Patent ID: 7752934

Claim:
A powertrain comprising: a transmission input member; a power source for generating a torque in the input member; a first intermediate shaft; a second intermediate shaft concentric with the first intermediate shaft; a clutch selectively engagable to couple the transmission input member with one of the first and second intermediate shafts; a first countershaft radially spaced from the second intermediate shaft; a second countershaft radially spaced from the second intermediate shaft; a first set of pinion gears having only a first pinion gear and a second pinion gear each connected for common rotation with the second intermediate shaft and intermeshing with a first set of selectable gears to form a first plurality of co-planar gear sets, wherein each of the gears of the first set of selectable gears is selectively connectable for common rotation with at least one of the first and second countershafts for selectively transferring the torque to the at least one of the first and second countershafts when the clutch is engaged, and wherein the first plurality of co-planar gear sets provides a second gear ratio, a fourth gear ratio, and a sixth gear ratio; a second set of pinion gears having only a third pinion gear, a fourth pinion gear, and a fifth pinion gear each connected for common rotation with the first intermediate shaft and intermeshing with a second set of selectable gears selectively connectable for common rotation with at least one of the first and second countershafts to form a second plurality of co-planar gear sets for selectively transferring the torque to the at least one of the first and second countershafts when the clutch is engaged, and wherein the second plurality of co-planar gear sets provides a first gear ratio, a third gear ratio, a fifth gear ratio, and a seventh gear ratio; an idler gear intermeshing with one of the co-planar gear sets of the first plurality of gear sets, wherein the idler gear is supported by an idler shaft; an output shaft disposed radially outward of the second intermediate shaft; a first transfer gear coupled to the first countershaft for transferring torque from the first countershaft to the output shaft; and a second transfer gear coupled to the second countershaft for transferring torque from the second countershaft to the output shaft, and wherein the first pinion gear meshes with the idler gear and with a first selectable gear of the first set of selectable gears.