Patent ID: 7118509

Claim:
A multiple-step transmission, comprising: a first transmission portion including a first intermediate output path which transmits, at a first speed ratio, an input rotary motion of an input member, and a second intermediate output path which transmits the input rotary motion of the input member, at a second speed ratio greater than the first speed ratio, so that a rotational speed of the rotary motion transmitted by the second intermediate output path is lower than a rotational speed of the rotary motion transmitted by the first intermediate output path; and a second transmission portion including a 2-1 planetary gear set, a 2-2 planetary gear set, and a 2-3 planetary gear set each of which includes a sun gear, a carrier, and a ring gear, the 2-1 planetary gear set, the 2-2 planetary gear set, and the 2-3 planetary gear set being partly connected to each other so as to provide a first rotary element, a second rotary element, a third rotary element, a fourth rotary element, and a fifth rotary element, a first brake which selectively stops a rotary motion of the first rotary element, a second brake which selectively stops a rotary motion of the second rotary element, a first clutch which selectively connects the fifth rotary element to the second intermediate output path of the first transmission portion, a second clutch which selectively connects the first rotary element to the second intermediate output path, a third clutch which selectively connects the second rotary element to the first intermediate output path of the first transmission portion, and a fourth clutch which selectively connects the third rotary element to the first intermediate output path, the fourth rotary element being connected to an output member so as to provide an output rotary motion, each of the first and second brakes and the first, second, third, and fourth clutches being switched between an engaged state thereof and a disengaged state thereof, so as to provide the output rotary motion in each of a plurality of speed steps.