Transmission with a speed reducer and gear shifter

Claim 1

A transmission for an electrically powered vehicle comprising: an output shaft having a central axis; a carrier gear having a plurality of peripheral teeth and being mounted to rotate about said central axis; an over-running clutch connected in a driving relationship between said output shaft and said carrier gear; a plurality of planet gear shafts extending from circumferentially displaced positions on said carrier gear; a plurality of planet gears wherein one of said planet gears is mounted to rotate about each of said planet gear shafts; a sun gear connected to said output shaft and engaged with each of said planet gears; a ring gear mounted to rotate about said central axis and engaged with each of said planet gears; a transmission housing; a flange extending radially outward from said ring gear; a brake for applying frictional forces to said flange, said brake being mounted in a fixed position with respect to said housing; a first electric motor attached to said housing and having a motor shaft including a first pinion positioned to engage said peripheral teeth of said carrier gear; a second electric motor attached to said housing and having a second motor shaft including a second pinion positioned to engage said peripheral teeth of said carrier gear; said first and second pinions engaging said peripheral teeth at diametrically opposed positions on said carrier gear; and said planet gears and said over-running clutch lying on opposite sides of said carrier gear.