Patent ID: 8152684

Claim:
A transmission comprising: an input member; an output member; first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members; a first torque transmitting device selectively engageable to connect the first member of the first planetary gear set with the third member of the fourth planetary gear set; a second torque transmitting device selectively engageable to connect the second member of the second planetary gear set with the third member of the fourth planetary gear set; a third torque transmitting device selectively engageable to connect the third member of the fourth planetary gear set with the first member of the fourth planetary gear set; a fourth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to connect the third member of the fourth planetary gear set with at least one of the second member of the third planetary gear set and the output member; a fifth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to connect the first member of the fourth planetary gear set with a stationary member; and at least five continuous connections from at least one of the first members, the second members, the third members, and the stationary member to at least one other of the first members, the second members, and the third members, and wherein the torque transmitting devices are each selectively engageable to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member, and wherein at least three of the torque transmitting devices are disengaged in each of the at least eight forward speed ratios and the at least one reverse speed ratio.