Patent ID: 7490526

Claim:
A dual-clutch transmission for use in a motor vehicle having an engine and a driveline, comprising: a first input shaft selectively drivable by the engine; a second input shaft selectively drivable by the engine; a first engine clutch operable to establish a releasable drive connection between the engine and the first input shaft; a second engine clutch operable to establish a releasable drive connection between the engine and the second input shaft; an output shaft adapted for connection to the driveline; a first constant-mesh gearset being driven by the first input shaft, the first gearset including a first gear fixed to one of the first input shaft and the output shaft and a second gear rotatably supported on the other of the first input shaft and the output shaft; a second constant-mesh gearset being driven by the second input shaft; a third constant-mesh gearset being selectively driven by the first gearset or the second gearset, wherein the third gearset drives the output shaft; a first shift clutch operable to releasably drivingly couple the first gearset and the third gearset; and a second shift clutch operable to releasably drivingly couple the second gearset and the third gearset.