Abstract: A longitudinally mounted drive train for an automotive vehicle usable with either a manual transmission or an automatic transmission. A housing encloses a clutch in the manual drive train or a torque converter in the automatic drive train. The housing is fastened, in the manual drive train, directly onto the housing of the manual transmission or, in the automatic drive train, by means of a bearing support housing to the housing of the automatic transmission. The housing can be formed of two parts. In both drive trains a shaft having a differential bevel pinion can be provided to couple the transmission to a differential to permit front wheel drive or four wheel drive. The use of common components for the normal drive train and for the automatic drive train results in greatly reduced production costs and lower parts inventory.

Abstract: This transmission differential gear of the type comprising a cage enclosing a pair of driven bevel sun gears and a plurality of sun gear driving planet pinions mounted for loose rotation on pins fitted in corresponding bores formed through the cage walls, comprises an annular member encircling the cage and adapted to partially close the outer ends of these bores. The differential gear is intended more particularly for road vehicles.

Abstract: A longitudinally mounted drive train for an automotive vehicle usable with either a manual transmission or an automatic transmission. A housing encloses a clutch in the manual drive train or a torque converter in the automatic drive train. The housing is fastened, in the manual drive train, directly onto the housing of the manual transmission or, in the automatic drive train, by means of a bearing support housing to the housing of the automatic transmission. The housing can be formed of two parts. In both drive trains a shaft having a differential bevel pinion can be provided to couple the transmission to a differential to permit front wheel drive or four wheel drive. The use of common components for the manual drive train and for the automatic drive train results in greatly reduced production costs and lower parts inventory.

Abstract: A transmission unit for coupling the engine of a motor vehicle to either a manual-shift gearbox or an automatic gearbox includes a differential having a crown gear, pinions for coupling the crown gear to the output shaft of the gearbox and a housing for enclosing the differential, the pinions, and either a mechanical clutch or a torque converter. The housing has a first coupling face portion for attaching the transmission unit to an engine, a second coupling face portion for attaching the transmission unit to a manual-shift gearbox or to an automatic gearbox, and bearings supported to engage the pinion and the input and output shafts of the engine, the gearbox and the differential, with the gearbox of either shafts in substantially the same position relative to the housing. The housing can be a one-piece construction or a two-piece construction. A bearing support housing can be utilized with the main housing when coupling the transmission unit to an automatic gearbox.

Abstract: An automatic coupling or torque transfer device for connecting an input shaft to an output shaft, comprising a double free-wheel system, each of the elementary free wheels functioning for one rotational direction. Cocking of the free wheels is accomplished by means of the control of the rotational direction. The main application is to the transmission of an automotive vehicle.

Abstract: Rotary plate-carrier drum for multi-plate clutches or brakes comprising a bearing plate adapted to encompass a set of keys formed on the outer cylindrical periphery of the drum, the keys being separated by longitudinal slots engaged by the radial extensions of the internal plates and external plates, respectively, of a pair of coaxial clutches. This drum construction is intended more particularly for multi-plate clutches of planetary change-speed transmission mechanisms.