Six-speed planetary transmission mechanisms with two clutches and three brakes

Abstract

A family of transmissions includes three planetary gear sets and five torque-transmitting mechanisms. Each family member may be employed in a powertrain to provide at least six forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio when the torque-transmitting mechanisms are engaged in combinations of two in a selected manner. Each planetary gear set includes three planetary members; namely, a sun gear, a ring gear, and a planet carrier assembly member. The first member of the first planetary gear set is continuously connected with the first member of the second planetary gear set. The second member of the first planetary gear set is continuously connected with a first member of the third planetary gear set. The second member of the second planetary gear set is continuously connected with the second member of the third planetary gear set. An input shaft is continuously connected with at least one of the members of the planetary gear sets and an output shaft is continuously connected with at least one other member of the planetary gear sets. Three of the torque-transmitting mechanisms are of the selectively engageable stationary type torque-transmitting mechanisms, or brakes, and two of the torque-transmitting mechanisms are rotating type torque-transmitting mechanisms, or clutches.

1 . A family of transmissions having a plurality of family members, each family member comprising: 
 an input shaft;    an output shaft;    a transmission housing;    three planetary gear sets each having three members;    a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting a first member of said first planetary gear set with a first member of said second planetary gear set;    a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting a second member of said first planetary gear set with a first member of said third planetary gear set;    a third interconnecting member continuously interconnecting a second member of said second planetary gear set with a second member of said third planetary gear set;    said input shaft being continuously interconnected with at least one member of said planetary gear sets, and said output shaft being continuously interconnected with at least one other member of said planetary gear sets;    a first selectively engageable torque transmitting mechanism that selectively interconnects a member of said first planetary gear set or a member of said second planetary gear set with said transmission housing;    a second selectively engageable torque transmitting mechanism that selectively interconnects at least one member of said second planetary gear set or at least one member of said third planetary gear set with said transmission housing;    a third selectively engageable torque transmitting mechanism that selectively interconnects a member of said first planetary gear set, a member of said second planetary gear set, or a member of said third planetary gear set with said transmission housing;    a fourth selectively engageable torque transmitting mechanism that selectively interconnects a member of said first planetary gear set, said second planetary gear set, or said third planetary gear set with at least one member of said first planetary gear set, said second planetary gear set, or said third planetary gear set;    a fifth selectively engageable torque transmitting mechanism that selectively interconnects a member of said first planetary gear set, or said second planetary gear set, or said third planetary gear set with a member of said first planetary gear set, or a member of said second planetary gear set, or a member of said third planetary gear set, or one of said interconnecting members;    said first interconnecting member being continuously connected with said input shaft or said output shaft, or selectively connectible with said input shaft or said transmission housing through one of said selectively engageable torque transmitting mechanisms;    said second interconnecting member being continuously connected with said input shaft or said output shaft, or selectively connectible with said input shaft or said transmission housing or a member of one of said planetary gear sets through one of said selectively engageable torque transmitting mechanisms;    said third interconnecting member being continuously connected with said input shaft or said output shaft, or selectively connectible with said input shaft or said transmission housing or a member of one of said planetary gear sets through one of said selectively engageable torque transmitting mechanisms;    said first, second, third, fourth, and fifth torque transmitting mechanisms being selectively engageable in combinations of two to establish at least six forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio between said input shaft and said output shaft.    
     
     
         2 . The family of transmissions defined in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 one of said members of said planetary gear sets being a sun gear member, another of said members being a ring gear member, and one of said members being a carrier assembly member.  
 
     
     
         3 . The family of transmissions defined in  claim 2  further whereinat least one of the family members includes: 
 said carrier assembly member of each of said planetary gear sets includes a plurality of pinion gears rotatably mounted on a carrier and disposed in meshing relation with both of said sun gear member and said ring gear member.  
 
     
     
         4 . The family of transmissions defined in  claim 2  further wherein at least one of the family members includes: 
 said carrier assembly member of at least one of said planetary gear sets includes a plurality of intermeshing pinion gears rotatably mounted on a carrier and disposed in meshing relation with said sun gear member and said ring gear member, respectively.  
 
     
     
         5 . A family of transmissions having a plurality of family members wherein each family member comprises: 
 an input shaft;    an output shaft;    a transmission housing;    a first planetary gear set having a first member, a second member, and a third member;    a second planetary gear set having a first member, a second member, and a third member;    a third planetary gear set having a first member, a second member, and a third member;    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 first member of said third planetary gear set;    a third interconnecting member continuously interconnecting said second member of said second planetary gear set with said second member of said third planetary gear set and;    said input shaft being continuously connected with at least one member of said planetary gear sets, or one of said interconnecting members;    said output shaft being continuously connected with at least one member of said planetary gear sets or one of said interconnecting members;    five selectively operable torque transmitting mechanism means, comprising three stationary type toque transmitting mechanisms and two rotating type torque transmitting mechanisms, selectively connecting members of said planetary gear sets with other members of said planetary gear sets and said transmission housing;    said first interconnecting member being continuously connected with said input shaft or said output shaft, or selectively connectible with said input shaft or said transmission housing through one of said selectively operable torque transmitting mechanisms;    said second interconnecting member being continuously connected with said input shaft or said output shaft, or selectively connectible with said input shaft or said transmission housing or a member of one of said planetary gear sets through one of said selectively operable torque transmitting mechanisms;    said third interconnecting member being continuously connected with said input shaft or said output shaft, or selectively connectible with said input shaft or said transmission housing or a member of one of said planetary gear sets through one of said selectively operable torque transmitting mechanisms;    said five selectively operable torque transmitting mechanism means being operated in combinations of two for establishing at least six forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio between said input shaft and said output shaft.    
     
     
         6 . The family of transmissions defined in  claim 5  further comprising: 
 a first of said torque transmitting mechanism means being selectively operable to interconnect a member of said first planetary gear set or said second planetary gear set with said transmission housing;  
 a second of said torque transmitting mechanism means being selectively operable to interconnect at least one member of said second planetary gear set or said third planetary gear set with said transmission housing;  
 a third of said torque transmitting mechanism means being selectively operable to interconnect a member of said first planetary gear set, a member of said second planetary gear set, or a member of said third planetary gear set with said transmission housing;  
 a fourth of said torque transmitting mechanism means being selectively operable to interconnect a member of said first planetary gear set, said second planetary gear set, or said third planetary gear set with at least one member of said first planetary gear set, said second planetary gear set, or said third planetary gear set;  
 a fifth of said torque transmitting mechanism means being selectively operable to interconnect a member of said first planetary gear set, or said second planetary gear set, or said third planetary gear set with a member of said first planetary gear set, or a member of said second planetary gear set, or a member of said third planetary gear set, or one of said interconnecting members;