DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION FOR VEHICLE

[Abstract] A dual clutch type transmission having two input shafts coupled to friction clutches and having a plurality of gear trains, featuring small structure and simplified gear shift operation. An intermediate shaft S3 disposed in parallel with two input shafts S1, S2 has a double tubular structure including a hollow outer shaft S3O and a center shaft S3I extending through the hollow portion thereof, an output shaft S4 is driven by the rear end of the center shaft S3I, and a plurality of gear trains are disposed between the outer shaft S3O and the input shafts S1, S2. A reduction gear RG is freely fitted onto the center shaft S3I, and a changeover clutch CC is provided between the outer shaft S3O and the reduction gear RG to change over the rotational speed of the center shaft S3I in two steps. Thus, a transmission of a small size is constituted having a decreased number of gear trains and a decreased distance between the input shafts and the intermediate shaft . The changeover clutch CC is changed over for only the center gear, and therefore a simple operation device may be used.