CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
First Claim
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1. A clutch assembly comprising:
- a first clutch member with a clutch drum and an annular end plate that is coupled to an end of the clutch drum, the clutch drum defining a plurality of teeth and a plurality of valleys;
a first apply plate received in the clutch drum, the first apply plate being non-rotatably but axially slidably coupled to the clutch drum;
a clutch spring disposed between the first apply plate and the annular end plate, the clutch spring biasing the first apply plate away from the annular end plate;
a second clutch member with a first hub;
a first clutch pack having first and second clutch plates, the first clutch plates being non-rotatably but axially slideably coupled to the clutch drum, the second clutch plates being interleaved with the first clutch plates and being non-rotatably but axially slidably coupled to the first hub;
a first backing plate abutted to the first clutch pack on a side opposite the first apply plate;
a third clutch member with a second hub;
a second clutch pack received in the clutch drum and having third and fourth clutch plates, the third clutch plates being non-rotatably but axially slidably coupled to the clutch drum, the fourth clutch plates being interleaved with the third clutch plates and being non-rotatably but axially slidably coupled to the second hub;
a second backing plate received in the clutch drum and having a plate member and a plurality of fingers, the plate member being abutted to the second clutch pack, the fingers extending from the plate member away from the second clutch pack, each of the fingers being received in an associated finger slot, each of the finger slots being bounded on a radially outer side by the clutch drum, each of the finger slots being bounded on a radially inner side by the first clutch plates and the first backing plate; and
a second apply plate received in the clutch drum, the second apply plate abutting the second clutch pack on a side opposite the second backing plate;
wherein the clutch assembly is operable in a first mode in which the clutch spring biases the first apply plate toward the first backing plate to engage the first and second clutch plates to one another, and wherein the clutch assembly is operable in a second mode in which the second apply plate is translated toward the first apply plate to engage the third and fourth clutch plates to one another and to translate the fingers into engagement with the first apply plate such that the first apply plate is driven away from the first backing plate against the bias of the clutch spring to lessen engagement between the first and second clutch plates.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A clutch assembly with a clutch input, first and second clutch outputs, a first clutch pack between the clutch input and the first clutch output, and a second clutch pack between the clutch input and the second clutch output. A clutch spring is positioned in the clutch assembly to engage the first clutch pack so that rotary power is normally transmitted from the clutch input, through the first clutch pack to the first clutch output. Disengagement of the first clutch pack occurs automatically when the second clutch pack is engaged to transmit rotary power between the clutch input and the second clutch output.
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11 Claims
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1. A clutch assembly comprising:
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a first clutch member with a clutch drum and an annular end plate that is coupled to an end of the clutch drum, the clutch drum defining a plurality of teeth and a plurality of valleys; a first apply plate received in the clutch drum, the first apply plate being non-rotatably but axially slidably coupled to the clutch drum; a clutch spring disposed between the first apply plate and the annular end plate, the clutch spring biasing the first apply plate away from the annular end plate; a second clutch member with a first hub; a first clutch pack having first and second clutch plates, the first clutch plates being non-rotatably but axially slideably coupled to the clutch drum, the second clutch plates being interleaved with the first clutch plates and being non-rotatably but axially slidably coupled to the first hub; a first backing plate abutted to the first clutch pack on a side opposite the first apply plate; a third clutch member with a second hub; a second clutch pack received in the clutch drum and having third and fourth clutch plates, the third clutch plates being non-rotatably but axially slidably coupled to the clutch drum, the fourth clutch plates being interleaved with the third clutch plates and being non-rotatably but axially slidably coupled to the second hub; a second backing plate received in the clutch drum and having a plate member and a plurality of fingers, the plate member being abutted to the second clutch pack, the fingers extending from the plate member away from the second clutch pack, each of the fingers being received in an associated finger slot, each of the finger slots being bounded on a radially outer side by the clutch drum, each of the finger slots being bounded on a radially inner side by the first clutch plates and the first backing plate; and a second apply plate received in the clutch drum, the second apply plate abutting the second clutch pack on a side opposite the second backing plate; wherein the clutch assembly is operable in a first mode in which the clutch spring biases the first apply plate toward the first backing plate to engage the first and second clutch plates to one another, and wherein the clutch assembly is operable in a second mode in which the second apply plate is translated toward the first apply plate to engage the third and fourth clutch plates to one another and to translate the fingers into engagement with the first apply plate such that the first apply plate is driven away from the first backing plate against the bias of the clutch spring to lessen engagement between the first and second clutch plates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification