Abstract: Automatic transmissions of automobiles and the like often employ planetary gear mechanisms. In conventional planetary gear mechanisms, a carrier is utilized for supporting shafts of a pinion or planetary gear. One of the carriers is provided with fixing apertures that position and prevent rotation of the pinion shafts of the pinion or planetary gears coupled thereto. The carrier with the fixing apertures is manufactured by pressing a sheet metal member into the desired shape such that one radially extending surface has a plurality of first cavities. These first cavities are preferably rectangular. After the sheet material is pressed, a plurality of second apertures or cavities is formed on the opposite radially extending facing surface of the sheet metal. These second cavities are preferably circular. These second cavities overlap with the first cavities such that a passageway is formed between the first and second cavities.

Abstract: A multiple disk clutch used in an automatic transmission of an automobile or the like has a plurality of input friction plates and a plurality of output friction plates. These input and output friction plates are typically supplied with a lubricating oil to prevent overheating and abnormal abrasion. In the preferred embodiment, the transmission employs a pair of multiple disk clutches in which selected parts of multiple disk clutches are modified to direct oil radially outwardly via centrifugal force to lubricate the input and output friction plates. More specifically, the lubricating oil flows through ports which engage parts with guide portions for directing the oil through apertures located in a cylindrical member adjacent the input and output friction plates. In one embodiment, a spring retaining member is provided with a plurality of guide portions for guiding and directing the lubricating oil to the friction plates.