Clutch with controlled coolant flow

Claim 2

A clutch comprising: a plurality of annular friction plates; an annular reaction member disposed on one side of the plates; piston means disposed on the other side of the plates and movable toward the reaction member to engage the plates and away from the reaction memBer to release the plates; first passage means for conducting cooling fluid to adjacent the piston means; second passage means defined by the piston means, communicating with the first passage means with the piston means moved to engage the plates, allowing maximum cooling fluid supply to the plates, the piston means blocking the first passage means with the piston means moved to release the plates, the supply through the first and second passage means to the plates varying from minimum to maximum as the piston means are moved from a plate-released to a plate-engaged position, and from maximum to minimum as the piston means are moved from a plate-engaged to a plate-released position wherein the cooling fluid supply from the second passage means is positioned to induce movement of the piston means in a platedisengaging direction, and further comprising third passage means for communicating cooling fluid to the plates independent of the cooling fluid passing through the first and second passage means.

Claim 3

A rotating clutch comprising: a plurality of annular friction plates; an annular reaction member disposed on one side of the plates; a first end wall associated with the reaction member; piston means disposed on one side of the plates and movable toward the reaction member to engage the plates and away from the reaction member to release the plates, a first chamber being defined between the piston means and first end wall; a second end wall which with the piston means defines a second chamber, the first and second chambers being on opposite sides of the piston means; a first passage for conducting cooling fluid to the first chamber; a second passage defined by the piston means, communicating with the first passage with the piston means moved to engage the plates, allowing maximum cooling fluid supply to the plates, the piston means blocking the first passage with the piston means moved to release the plates, the supply through the first and second passages to the plates varying from minimum to maximum as the piston means are moved from a plate-released to a plate-engaged position, and from maximum to minimum as the piston means are moved from a plate-engaged to a plate-released position; resilient means interposed between the piston means and first end wall to urge the piston means in a plate-disengaging direction; means for selectively applying fluid pressure to the second chamber to move the piston means to engage the plates and selectively releasing fluid pressure from the second chamber to allow movement of the piston means in a plate-releasing direction, the fluid therein under release of pressure acting through centrifugal force to urge the piston means in a clutch-engaging direction; and, the cooling fluid in the first chamber counteracting, by the pressure applied to the piston means thereby, and the centrifugal force of the fluid in said first chamber when said clutch rotates, to further urge the piston means in a clutch-disengaging direction, and further comprising a third passage for communicating cooling fluid to the plates independent of the cooling fluid passing through the first and second passages.

Claim 4

A rotating clutch comprising: a plurality of annular friction plates; an annular reaction member disposed on one side of the plates; a first end wall associated with the reaction member; piston means disposed on one side of the plates and movable toward the reaction member to engage the plates and away from the reaction member to release the plates, a first chamber being defined between the piston means and first end wall; a second end wall which with the piston means defines a second chamber, the first and second chambers being on opposite sides of the piston means; a first passage for conducting cooling fluid to the first chamber; a second passage defined by the piston means, communicating with the first passage with the piston means moved to engage the plates, allowing maximum cooling fluid supply to the plates, the piston means blocking the first passage with the piston means moved to release the plates, the supply through the first and second passages to the plates varying from minimum to maximum as the piston means are moved from a plate-released to a plate-engaged position, and from maximum to minimum as the piston means are moved from a plate-engaged to a plate-released position; resilient means interposed between the piston means and first end wall to urge the piston means in a plate-disengaging direction; means for selectively applying fluid pressure to the second chamber to move the piston means to engage the plates and selectively releasing fluid pressure from the second chamber to allow movement of the piston means in a plate-releasing direction, the fluid therein under release of pressure acting through centrifugal force to urge the piston means in a clutch-engaging direction; and, the cooling fluid in the first chamber counteracting, by the pressure applied to the piston means thereby, and the centrifugal force of the fluid in said first chamber when said clutch rotates, to further urge the piston means in a clutch-disengaging direction, and further comprising a third passage for communicating cooling fluid to the plates independent of the cooling fluid passing through the first and second passages.

Claim 5

The rotating clutch according to claim 2 wherein the cooling fluid in the first chamber urges the piston means over a greater piston means diameter than the fluid in the second chamber.

Claim 6

The rotating clutch according to claim 3 and further including means for maintaining pressure in the first chamber when the plates are spaced apart to an extent upon movement of the piston means in a clutch-releasing direction.

Claim 7

The rotating clutch according to claim 4 wherein the means for maintaining pressure comprise a sleeve portion associated with the first end wall and defining a plurality of apertures through which the cooling fluid is directed to reach the plates.