Wet multiple disc clutch device for a vehicle transmission

Claim 2

A wet multiple disc clutch device for a vehicle transmission, having an input shaft and an output shaft, comprising: a clutch drum having a plurality of drive grooves formed on the inner surface thereof; a plurality of plane drive plates each having a plurality of projections which engage with said drive grooves; a plurality of plane driven plates connected to the output shaft of the vehicle transmission and interleaved with the plane drive plates to that the plane drive plates and the plane drive plates are alternately disposed to form a clutch; a piston actuated by hydraulic control pressure and adapted to press the plane drive and plane driven plates into contact with each other; and a conical plate disposed between an endmost one of said plane drive plates and said piston, said conical plate having at least one projection formed on the outer circumference thereof, said projection being engaged with said drive grooves on said clutch drum, said piston being spaced axially from the inner portion of said conical plate when said clutch is disengaged and being arranged to contact said inner portion upon engagement of said clutch, thereby causing the outer portion of said conical plate to contact said endmost drive plate.

Claim 3

A wet multiple disc clutch device for a vehicle transmision, comprising: a clutch input shaft; a clutch drum, coaxially fixed on said clutch input shaft, with first and second sets of grooves formed on the inner surface thereof; a partition dividing the inside of said clutch drum axially into two chambers so that one chamber includes the first set of grooves, and the other chamber includes the second set of grooves; a first piston positioned in said first chamber; a second piston positioned in said second chamber; a first means for biasing said first piston toward said partition; second means for biasing said second piston toward said partition; a forward drive gear rotatably mounted on said clutch input shaft; a reverse drive gear rotatably mounted on said clutch input shaft; a forward clutch having plane drive and plane driven plates alternately arranged in said first chamber for selectively transmitting power from said forward motion drive gear to said clutch drum, said forward clutch being actuated by said first piston against the force of said first biasing means; a reverse clutch having plane drive and plane driven plates alternately arranged in said second chamber for selectively transmitting power from said reverse motion drive gear to said clutch drum, said reverse clutch being actuated by said second piston against the force of said second biasing means; a first conical plate provided between said first piston and said forward clutch and having projections formed around the circumference thereof which engage with said first set of grooves of said clutch drum, said first conical plate being movable in the axial direction of said clutch drum and being integrally rotatable therewith, the inner edge of said first conical plate being spaced axially from said first piston when said forward clutch is disengaged, and upon engagement of said forward clutch, the inner edge of said first conical plate being adapted to contact said first piston, and the outer edge of said first conical plate being adapted to contact an endmost one of said drive plates of said forward clutch; and a second conical plate provided between said second piston and said reverse clutch and having projections formed around the circumference thereof which engage with said second set of grooves of said clutch drum, said second conical plate being movable in the axial direction of said clutch drum and being integrally rotatable therewith, the inner edge of said second conical plate being spaced axially from said second piston when said reverse clutch is disengaged, and upon engagement of said reverse clutch, the inner edge of said second conical plate being adapted to contact said second piston, and the outer edge of said second conical plate being adapted to contact an endmost one of said drive plates of said reverse clutch.

Claim 4

A wet multiple disc clutch device for a vehicle transmision, comprising: a clutch input shaft; a clutch drum, coaxially fixed on said clutch input shaft, with first and second sets of grooves formed on the inner surface thereof; a partition dividing the inside of said clutch drum axially into two chambers so that one chamber includes the first set of grooves, and the other chamber includes the second set of grooves; a first piston positioned in said first chamber; a second piston positioned in said second chamber; a first means for biasing said first piston toward said partition; second means for biasing said second piston toward said partition; a forward drive gear rotatably mounted on said clutch input shaft; a reverse drive gear rotatably mounted on said clutch input shaft; a forward clutch having plane drive and plane driven plates alternately arranged in said first chamber for selectively transmitting power from said forward motion drive gear to said clutch drum, said forward clutch being actuated by said first piston against the force of said first biasing means; a reverse clutch having plane drive and plane driven plates alternately arranged in said second chamber for selectively transmitting power from said reverse motion drive gear to said clutch drum, said reverse clutch being actuated by said second piston against the force of said second biasing means; a first conical plate provided between said first piston and said forward clutch and having projections formed around the circumference thereof which engage with said first set of grooves of said clutch drum, said first conical plate being movable in the axial direction of said clutch drum and being integrally rotatable therewith, the inner edge of said first conical plate being spaced axially from said first piston when said forward clutch is disengaged, and upon engagement of said forward clutch, the inner edge of said first conical plate being adapted to contact said first piston, and the outer edge of said first conical plate being adapted to contact an endmost one of said drive plates of said forward clutch; and a second conical plate provided between said second piston and said reverse clutch and having projections formed around the circumference thereof which engage with said second set of grooves of said clutch drum, said second conical plate being movable in the axial direction of said clutch drum and being integrally rotatable therewith, the inner edge of said second conical plate being spaced axially from said second piston when said reverse clutch is disengaged, and upon engagement of said reverse clutch, the inner edge of said second conical plate being adapted to contact said second piston, and the outer edge of said second conical plate being adapted to contact an endmost one of said drive plates of said reverse clutch.