Patent ID: 7597644

Claim:
A transmission comprising: an input member; an output member; first and second countershafts arranged generally parallel to said input and output members; a plurality of torque transmitting mechanisms consisting of: a first and a second rotary clutch spaced apart from one another on said first countershaft; a third and a fourth rotary clutch spaced apart from one another on said second countershaft; a dog clutch; and three additional torque transmitting mechanisms; a plurality of intermeshing gears arranged on said input member, said first countershaft and said second countershaft to define five gear planes; and a planetary gear set operatively connecting said input member and said countershafts with said output member via selected ones of said torque transmitting mechanisms; wherein said rotary clutches, torque transmitting mechanisms and dog clutch are selectively engageable in different combinations to establish at least nine forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between said input member and said output member, said forward ratios utilizing gears in only four of said five gear planes.