application_number US 201113033787 A description referring now to the drawings fig1 illustrates gearing clutches brakes shafts fluid passages and other components of a multiple speed automatic transaxle 10 arranged substantially concentrically about an axis 11 a torque converter includes an impeller driven by an engine a turbine hydrokinetically coupled to the impeller and a stator between the impeller and turbine a transmission input shaft 20 is secured by a spline connection 21 to the turbine the stator is secured by a spline connection 22 to a front support 24 which is secured against rotation to a transmission case 26 a double pinion speed reduction planetary gearset 28 includes a sun gear 30 secured by a spline connection 31 to input shaft 20 a carrier 32 secured by a spline connection 33 to the front support 24 a ring gear 34 secured by a spline connection 35 to a front cylinder assembly 36 a first set of planet pinions 38 supported on carrier 32 and meshing with sun gear 30 and a second set of planet pinions 40 supported on carrier 32 and meshing with ring gear 34 and the first pinions 38 ring gear 34 rotates in the same direction as input shaft 20 but at a reduced speed rear gearset 46 and middle gearset 48 are simple planetary gearsets gearset 46 includes a set of planet pinion 50 supported for.