Patent ID: 8398524

Claim:
A multi-speed transmission comprising: an input member; an output member; a stationary member; an intermediate member; a simple planetary gear set; wherein the input member, the output member, the intermediate member, and the simple planetary gear set are arranged coaxially with one another to define a first axis of rotation; a first and a second layshaft defining a second axis of rotation and a third axis of rotation, respectively; eight selectively engagable torque-transmitting mechanisms; five sets of intermeshing gears, each set of intermeshing gears being axially spaced from the other sets of intermeshing gears; wherein a first and a second of the five sets of intermeshing gears each include a respective gear continuously connected for common rotation with the input member, a respective gear rotatable about the first layshaft and a respective gear rotatable about the second layshaft; wherein a third of the five sets of intermeshing gears includes a first gear continuously connected for common rotation with the input member, a second gear rotatable about the second layshaft, and a third gear meshing with both the first gear and the second gear; wherein a fourth of the five sets of intermeshing gears includes a first gear continuously connected for common rotation with the second layshaft and a second gear meshing with the first gear of the fourth of the five sets of intermeshing gears; and continuously connected for common rotation with the intermediate member; wherein a fifth of the five sets of intermeshing gears includes a first gear continuously connected for common rotation with the first layshaft, and a second gear meshing with the first gear of the fifth of the five sets of intermeshing gears; and continuously connected for common rotation with a member of the simple planetary gear set; wherein one of the eight torque-transmitting mechanisms is selectively engagable to connect the input member for common rotation with the intermediate member, and the other seven of the eight torque-transmitting mechanisms are each selectively engagable to connect a respective gear of the sets of intermeshing gears to a respective one of the layshafts or to the stationary member; and wherein the eight torque-transmitting mechanisms are engagable in different combinations to establish multiple forward speed ratios and a reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.