Automatic transaxle driveline having four forward driving ratios and a single reverse ratio

摘要

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.