Abstract: A transaxle for use in an automotive vehicle driveline having a front wheel drive comprising a torque converter and a compound planetary gear system having two simple planetary gear units adapted to provide four forward driving torque delivery paths, the highest speed ratio torque delivery path being an overdrive, the axis of the converter being located on the crankshaft axis of the vehicle engine and the torque output shaft axis being parallel to the converter axis, and clutch and brake means including overrunning clutches and friction clutches in series relationship for establishing and disestablishing the speed ratios.

Abstract: A continuously variable belt driven pulley system drives a torque converter followed by a planetary reversing speed reduction gearset another speed reduction unit and the differential, which distributes power to the drive wheels of the vehicle. The drive system of a motor vehicle according to a second aspect of the invention includes a continuously variable flexible belt-pulley system driving a reversing bevel or planetary gear set and a tandem fluid coupling, which functions as a limited slip differential and distributes power to the drivewheels of the vehicle through two speed reduction gearsets driven from two output shafts of the fluid coupling.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic transaxle assembly for an automotive vehicle driveline comprising a planetary gear system arranged concentrically with respect to the axis of the axle shafts for the traction wheels, a hydrokinetic torque converter disposed about the axis of the engine driven shaft, a planetary overdrive gear unit disposed about the axis of the torque converter, a transfer drive arrangement between the output element of the overdrive gearing and the input elements of the planetary gear system, the overdrive gear unit being effective during each forward drive ratio of the planetary gear system thereby reducing hydrokinetic slip in the torque converter, the torque delivery path between the engine and the overdrive gear unit being concentric with respect to the torque converter.

Abstract: A continuously variable belt driven pulley system drives a torque converter followed by a planetary reversing speed reduction gearset another speed reduction unit and the differential, which distributes power to the drive wheels of the vehicle. The drive system of a motor vehicle according to a second aspect of the invention includes a continuously variable flexible belt-pulley system driving a reversing bevel or planetary gear set and a tandem fluid coupling, which functions as a limited slip differential and distributes power to the drivewheels of the vehicle through two speed reduction gearsets driven from two output shafts of the fluid coupling.

Abstract: A planetary transaxle driveline having a pair of simple planetary gear units adapted to deliver torque to aligned, oppositely disposed vehicle wheel driveshafts comprising a hydrokinetic unit adapted to be mounted for rotation on a first axis, the planetary gearing being adapted to be mounted on a second axis spaced laterally from and parallel to the first axis, a drive sprocket and chain mechanism for connecting driven portions of the hydrokinetic unit to input portions of the gearing, and clutch-and-brake structure for effecting ratio changes in the gearing whereby the gearing is adapted for nonsynchronous ratio changes from the second forward driving ratio to the third forward driving ratio and a nonsynchronous shift from the third driving ratio to the fourth driving ratio, all of the ratio changes being achieved by clutch-and-brake structure with a minimum number of friction elements and with a minimum space requirement.

Abstract: A multiple ratio power transmission mechanism having a hydrokinetic converter and compound planetary gearing wherein provision is made for effecting low speed ratio operation and second speed ratio operation in which the converter is fully active, direct drive or high speed ratio operation that is characterized by a split torque delivery path with a portion of the torque being delivered hydrokinetically and the balance of the torque being delivered mechanically, and an overdrive ratio wherein the mechanism is conditioned for overdrive operation with a fully mechanical torque delivery.

Abstract: A four-speed transmission with an overdrive, high-speed ratio comprising multiple ratio torque transmitting gear elements wherein one gear element serves as a reaction element for intermediate speed operation as well as for overdrive operation with the direction of reaction torque distribution to a reaction element during intermediate speed ratio operation being opposite to the direction the reaction torque distributed to that same element during overdrive operation, and double acting brake servos for effecting optimum reaction braking for both intermediate speed operation and overdrive operation, the servos being hydraulically interconnected through a common shift valve circuit for timed engagement and release.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter mechanism for use in an automotive vehicle driveline comprising a bladed impeller, a bladed turbine and a bladed stator situated in toroidal fluid flow relationship, an impeller housing surrounding the bladed members, a lock-up clutch structure in said housing adapted to establish a direct connection between said impeller and said turbine, said turbine being connected to a turbine shaft that in turn is connected to torque input elements of a multiple ratio gear system, a one-way coupling located between said turbine shaft and said clutch structure for accommodating transfer of torque from said impeller to said turbine shaft but preventing torque transfer in the opposite direction thereby allowing coast braking of the driveline as the turbine tends to overrun the impeller but permitting direct mechanical torque transfer from the impeller to the turbine shaft during normal torque delivery, the driveability during coasting thereby being improved.