An automatic transmission is provided, which includes a brake including a fixed-side cylindrical member spline-coupled to a transmission case, a rotation-side cylindrical member coupled to a given rotating member, a plurality of friction plates disposed between the fixed-side cylindrical member and the rotation-side cylindrical member, and including a fixed-side friction plate configured to be spline-engaged with the fixed-side cylindrical member and a rotation-side friction plate configured to be spline-engaged with the rotation-side cylindrical member, and a piston configured to engage the plurality of friction plates. The automatic transmission includes a shock absorbing member disposed between a spline part of the transmission case and a spline part of the fixed-side cylindrical member and configured to absorb impact when the fixed-side cylindrical member rotates relative to the transmission case.

The disclosure provides a control device of an automatic transmission for vehicle, which can improve the responsiveness to switching to a reverse stage. The automatic transmission includes: planetary gear mechanisms which transmit the driving force input to an input shaft to an output member; and first to third clutches and first to fourth brakes as engagement mechanisms capable of establishing shift stages by switching a transmission path of the driving force in the planetary gear mechanisms. The control device executes a reverse preparation process for starting engagements of the first and third clutches and the third brake and stopping rotation of the input shaft when the reverse stage is selected when the fourth brake (mechanical engagement mechanism) is in a unidirectional rotation allowed state (first state) and the vehicle is traveling at a vehicle speed greater than a highest vehicle speed at which the reverse stage is establishable.

The disclosure provides a control device of an automatic transmission for vehicle, which can improve the responsiveness to switching to a reverse stage. The automatic transmission includes: planetary gear mechanisms which transmit the driving force input to an input shaft to an output member; and first to third clutches and first to fourth brakes as engagement mechanisms capable of establishing shift stages by switching a transmission path of the driving force in the planetary gear mechanisms. The control device executes a reverse preparation process for starting engagements of the first and third clutches and the third brake and stopping rotation of the input shaft when the reverse stage is selected when the fourth brake (mechanical engagement mechanism) is in a unidirectional rotation allowed state (first state) and the vehicle is traveling at a vehicle speed greater than a highest vehicle speed at which the reverse stage is establishable.

In a transmission structure according to this invention, speed change ratios of input side first and second transmission mechanisms are set so that the rotational speed of a planetary second element is the same when an HST output is set to a second HST speed in either a first transmission state or a second transmission state, and the rotational speed of a planetary first element is the same when the HST output is set to the second HST speed in either the second transmission state or the first transmission state. The speed change ratios of an output side first and second transmission mechanisms are set so that the rotational speed developed in a speed change output shaft when the HST output is set to the second HST speed is the same in either the first or second transmission states.

In a transmission structure according to this invention, speed change ratios of input side first and second transmission mechanisms are set so that the rotational speed of a planetary second element is the same when an HST output is set to a second HST speed in either a first transmission state or a second transmission state, and the rotational speed of a planetary first element is the same when the HST output is set to the second HST speed in either the second transmission state or the first transmission state. The speed change ratios of an output side first and second transmission mechanisms are set so that the rotational speed developed in a speed change output shaft when the HST output is set to the second HST speed is the same in either the first or second transmission states.

An epicyclic gear system, a fluid directing ring, and a method of directing a fluid to at least one fluid passage of a carrier in an epicyclic gear system are provided. The system includes a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears disposed around the sun gear, a carrier configured for rotation relative to the sun gear and having at least one fluid passage having a fluid passage inlet for supplying a fluid to at least one of the plurality of planet gears, and a plurality of fluid directors fixed for rotation with the carrier and disposed radially inward from the fluid passage inlet. Each of the plurality of fluid directors has a directing surface configured to receive the fluid conveyed radially outwardly and direct the fluid in a direction of rotation of the carrier.

An epicyclic gear system, a fluid directing ring, and a method of directing a fluid to at least one fluid passage of a carrier in an epicyclic gear system are provided. The system includes a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears disposed around the sun gear, a carrier configured for rotation relative to the sun gear and having at least one fluid passage having a fluid passage inlet for supplying a fluid to at least one of the plurality of planet gears, and a plurality of fluid directors fixed for rotation with the carrier and disposed radially inward from the fluid passage inlet. Each of the plurality of fluid directors has a directing surface configured to receive the fluid conveyed radially outwardly and direct the fluid in a direction of rotation of the carrier.

A multiple speed transmission includes an input member, an output member, first, second, third and fourth planetary gearsets each having first, second and third members, and a plurality of interconnecting members each connected between at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gearsets and at least another of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gearsets. The transmission includes a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms between the input and output members, wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least four to establish at least ten forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.

A multiple speed transmission includes an input member, an output member, first, second, third and fourth planetary gearsets each having first, second and third members, and a plurality of interconnecting members each connected between at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gearsets and at least another of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gearsets. The transmission includes a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms between the input and output members, wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least four to establish at least ten forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.

A dual-mode active rear-wheel steering device, including: a steering motor, a main shaft, an intermediate gear, a transmission gear, a planetary gear coupling mechanism and a mode switching assembly. An output end of the steering motor is provided with a first input gear. An end of the main shaft drives a first rear wheel to rotate by a two-stage gear transmission system and a first rear-wheel motion conversion mechanism, and the other end of the main shaft drives a second rear wheel to rotate by the planetary gear coupling mechanism and a second rear-wheel motion conversion mechanism. The intermediate gear, the transmission gear and a sun gear of the planetary gear coupling mechanism are provided on the main shaft. The intermediate gear meshes with the first input gear.