Wet clutch oil slinger

Claim 2

A clutch assembly comprising a housing, power input means rotatably mounted in said housing, power delivery means rotatably mounted in said housing coaxial with said power input means, a driving clutch drum mounted for rotation with said power input means, a driven clutch drum concentrically located within said driving clutch drum and secured to said power delivery shaft for driving said power delivery shaft, a plurality of clutch discs including a clutch driving disc operatively connected to said driving clutch drum for rotation therewith and an intermediate clutch driven disc located adjacent said driving disc and secured to said driven drum, clutch operating means operatively connected to said clutch disc for engaging and releasing said driving and driven discs, pump means driven by said power input means to continuously supply fluid under pressure when said power input means is operating and maintain full volume delivery during operation of said clutch operating means and particularly when said clutch is released, annular trough means connected to said driving drum for rotation therewith at all times and having an annular cylindrical wall located radially inwardly of and concentric with and directly closely adjacent to said driven drum with an open space between said annular wall and driven drum, and sidewall portions extending inwardly from said annular wall on each side of said annular wall to provide an annular fluidcollecting trough, said driven drum having a plurality of radial apertures to permit fluid to pass radially through said driven drum, passage means connected to said pump means to supply fluid to the internal surface of said annular wall between said sidewall portions to provide an annular body of fluid in said annular fluid-collecting trough of said annular trough means, and said annular trough means having an annular series of radial openings formed in said annular wall radially aligned with said apertures for receiving and radially projecting the fluid by centrifugal force during said rotation of said annular trough means by said input means to discharge fluid solely in a radial direction through said radial openings and said open space and directly to said driven clutch drum and directly through said apertures in said driven drum to lubricate said clutch discs during operation of said clutch operating means and particularly when said clutch is released.

Claim 3

A clutch assembly comprising a housing, power input means rotatably mounted in said housing, power delivery means rotatably mounted in said housing coaxial with said power input means, a driving clutch drum mounted for rotation with said power input means, a driven clutch drum concentrically located within said driving clutch drum and secured to said power delivery shaft for driviNg said power delivery shaft, a plurality of clutch discs including a clutch driving disc operatively connected to said driving clutch drum for rotation therewith and an intermediate clutch driven disc located adjacent said driving disc and secured to said driven drum, clutch operating means operatively connected to said driving clutch drum for engaging and releasing said driving and driven discs, pump means driven by said power input means to continuously supply fluid under pressure when said power input means is operating, annular trough means connected to said driving drum for rotation therewith at all times and being located radially inwardly of said driven drum, said driven drum having a plurality of radial apertures to permit said fluid to pass radially through said driven drum, passage means connected to said pump means to supply said fluid to said annular trough means, and said annular trough means having radial openings formed therein substantially radially aligned with said apertures for receiving and projecting the fluid by centrifugal force during said rotation of said annular trough means by said input means to discharge said fluid radially through said radial openings and through said apertures in said driven drum to lubricate said clutch discs, and a pressure plate operatively connected to said driving clutch drum for rotation therewith and for axial movement thereon, said annular trough means being secured to said pressure plate and having a side thereof which prevents any of said fluid from bypassing said clutch discs around the end thereof.

Claim 4

A clutch assembly comprising a housing, power input means rotatably mounted in said housing, power delivery means rotatably mounted in said housing coaxial with said power input means, a driving clutch drum mounted for rotation with said power input means, a driven clutch drum concentrically located within said driving clutch drum and secured to said power delivery shaft for driviNg said power delivery shaft, a plurality of clutch discs including a clutch driving disc operatively connected to said driving clutch drum for rotation therewith and an intermediate clutch driven disc located adjacent said driving disc and secured to said driven drum, clutch operating means operatively connected to said driving clutch drum for engaging and releasing said driving and driven discs, pump means driven by said power input means to continuously supply fluid under pressure when said power input means is operating, annular trough means connected to said driving drum for rotation therewith at all times and being located radially inwardly of said driven drum, said driven drum having a plurality of radial apertures to permit said fluid to pass radially through said driven drum, passage means connected to said pump means to supply said fluid to said annular trough means, and said annular trough means having radial openings formed therein substantially radially aligned with said apertures for receiving and projecting the fluid by centrifugal force during said rotation of said annular trough means by said input means to discharge said fluid radially through said radial openings and through said apertures in said driven drum to lubricate said clutch discs, and a pressure plate operatively connected to said driving clutch drum for rotation therewith and for axial movement thereon, said annular trough means being secured to said pressure plate and having a side thereof which prevents any of said fluid from bypassing said clutch discs around the end thereof.

Claim 5

The assembly described in claim 2, wherein said driven clutch drum forms a closed wall which prevents any of said fluid from bypassing said clutch discs around the other end thereof.

Claim 6

A clutch assembly comprising a housing, a power input shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, a flywheel driven by said shaft, a power delivery shaft rotatably mounted in said housing coaxial with said power input shaft, a driven clutch hub fixedly secured to said power delivery shaft and concentrically located within said flywheel, a plurality of driving clutch discs operatively connected to said flywheel for rotation therewith, a plurality of driven clutch discs secured to said clutch hub for driving said clutch hub upon engagement of said driven discs by said driving discs, clutch operating means for engaging and releasing said driving and driven discs, a source of oil, reservoir means operatively connected to said flywheel for continual rotation therewith, delivery means for supplying said oil from said source to said reservoir means, said reservoir means having radial openings formed therein for collecting oil and projecting oil radially through said openings and directly to said driving and driven discs as a result of the action of centrifugal force, during both engagement and release of said driving and driven discs, said clutch operating means including a plate member operatively connected to said flywheel for rotation with said flywheel and said driving discs, resilient means for normally urging said plate member toward said flywheel, thereby engaging said driving and driven discs therebetween, and manually actuated means for relieving the pressure of said resilient means from said plate member, thereby releasing said driving and said driven discs, said reservoir means including a radially inwardly extending plate fixedly secured to said plate member, and a flanged cylindrical member having a plurality of perforations formed therein fixedly secured to said inwardly extending plate at an intermediate location thereon.

Claim 7

A clutch assembly comprising a housing, a power input shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, a flywheel driven by said shaft, a power delivery shaft rotatably mounted in said housing coaxial with said power input shaft, a driven clutch hub fixedly secured to said power delivery shaft and concentrically located within said flywheel, a plurality of driving clutch discs operatively connected to said flywheel for rotation therewith, a plurality of driven clutch discs secured to said clutch hub for driving said clutch hub upon engagement of said driven discs by said driving discs, clutch operating means for engaging and releasing said driving and driven discs, a source of oil, reservoir means operatively connected to said flywheel for continual rotation therewith, delivery means for supplying said oil from said source to said reservoir means, said reservoir means having radial openings formed therein for collecting oil and projecting oil radially through said openings and directly to said driving and driven discs as a result of the action of centrifugal force, during both engagement and release of said driving and driven discs, said clutch operating means including a plate member operatively connected to said flywheel for rotation with said flywheel and said driving discs, resilient means for normally urging said plate member toward said flywheel, thereby engaging said driving and driven discs therebetween, and manually actuated means for relieving the pressure of said resilient means from said plate member, thereby releasing said driving and said driven discs, said reservoir means including a radially inwardly extending plate fixedly secured to said plate member, and a flanged cylindrical member having a plurality of perforations formed therein fixedly secured to said inwardly extending plate at an intermediate location thereon.

Claim 8

The clutch assembly described in claim 4, wherein a plurality of axially extending members are secured to the outer periphery of said clutch hub serving as splines for mounting said driven clutch discs thereon, said oil passing to said clutch discs through the openings between said members.

Claim 9

The clutch assembly described in claim 4, wherein said driven clutch discs include grooves formed oN the side faces thereof for passage of said oil when said driving and driven discs are engaged.

Claim 10

The clutch assembly described in claim 4, wherein said delivery means includes a pump, and a plurality of passageways communicating from said pump and formed through said power delivery shaft for supplying oil to said reservoir means under the pumping action of said pump.

Claim 11

A clutch assembly comprising a housing, a power input shaft, a flywheel driven by said shaft, a power delivery shaft, a driven clutch hub rotatable with said delivery shaft, a plurality of driving clutch discs operatively connected to said flywheel for rotation therewith, a plurality of driven clutch discs rotatable with said clutch hub, an axially movable pressure plate rotatable with said flywheel, a clutch operating means for axially moving said pressure plate to engage and release said driving and driven clutch discs, a source of oil, first wall means fixedly secured to said pressure plate, second wall means fixedly secured to said first wall means, a plurality of openings formed in said second wall means, said first and second wall means and said openings forming a rotatable reservoir for receiving said oil supplied by pump means from said source and projecting said oil to said clutch discs under the action of centrifugal force so long as said power input shaft is rotating during both engagement and release of said driving and driven clutch discs.

Claim 12

A clutch assembly comprising a housing, a power input shaft, a flywheel driven by said shaft, a power delivery shaft, a driven clutch hub rotatable with said delivery shaft, a plurality of driving clutch discs operatively connected to said flywheel for rotation therewith, a plurality of driven clutch discs rotatable with said clutch hub, an axially movable pressure plate rotatable with said flywheel, a clutch operating means for axially moving said pressure plate to engage and release said driving and driven clutch discs, a source of oil, first wall means fixedly secured to said pressure plate, second wall means fixedly secured to said first wall means, a plurality of openings formed in said second wall means, said first and second wall means and said openings forming a rotatable reservoir for receiving said oil supplied by pump means from said source and projecting said oil to said clutch discs under the action of centrifugal force so long as said power input shaft is rotating during both engagement and release of said driving and driven clutch discs.

Claim 13

A clutch assembly comprising a housing, a power input shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, a flywheel driven by said shaft, a power delivery shaft rotatably mounted in said housing coaxial with said power input shaft, a driven clutch hub fixedly secured to said power delivery shaft and concentrically located within said flywheel, a plurality of driving clutch discs operatively connected to said flywheel for rotation therewith, a plurality of driven clutch discs secured to said clutch hub for driving said clutch hub upon engagement of said driven discs by said driving disc, clutch operating means for engaging and releasing said driving and driven discs, a source of oil, reservoir means operatively connected to said flywheel for continual rotation therewith, delivery means for supplying oil from said source to said reservoir means, said reservoir means having radial openings formed therein for collecting oil and projecting oil radially through said openings and directly to said driving and driven discs as a result of the action of centrifugal force, during both engagement and release of said driving and driven discs, said clutch operating means including a first plate member operatively connected to said flywheel for rotation flywheel for rotation with said flywheel and said driving discs, resilient means for normally urging said firstplate member toward said flywheel, thereby engaging said driving and driven discs therebetween, and manually actuated means for relieving the pressure of said resilient means from said plate member, thereby releasing said driving and said driven discs, said driving clutch discs being located between said flywheel and said plate member for rotation therewith and said driven clutch discs being mounted on a plurality of spaced members axially extending from said clutch hub, and said reservoir means including a second plate member secured to and extending radially inwardly from said first-mentioned plate member past said axially extending members, a flanged cylindrical member secured at one flanged end to said second plate member intermediate the ends thereof and concentrically disposed within said axially extending members, the other flanged end of said cylindrical member and a portion of said radially extending flange serving as the walls of said reservoir means, said reservoir means being rotated at all times with said first plate member and said flywheel, a plurality of perforations formed in said cylindrical member, said oil being projected by the action of centrifugal force through said perforations and between Said radially extending members to said driving and driven clutch discs.

Claim 14

A clutch assembly comprising a housing, a power input shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, a flywheel driven by said shaft, a power delivery shaft rotatably mounted in said housing coaxial with said power input shaft, a driven clutch hub fixedly secured to said power delivery shaft and concentrically located within said flywheel, a plurality of driving clutch discs operatively connected to said flywheel for rotation therewith, a plurality of driven clutch discs secured to said clutch hub for driving said clutch hub upon engagement of said driven discs by said driving disc, clutch operating means for engaging and releasing said driving and driven discs, a source of oil, reservoir means operatively connected to said flywheel for continual rotation therewith, delivery means for supplying oil from said source to said reservoir means, said reservoir means having radial openings formed therein for collecting oil and projecting oil radially through said openings and directly to said driving and driven discs as a result of the action of centrifugal force, during both engagement and release of said driving and driven discs, said clutch operating means including a first plate member operatively connected to said flywheel for rotation flywheel for rotation with said flywheel and said driving discs, resilient means for normally urging said firstplate member toward said flywheel, thereby engaging said driving and driven discs therebetween, and manually actuated means for relieving the pressure of said resilient means from said plate member, thereby releasing said driving and said driven discs, said driving clutch discs being located between said flywheel and said plate member for rotation therewith and said driven clutch discs being mounted on a plurality of spaced members axially extending from said clutch hub, and said reservoir means including a second plate member secured to and extending radially inwardly from said first-mentioned plate member past said axially extending members, a flanged cylindrical member secured at one flanged end to said second plate member intermediate the ends thereof and concentrically disposed within said axially extending members, the other flanged end of said cylindrical member and a portion of said radially extending flange serving as the walls of said reservoir means, said reservoir means being rotated at all times with said first plate member and said flywheel, a plurality of perforations formed in said cylindrical member, said oil being projected by the action of centrifugal force through said perforations and between Said radially extending members to said driving and driven clutch discs.

Claim 15

A clutch assembly comprising a housing, power input means rotatably mounted in said housing, power delivery means rotatably mounted in said housing coaxial with said power input means, a driving clutch drum mounted for rotation with said power input means, a driven clutch drum concentrically located within said driving clutch drum and secured to said power delivery shaft for driving said power delivery shaft, a plurality of clutch discs including a clutch driving disc operatively connected to said driving clutch drum for rotation therewith and an intermediate clutch driven disc located adjacent said driving disc and secured to said driven drum, clutch operating means operatively connected to said driving clutch drum for engaging and releasing said driving and driven discs, pump means driven by said power input means to continuously supply fluid under pressure when said power input means is operating, annular trough means connected to said driving drum for rotation therewith at all times and being located radially inwardly of said driven drum and having a solid sidewall extending radially inwardly from said driving drum and extending radially inwardly past said driven drum, said driven drum having a plurality of radial apertures to permit said fluid to pass radially through said driven drum, passage means connected to said pump means to supply said fluid to said annular trough means, and said annular trough means having radial openings formed therein substantially radially aligned with said apertures for receiving and projecting the fluid by centrifugal force during said rotation of said annular trough means by said input means to discharge said fluid radially through said radial openings and through said apertures in said driven drum to lubricate said clutch discs, said solid sidewall preventing any outwardly projected fluid from bypassing said driving and driven discs.

Claim 16

A clutch assembly comprising a housing, power input means rotatably mounted in said housing, power delivery means rotatably mounted in said housing coaxial with said power input means, a driving clutch drum mounted for rotation with said power input means, a driven clutch drum concentrically located within said driving clutch drum and secured to said power delivery shaft for driving said power delivery shaft, a plurality of clutch discs including a clutch driving disc operatively connected to said driving clutch drum for rotation therewith and an intermediate clutch driven disc located adjacent said driving disc and secured to said driven drum, clutch operating means operatively connected to said driving clutch drum for engaging and releasing said driving and driven discs, pump means driven by said power input means to continuously supply fluid under pressure when said power input means is operating, annular trough means connected to said driving drum for rotation therewith at all times and being located radially inwardly of said driven drum and having a solid sidewall extending radially inwardly from said driving drum and extending radially inwardly past said driven drum, said driven drum having a plurality of radial apertures to permit said fluid to pass radially through said driven drum, passage means connected to said pump means to supply said fluid to said annular trough means, and said annular trough means having radial openings formed therein substantially radially aligned with said apertures for receiving and projecting the fluid by centrifugal force during said rotation of said annular trough means by said input means to discharge said fluid radially through said radial openings and through said apertures in said driven drum to lubricate said clutch discs, said solid sidewall preventing any outwardly projected fluid from bypassing said driving and driven discs.