Patent ID: 7748286

Claim:
A multiple speed power transmission, comprising: an input ( 10 ); an output; first ( 12 ) and second ( 14 ) coaxial input shafts; first ( 22 ) and second ( 24 ) friction clutches releasably coupling the input to the first and second input shafts, respectively; a first countershaft ( 16 ) disposed substantially parallel to the first and second input shafts; a first output pinion ( 50 ) fixed to the first countershaft; an output ring gear ( 54 ) fixed to the output and meshing with the first output pinion; an intermediate shaft ( 20 ) disposed coaxially with the first countershaft; a first input pinion ( 30 ) fixed to the first input shaft; a first gear ( 44 ) fixed to the intermediate shaft and meshing with the first input pinion; a second input pinion ( 28 ) fixed to the second input shaft; a second gear ( 42 ) disposed coaxially with the intermediate shaft; an idler gear ( 36 or 48 ) meshing with the second input pinion and the second gear; a first coupler ( 64 ) for releasably coupling the first countershaft to the intermediate shaft and first gear; a second coupler ( 68 ) for releasably coupling the intermediate shaft to the second gear; a third input pinion ( 32 ) fixed to the second input shaft; a third gear ( 46 ) disposed coaxially with the intermediate shaft and meshing with the third input pinion; and a third coupler ( 66 ) for releasably coupling the intermediate shaft to the third gear.