Patent ID: 8066608

Claim:
An automatic transmission comprising: a case; a speed change mechanism including an input shaft and an output shaft, the input shaft and the output shaft being rotatably supported by the case and forming a single-shaft aligned along a center axis, with the speed change mechanism also including a gear mechanism on the center axis; a torque converter having a lock-up clutch axially arranged and freely slidably toward and away from the input shaft, wherein: the case includes a sleeve unit at an outer periphery of the output shaft, the output shaft includes a flange unit arranged opposite a side face of the sleeve unit on an input shaft side, and the sleeve unit has a first step portion at an inner periphery thereof; a thrust bearing interposed between the flange unit and the side face of the sleeve unit on the input shaft side; a ball bearing that includes an outer race, a side face of which contacts the first step portion toward the input shaft side, with the ball bearing interposed between the inner periphery of the sleeve unit and the outer periphery of the output shaft; and a propeller shaft connecting member capable of connecting with a propeller shaft, spline-engaging with the outer periphery of the output shaft, and contacting a side face of an inner race of the ball bearing upon being pressed axially toward the input shaft side by the propeller shaft.