Multiple ratio transmission having a torque splitter input gear with a pocketed carrier

Claim 1

A hydrokinetic power transmission mechanism comprising multiple ratio gearing and a hydrokinetic torque converter adapted to establish a driving connection between a driving shaft and a driven shaft; said converter including an impeller connected to said driving shaft, a pair of torque input shafts for said gearing, a turbine connected to one of said torque input shafts; a torque splitter planetary gear unit located within said converter and including a ring gear and a sun gear and a set of planet pinions, said pinions being rotatably mounted within a torque splitter carrier, said carrier being connected drivably to a second of said torque input shafts, said ring gear having a cylindrical inner periphery with internal teeth thereon; said converter operating in hydrokinetic fluid that immerses said splitter gear unit; said carrier having circular pockets defining circular frictional surfaces within which said pinions are positioned so that the addendum circles frictionally engage said frictional surfaces; said pinions engaging said ring gear and said sun gear, the ring gear being coupled to said impeller and the sun gear being coupled to said turbine; and the addendum circles for said pinions being on friction torque surfaces whereby a friction torque flow path through said splitter gear unit bypasses the hydrokinetic torque flow path through said hydrokinetic unit.