Patent ID: 8257218

Claim:
A multi-speed automatic transmission of a planetary design for a motor vehicle, the transmission comprising: an input shaft (AN, 1 ), an output shaft (AB, 2 ) and at least third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth shafts ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ); first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets (RS 1 , RS 2 , RS 3 , RS 4 ) each having planetary components comprising a sun gear, a ring gear and a planetary carrier supporting a plurality of planetary gears; first and second brakes (A, B) and first, second and third clutches (C, D, E) whose selective engagement defines different gear ratios between the input shaft (AN) and the output shaft (AB) such that at least first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth forward gears and at least one reverse gear are implementable; the input shaft (AN, 1 ) being directly connected with one of the planetary components of one of the first, the second, the third and the fourth planetary gear sets (RS 1 , RS 2 , RS 3 , RS 4 ) so as to constantly and continuously rotate in unison therewith; and for each of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh and the eighth forward gears and at least one reverse gear, three of the first brake (A), the second brake (B), the first clutch (C), the second clutch (D) and the third clutch (E) are engaged while a remaining two of the first brake (A), the second brake (B), the first clutch (C), the second clutch (D) and the third clutch (E) are disengaged.