A drive system includes a first gear set and a second gear set, each including a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, and a carrier rotationally supporting the plurality of planetary gears, a first electrical machine directly coupled to the first gear set, a second electrical machine directly coupled to the second gear set, a connecting shaft directly coupled to the ring gear of the first gear set, a driveshaft that transports power from the electrical machines to a tractive element, a first clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first gear set and the second gear set to the driveshaft, and at least one of a second clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second electrical machine to the connecting shaft and a third clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second gear set to the driveshaft.

A drive system for a vehicle includes first and second electrical machines, a transmission, and an electrical energy supply. The transmission includes first and second gear sets, a connecting shaft coupled to the first gear set, a driveshaft configured to transport power from the electrical machines to a tractive element of the vehicle, and a clutch. The first gear set is coupled to the first electrical machine. The second gear set is coupled to the second electrical machine. Carriers of the first and second gear sets are coupled. The clutch selectively rotationally couples the carriers to the driveshaft when engaged. The drive system operates in an electric only configuration whereby the electrical energy supply provides electrical energy to at least one of the electrical machines to drive at least one of the connecting shaft and the driveshaft without a mechanical energy input to the transmission from an engine.

A drive system includes a first gear set and a second gear set, each including a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, and a carrier rotationally supporting the plurality of planetary gears, a first electrical machine coupled to the sun gear of the first gear set, a second electrical machine coupled to the sun gear of the second gear set, a connecting shaft coupled to the ring gear of the first gear set, a driveshaft that transports power from the electrical machines to a tractive element, a first clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first carrier and the second carrier to the driveshaft, and at least one of a second clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second electrical machine to the connecting shaft and a third clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second gear set to the driveshaft.

A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine, an output shaft outputting torque, a first planetary gear set including first, second, and third rotation elements, a second planetary gear set including fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements, a third planetary gear set including seventh, eighth, and ninth rotation elements, and a fourth planetary gear set having tenth, eleventh, and twelfth rotation elements. The planetary gear train may further include a first plurality of shafts each fixedly connected with at least one of the rotation elements from the first, second, third, or fourth planetary gear sets, a second plurality of shafts, each selectively connected to a transmission housing and fixedly connected to a rotation element of the first and third planetary gear sets that is not fixedly connected with any of the first plurality of shafts.

A multi-stage transmission for vehicles may include an input shaft receiving power from an engine, an output shaft outputting the power, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, and a third planetary gear set, each of the planetary gear sets having three rotation elements, and seven rotation shafts connected to the rotation elements of the planetary gear sets.

A vehicle includes a connecting shaft, a drive axle, a multi-mode transmission, and a controller. The multi-mode transmission includes a first gear set having a first planetary gear carrier and a second gear set having a second planetary gear carrier, a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set, a second motor/generator electrically coupled to the first motor/generator and coupled to the second gear set, a brake selectively limiting movement of a portion of the second gear set, and a clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second motor/generator to the connecting shaft. The first gear set is coupled to the connecting shaft, and the planetary gear carriers are rotatably coupled. The controller is configured to selectively configure the multi-mode transmission into an active neutral startup mode of operation by engaging the clutch and the brake such that at least one of the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator produces a voltage.

Provided is an automatic transmission capable of smoothly switching a switching mechanism. A control part ECU of a transmission recognizes an input torque and a friction torque when an instruction to switch a two-way clutch from a fixed state to a reverse rotation prevention state is received while a first clutch, a second clutch and a third clutch are in an open state, and switches the two-way clutch from the fixed state to the reverse rotation prevention state when the input torque is equal to or greater than the friction torque.

A drive system for a vehicle includes a first electromagnetic device directly coupled to a first planetary gear set and a second electromagnetic device directly coupled to a second planetary gear set. In a first mode of operation, a clutch is engaged to couple the second planetary gear set to the first planetary gear set and a brake is disengaged to allow rotation of the second planetary gear set and in a second mode of operation, the brake is engaged to limit rotation of the second planetary gear set and the clutch is disengaged.

Compact transmission systems and vehicles with such transmission systems are provided. An exemplary compact transmission includes a drive shaft defining a drive axis and configured to be powered by a drive unit; a planetary gearset having a ring gear member, a planet gear member, a sun gear member, and a planet carrier having a carrier shaft defining a planetary axis, wherein the planetary axis is distanced from the drive axis; an output shaft defining an output axis, wherein the output axis is distanced from the planetary axis and from the drive axis; an output gear connected to the output shaft; a drive pinion gear configured to transfer torque from the drive shaft to the planetary gearset; and an output pinion gear configured to transfer torque from the planetary gearset to the output shaft.

A drive system includes a first gear set and a second gear set, each including a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, and a carrier rotationally supporting the plurality of planetary gears, a first electrical machine coupled to the sun gear of the first gear set, a second electrical machine coupled to the sun gear of the second gear set, a connecting shaft coupled to the ring gear of the first gear set, a driveshaft that transports power from the electrical machines to a tractive element, a first clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first carrier and the second carrier to the driveshaft, and at least one of a second clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second electrical machine to the connecting shaft and a third clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second gear set to the driveshaft.