Clutch piston and retraction spring subassembly and method of transmission assembly

Claim 2

In a fluid actuator device; movable actuator means having wall means having a fluid confining face facing in one axial direction, a spring seat facing in the opposite direction and a partial actuator portion extending from said wall means in said opposite direction and having an actuator face for applying a force in said opposite direction spaced a substantial axial distance from said spring seat; retainer means laterally spaced from said partial actuator portion, axially located between said actuator face and said spring seat for permitting relative movement through a distance and having a spring abutment portion facing said spring seat; a spring positioned between said spring seat and said spring abutment portion and attachable fastening means on said actuator means and retainer means to limit separating movement of said retainer means from said movable actuator means to hold said spring in said position between said actuator face and spring seat and permitting relative movement of said retainer means and movable actuator means toward each other during compression of said spring.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1 and fixed actuator means cooperating with said wall means of said movable actuator means for forming an expansible chamber therebetween contracting on movement of said movable actuator means in said one direction and expanding on movement of said movable actuator means in said opposite direction; securing positioning means on said fixed actuator means for engaging said retainer means; stop means on said fixed actuator means and movable actuator means to stop said contracting movement at the fully contracted position with said fastening means limiting separating movement of said movable actuator means and said retainer means spaced a small distance from said securing positioning means.

Claim 4

The invention defined in claim 2 and detachable fastening means operably connected between said fixed actuator means and said retainer means for securing said retainer means against said securing positioning means to position said retainer means for a slight further compression of said spring relieving the load on said attachable fastening means and providing for further compression of said spring during said expanding movement on the application of said movable actuator.

Claim 5

The invention defined in claim 3 and a transmission housing having an axial abutment; said fixed actuator means being rotatably fixed to said housing and engaging said axial abutment to limit movement in said one direction; said detachable fastening means being fixed to said housing to hold said retainer means against said fixed actuator means and said fixed actuator means against said axial abutment; drive means including a friction device for providing a reaction for establishing a drive; and means operably connecting said friction device to said housing and limiting axial movement in said opposite direction.

Claim 6

In a fluid actuator device; movable annular actuator means having annular wall means having an annular fluid confining face facing in one axIal direction, a plurality of spring seats facing in the opposite direction annularly distributed for balanced force application and an inner and outer actuator annulus with one actuator annulus having gaps therein extending axially from said wall means in the opposite direction and each having an annular actuator face for applying a force in said opposite direction spaced a substantial axial distance from said spring seats; retainer means having an annular spring abutment portion located laterally between said actuator annuluses and axially between said spring seats and said annular actuator face for relative movement; a plurality of springs trapped between said spring seats and said annular spring abutment portion and attachable fastening means to limit separating movement of said retainer means from said movable actuator means to hold said springs in place and permitting relative movement of said retainer means and movable actuator means toward each other during compression of said springs.

Claim 7

In a fluid actuator device; movable annular actuator means having annular wall means having an annular fluid confining face facing in one axIal direction, a plurality of spring seats facing in the opposite direction annularly distributed for balanced force application and an inner and outer actuator annulus with one actuator annulus having gaps therein extending axially from said wall means in the opposite direction and each having an annular actuator face for applying a force in said opposite direction spaced a substantial axial distance from said spring seats; retainer means having an annular spring abutment portion located laterally between said actuator annuluses and axially between said spring seats and said annular actuator face for relative movement; a plurality of springs trapped between said spring seats and said annular spring abutment portion and attachable fastening means to limit separating movement of said retainer means from said movable actuator means to hold said springs in place and permitting relative movement of said retainer means and movable actuator means toward each other during compression of said springs.

Claim 8

The invention defined in claim 5 and said attachable fastener means consisting of an opening in said retainer means; a post fixed to said movable actuator means extending through said opening and a fastener secured to said post and engaging said retainer means on the side opposite said springs.

Claim 9

The invention defined in claim 6 and said retainer means having anchoring ears extending through the gaps in said one actuator annulus.

Claim 10

The invention defined in claim 7 and fixed actuator means cooperating with said wall means of said movable actuator means forming an expansible chamber therebetween which contracts on movement of said movable actuator means in said one direction and expands on movement in said opposite direction and having stop means engaging said movable actuator means to stop said contracting movement of said movable actuator means at the fully contracted position and securing positioning means on said fixed actuator means slightly spaced from said ears at said fully contracted position.

Claim 11

The invention defined in claim 8 and detachable fastening means operably connected between said fixed actuator means and said retainer means ears for holding said retainer means against said securing positioning means slightly compressing said springs and removing the load on said attachable fastening means and assuming the spring load in the fully contracted position and during said expanding movement of said movable actuator further compressing said springs.

Claim 12

The invention defined in claim 9 and a transmission having a housing with an internal bore having splines with an open end and an axial abutment at the other end; drive means rotatably mounted in said housing having a reaction element having friction plates rotatable with the reaction element and fixed plates splined to said splines; said fixed actuator being located in said bore, held against rotation and engaging said axial abutment to limit movement in said one direction; a single detachable wedge locating ring compressing said springs to relieve the load on said fastening means and holding both said fixed actuator means against said axial abutment and holding said retainer means fixed with respect to said housing; said plates being positioned for engagement on one side by said actuator face for applying said friction device; a backing plate engaging said plates on the other side and securing means securing said backing plate to said housing.

Claim 13

The invention defined in claim 9 and said fixed actuator means being an annular cylinder having wall means including a transverse wall and annular sidewalls: said movable actuator means having said annular wall means and said annuluses between said annular sidewalls and said annuluses extending beyond the free ends of said annular sidewalls.

Claim 14

In a transmission a cast housing having an open end; planetary gear means rotatably mounted in said housing having a first and a second brake each operative to brake an element to establish ratio drives; eacH brake having a backing plate and a set of alternate friction plates having a plurality of circumferentially spaced sets of external teeth and intermediate friction plates connected to an element; said housing having a first group of sets of spline recesses spaced circumferentially a greater distance than the circumferential length of each set of spline recesses, extending axially a short distance and having minimum axial draft to substantially fit said external teeth and a second group of sets of spline recesses spaced circumferentially a greater distance than the circumferential length of each set of spline recesses, extending axially a short distance and having minimum axial draft to substantially fit said external teeth located axially further from the open end of said housing and located circumferentially between the spaced sets of said first group of spline recesses access recesses having at least as large a circumferential width as said sets of spline recesses extending axially and located between said sets of spline recesses of said first group and aligned with said sets of spline recesses of said second group; said second set of alternate friction plates being movable through said access recesses and positioned with said external teeth in said second group of spline recesses; said first set of alternate friction plates being positioned with said external teeth in said first group of spline recesses; means to limit axial movement of said backing plates and means to provide an apply force acting on said friction plates to engage said brakes.

Claim 15

In a transmission a cast housing having an open end; planetary gear means rotatably mounted in said housing having a first and a second brake each operative to brake an element to establish ratio drives; eacH brake having a backing plate and a set of alternate friction plates having a plurality of circumferentially spaced sets of external teeth and intermediate friction plates connected to an element; said housing having a first group of sets of spline recesses spaced circumferentially a greater distance than the circumferential length of each set of spline recesses, extending axially a short distance and having minimum axial draft to substantially fit said external teeth and a second group of sets of spline recesses spaced circumferentially a greater distance than the circumferential length of each set of spline recesses, extending axially a short distance and having minimum axial draft to substantially fit said external teeth located axially further from the open end of said housing and located circumferentially between the spaced sets of said first group of spline recesses access recesses having at least as large a circumferential width as said sets of spline recesses extending axially and located between said sets of spline recesses of said first group and aligned with said sets of spline recesses of said second group; said second set of alternate friction plates being movable through said access recesses and positioned with said external teeth in said second group of spline recesses; said first set of alternate friction plates being positioned with said external teeth in said first group of spline recesses; means to limit axial movement of said backing plates and means to provide an apply force acting on said friction plates to engage said brakes.

Claim 16

The invention defined in claim 12 and said backing plates and alternate friction plates having identical sets of external teeth.

Claim 17

The invention defined in claim 13 and said first and second groups of spline recesses being spaced apart to provide a pilot bore traversed by said access recesses and said means to provide an apply force being a member piloted in said pilot bore, secured against movement and having opposed cylinders with a piston in each of said cylinders and each piston having an apply portion for engaging the adjacent friction plate.

Claim 18

The invention defined in claim 14 and said access recess having a large draft.

Claim 19

The invention defined in claim 14 and a retainer ring extending between each of said pistons and the adjacent friction plate and engaging an adjacent portion of said member; spring means between each retainer ring and the adjacent piston; retainer means to axially position said member and said retainer rings with said springs means compressed and biasing said pistons to the retracted position and one way limit fastener means on each piston engaging the adjacent retainer ring permitting free apply movement of said piston relative to said adjacent retainer ring and preventing movement of said retainer ring away from said piston on release of said retainer means to hold said spring means partially compressed.