Fluid actuated and lubricated clutch with splined release springs

Claim 2

In a fluid-operated clutch the combination with aligned clutch hubs and a stack of disks alternately connected respectively with said hubs, of means for applying fluid pressure to engage said disks and including a ram having a cylinder block and piston and bearing means for communicating ram pressure to the disks of said stack, one of said hubs having a duct for lubricating liquid, means for supplying lubricating liquid to said duct, said duct having an opening for discharging said liquid into said stack, Annular clutch releasing springs of wavy contour interposed between the disks connected to one of said hubs and concentric with the hubs, the disk connected with the other of said hubs being radially external of said springs, said springs having convolutions with high and low points, the high and low points of adjacent springs being substantially aligned axially of the clutch, and means for maintaining said spring high and low points in circumferential position.

Claim 3

A clutch according to claim 1 in which the several springs are annular and encircle one of said hubs which is provided with splined teeth and intervening grooves, several springs having tongue portions engaged in respective grooves as a means of maintaining orientation of the springs.

Claim 4

A fluid clutch comprising aligned hubs having inner and outer disk carriers, a stack of disks interleaved with each other and connected alternately with respective carriers, the carriers and disks having interengaged teeth constraining the disks to rotate with respective carriers, annular springs coaxial with said disks and intervening between the disks of one of said carriers and radially spaced from the disks of the other of said carriers, said springs constituting means for biasing toward axial separation the disks engaged thereby and comprising convolutions with high and low points in substantial axial alignment longitudinally of the clutch, means for maintaining said spring high and low points in circumferential position, the engaged disks being very slightly deformed by said convolutions, and means for introducing lubricant into the clutch, movement of the lubricant between the disks of said stack being facilitated by such deformation.

Claim 5

A fluid clutch comprising aligned hubs having inner and outer disk carriers, a stack of disks interleaved with each other and connected alternately with respective carriers, the carriers and disks having interengaged teeth constraining the disks to rotate with respective carriers, annular springs coaxial with said disks and intervening between the disks of one of said carriers and radially spaced from the disks of the other of said carriers, said springs constituting means for biasing toward axial separation the disks engaged thereby and comprising convolutions with high and low points in substantial axial alignment longitudinally of the clutch, means for maintaining said spring high and low points in circumferential position, the engaged disks being very slightly deformed by said convolutions, and means for introducing lubricant into the clutch, movement of the lubricant between the disks of said stack being facilitated by such deformation.

Claim 6

A fluid-actuated clutch comprising a first hub and a second hub, a stack of disks, the first hub having means for nonrotatively engaging the inner peripheries of alternate disks and the second hub having means for nonrotatively engaging the outer peripheries of intervening alternate disks, abutment means on the first hub confining said stack of disks, an annular pressure member having means guiding it for movement along the first hub toward said abutment and for subjecting the several disks of the stack to pressure for engagement thereof to effect motion transmission between said hubs, a relatively nonrotatable ram including an annular cylinder and an annular piston encircling the first hub and having a bearing for transmitting ram pressure to the pressure member, ram confining means consisting of a stop ring on the first hub and an antifriction bearing between the stop ring and the ram, means including a pressure supply connection to the ram cylinder for the displacement of the piston to engage the disks of said stack, and a separate means for supplying lubricant, said last means including a duct extending through the ram cylinder and communicating with a longitudinal duct with which said first hub is provided, said first hub further having branch ducts leading from the last ducts and opening into said stack.

Claim 7

A fluid-actuated clutch comprising a first hub and a second hub, a stack of disks, the first hub having means for nonrotatively engaging the inner peripheries of alternate disks and the second hub having means for nonrotatively engaging the outer peripheries of intervening alternate disks, abutment means on the first hub confining said stack of disks, an annular pressure member having means guiding it for movement along the first hub toward said abutment and for subjecting the several disks of the stack to pressure for engagement thereof to effect motion transmission between said hubs, a relatively nonrotatable ram including an annular cylinder and an annular piston encircling the first hub and having a bearing for transmitting ram pressure to the pressure member, ram confining means consisting of a stop ring on the first hub and an antifriction bearing between the stop ring and the ram, means including a pressure supply connection to the ram cylinder for the displacement of the piston to engage the disks of said stack, and a separate means for supplying lubricant, said last means including a duct extending through the ram cylinder and communicating with a longitudinal duct with which said first hub is provided, said first hub further having branch ducts leading from the last ducts and opening into said stack.

Claim 8

A clutch according to claim 4 in which alternate disks of said stack have less radial extent than the intervening disks of said stack and convoluted springs are interposed between said alternate disks and radially spaced from said intervening disks, said springs biasing said alternate disks in a direction for the disengagement thereof.

Claim 9

A clutch according to claim 5 in which the convoluted springs have their convolutions in substantial alignment axially of the first hub and have means engaging the first hub for orienting said springs to maintain the aforesaid alignment of the convolutions.