Patent ID: 8142322

Claim:
A transmission comprising: an input member to receive torque, an output member to output torque based upon the received torque of the input member, an intermediate member coaxially aligned with the input member and the output member; a first countershaft substantially parallel with the input member, output member and the intermediate member; a second countershaft substantially parallel with the input member, output member and the intermediate member; a plurality of gears comprising at least one gear associated with each of the input member, the output member, intermediate member, first countershaft, and second countershaft; a planetary gear set to operatively couple a gear associated with the intermediate member with the output member; and a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms to selectively define a torque transfer path from the input member to the output member via one or more of the intermediate member, first countershaft, second countershaft, and gears of the plurality of gears, wherein the plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms include a direct drive clutch to selectively couple the input member directly to the intermediate member.