Patent ID: 6066066
Filing Date: 2000-05-23
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
In an automatic transmission of the type having a transmission housing, an input shaft rotatably supported in the transmission housing, an output shaft rotatably supported in the transmission housing, a planetary gear assembly coupling the input shaft to the output shaft, a clutch assembly operable to selectively engage the planetary gear assembly for driving the output shaft at a drive ratio, the improvement comprising a thrust bulkhead secured to the transmission housing and extending radially inwardly therefrom, a first thrust bearing assembly operably disposed between the planetary gear assembly and the thrust bulkhead such that an axial thrust load generated by the planetary gear assembly is transmitted through the first thrust bearing assembly to the thrust bulkhead, a second thrust bearing assembly operably disposed between the thrust bulkhead and the clutch assembly, and a clearance being provided between the thrust bulkhead and the second thrust bearing assembly such that the thrust bulkhead engages the second thrust bearing assembly only when the axial thrust load generated by the planetary gear assembly exceeds a given load.