Patent ID: 7871349

Claim:
A transmission comprising: an input member; an output member; a first, second, and third planetary gear set each having a first, second, and third member; a first, second, third, and fourth co-planar gear set each having a first gear intermeshed with a second gear; a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the second gear of the second co-planar gear set with the third member of the first planetary gear set; a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the first member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the second planetary gear set; a third interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the third member of the second planetary gear set with the third member of the third planetary gear set; a fourth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the first member of the second planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set; a fifth interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the first gear of the fourth co-planar gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set; and five torque transmitting mechanisms selectively engageable to interconnect one of the first members, second members, third members, first gears, and second gears with at least one other of the first members, second members, third members, first gears, second gears, and a stationary element, and wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.