gear of the first planetary gear set is connectable, via a first brake, to the housing;
• the ring gear of the second planetary gear set and the carrier of the first planetary gear set are connected in series, via a second brake, to the housing via a shaft which extends through the carrier of the first planetary gear set and connects to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set;
• the input drive shaft is connectable, via a first clutch, with the sun gear of the first planetary gear set;
• the output drive shaft is connectable, via a second clutch, to the carrier of the fourth planetary gear set;
• the input drive shaft connects, via a first connection, with the sun gear of the second planetary gear set;
• the input drive shaft connects, via a second connection, with the carrier of the third planetary gear set;
• the output drive shaft connects, via a third connection, with the ring gear of the third planetary gear set;
• the ring gear of the first planetary gear set connects, via a fourth connection, with the sun gear of the third planetary gear set;
• the carrier of the first planetary gear set connects, via a fifth connection, with the ring gear of the second planetary gear set;
• the ring gear of the first planetary gear set connects, via a sixth connection, with the carrier of the second planetary gear set;
• and
• four connections of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth and the sixth connections are direct connections and two connections of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth and the sixth connections are releasable connections achieved by third and fourth clutches.