Patent ID: 8529396

Claim:
An automatic transmission, comprising: a first planetary gear set including a first sun gear, a first pinion, a second pinion that is a common pinion, and a common ring gear, wherein the first sun gear meshes with the first pinion, the first pinion meshes with the first sun gear and with the common pinion, and the common pinion meshes with the first pinion and with the common ring gear; a second planetary gear set including a second sun gear, the common pinion, and the common ring gear, wherein the second sun gear meshes with the common pinion, and the common pinion meshes with the second sun gear and with the common ring gear; a third planetary gear set including a third sun gear, a third pinion, and a ring gear of the third planetary gear set, wherein the third sun gear meshes with the third pinion, and the third pinion meshes with the third sun gear and with the ring gear of the third planetary gear set; a fourth planetary gear set including a fourth sun gear, a fourth pinion, and a ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set, wherein the fourth sun gear meshes with the fourth pinion, and the fourth pinion meshes with the fourth sun gear and with the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set; and a first planetary carrier that rotatably supports the first pinion, the common pinion, and the third pinion, wherein the common ring gear is directly connected to the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set, and a second planetary carrier rotatably supports the fourth pinion and is directly connected to the ring gear of the third planetary gear set.