Patent ID: 6905435

Claim:
A multiple-speed ratio automatic transmission for an automotive vehicle, comprising: an input; an output; a planetary gear system comprising first, second and third planetary gear units, each gear unit having a sun gear, a ring gear, planet pinions meshing with the sun gear and planet pinions meshing with the ring gear, and a carrier rotatably supporting the planet pinions, the input being driveably connected to the sun gear of the first gear unit, the output being driveably connected to the carrier of the third gear unit, the ring gear of the second gear unit being driveably connected to the carrier of the third gear unit, one of the carrier of the first gear unit and the ring gear of the first gear unit being secured against rotation, the carrier of the second gear unit being driveably connected to ring gear of the third gear unit; a first brake for holding against rotation and releasing the sun gear of the second gear unit; a second brake for holding against rotation and releasing the carrier of the second gear unit and ring gear of the third gear unit; a first clutch for driveably connecting and disconnecting the input and sun gear of the third gear unit; a second clutch for driveably connecting and disconnecting the input and carrier of the second gear unit; and a third clutch for releasably driveably connecting the other of the carrier and the ring gear of the first gear unit to the sun gear of the second gear unit.