Patent ID: 8360914

Claim:
A power transmitting apparatus for selectively transmitting power from a driving source of a vehicle to wheels of the vehicle, comprising: a torque converter having a torque amplifying function and configured to transmit power from the driving source to the wheels; a transmission operatively positioned between the driving source and the wheels, a clutch mechanism comprising a first clutch device configured to transmit a driving force of the driving source to the wheels through a power transmitting system of the torque converter so as to move the vehicle and a second clutch device configured to transmit the driving force of the driving source to the wheels without the power transmitting system of the torque converter so as to move the vehicle, the clutch mechanism being within the transmission; a selecting device configured to selectively operate the first and second clutch devices so as to transmit the driving force of the driving source to the wheels through the power transmitting system of the torque converter and for transmitting the driving force of the driving source to the wheels without the power transmitting system of the torque converter by operating the first clutch device and the second clutch device in accordance a plurality of different modes of operation of the vehicle, at least one of the modes being a starting mode; a planetary gear mechanism comprising a plurality of power transmission pathways and configured to change power transmission pathways in a forward mode of operation of the vehicle and to change power transmission pathways when changing between forward and reverse modes of operation of the vehicle; and a variable speed unit within the transmission.