Title: Speed-changing system with two fluid-actuated clutches

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Abstract: A planetary-gear coupling between a torque converter and a load, such as an automotive engine, comprises a transmission housing with two fluidically actuated clutches serving to couple an input shaft with either of two coaxial output shafts carrying respective sun gears of two planetary-gear trains. The input shaft, driven by the rotor of the torque converter, and a surrounding tube, secured to its stator, define between them an annular clearance bounded by two sealing rings, one of these rings being interposed as a journal bearing between the tube and a first clutch housing positively connected with the input shaft. The annular clearance can be pressurized from the output of a fluid pump and communicates through a bore in the first clutch housing with the interior thereof which contains a first piston displaceable to consolidate that housing with the inner output shaft. The outer output shaft, having an end splined to a surrounding second clutch housing, is journaled in a surrounding annular bearing within a transverse partition of the transmission housing, this partition having a central annular boss defining with a hub of the second clutch housing a ring channel communicating with a radial bore in the partition which can also be pressurized by the pump. The ring channel is open toward a longitudinal inner groove of the hub of the second clutch housing communicating with the interior of that housing through another bore, a second piston in this clutch housing being displaceable to consolidate same with the input shaft.


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