Patent ID: 8137229

Claim:
A method of assembling a modular transmission assembly, said method comprising: providing a rear motor module extending between a first end and a second end, wherein the rear motor module includes a rear motor assembly; sliding a front end of a transmission housing over the second end of the rear motor module; inserting a first clutch assembly into a rear end of the transmission housing, proximate the second end of the rear motor module; inserting a second clutch assembly into the rear end of the transmission housing, proximate the second end of the rear motor module; inserting a connecting hub into the front end of the transmission housing such that the rear motor module is disposed between the connecting hub and each of the first and second clutch assemblies; inserting a sun gear shaft into the front end of the transmission housing; inserting a first thrust bearing into the front end of the transmission housing and about the P2 sun gear shaft such that the first thrust bearing is disposed adjacent the connecting hub; inserting an inner module into the front end of said transmission housing, wherein the inner module includes a third clutch assembly, a fourth clutch assembly, and a first planetary gear assembly; inserting a main shaft in the front end of the transmission housing such that the main shaft extends through each of the rear motor module, the inner module, the sun gear shaft, the connecting hub, and the first thrust bearing; inserting a front rotor hub into the front end of the transmission housing; inserting a front motor stator assembly into the front end of the transmission housing; inserting a front motor rotor assembly into the front end of the transmission housing such that the front motor stator assembly radially surrounds the front motor rotor assembly; inserting a second planetary gear arrangement into the front end of the transmission housing such that the second planetary gear arrangement radially engages the front rotor hub; and attaching an input module to the front end of the transmission housing.