Patents Examined by William Joyce
  • Patent number: 5761961
    Abstract: A countershaft transmission is provided for a motor vehicle having a prime mover. The transmission comprises a first input shaft carrying a first input gear, a second input shaft coaxial with the first input shaft carrying a second input gear, and a countershaft carrying a plurality of loose gearwheels, each of the loose gearwheels in meshing engagement with one of the input gears, respectively. A fixed gearwheel is carried by the countershaft in meshing engagement with the gearwheel on the first input shaft. A synchronizing clutch is carried by the countershaft for driving engaging one of the loose gearwheels carried by the countershaft to select a gear ratio. A first clutch is driven by the prime mover. The first clutch is releasably drivably connectable to the first transmission input shaft and the second transmission input shaft. A second clutch is interposed between the first clutch and the second input shaft for drivably connecting the first clutch and the second input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Krauss, Thomas Wollny