Ford Files for 11-Speed Transmission Patents

Ford Motor Co. has filed an application with the U.S. Patent Office for three 11-speed automatic transmission configurations, Toronto-based AutoGuide.com reports.

The application describes a trio of combinations of planetary gear sets, clutches and brakes. All three include four brakes and two clutches. One also employs four gear sets. A second uses two axis transfer gear pairs and three gear sets. The third combination features four simple planetary gear sets.

Ford tells AutoGuide.com that a patent submission doesn't necessarily signal future business or production plans.

The company plans to introduce a 10-speed automatic in 2017 in the F-150 Raptor pickup truck. The unit is a product of a co-development program launched about three years ago with General Motors Co. involving 9- and 10-speed gearboxes. GM and Ford s also collaborated more than a decade ago to develop 6-speed automatics for front-drive vehicles.