LOW DRIVEN INERTIA DUAL CLUTCH

• US 20080236983A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Kummer, Martin E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,967,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 192/87.11
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2021/0607 Double clutch with torque input plate in-between the two clutches, i.e. having a central input plate
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2021/0661 Hydraulically actuated multiple lamellae clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2021/0692 with two clutches arranged axially without radial overlap
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 21/06 at least two driving shafts or two driven shafts being concentric
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/0638 with more than two discs, e.g. multiple lamellae
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/10 Clutch systems with a plurality of fluid-actuated clutches arrangements or mounting of clutches in vehicles B60K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/12 Details not specific to one of the before-mentioned types

Abstract

A clutch apparatus includes a clutch pack having a plurality of friction disks. The clutch pack will selectively transfer torque from a torque supplying member to a first torque receiving member. The apparatus also includes a first piston chamber positioned radially outward of the clutch pack. The first piston chamber is operably connected to the clutch pack for exerting a compressive force on at least a portion of the clutch pack as a first fluid is pressurized into the first piston chamber.

Claims

1. A clutch apparatus comprising:

a clutch pack having a plurality of friction disks, wherein the clutch pack will selectively transfer torque from a torque supplying member to a first torque receiving member; and

a first piston chamber positioned radially outward of the clutch pack, wherein the first piston chamber is operably connected to the clutch pack for exerting a compressive force on at least a portion of the clutch pack as a first fluid is pressurized into the first piston chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clutch pack includes a first clutch hub coupled to a plurality of first hub disks and a clutch drum coupled to a plurality of first drum disks, wherein at least a portion of the first hub disks are interleaved with the first drum disks.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a second clutch pack having a second clutch hub coupled to a plurality of second hub disks and a plurality of second drum disks coupled to the clutch drum, wherein at least a portion of the second hub disks are interleaved with the second drum disks.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first piston and a first balance chamber formed at least partially between the first piston and the torque supplying member, wherein movement of the first piston as a fluid flows into the first piston chamber will displace a second fluid from the balance chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second clutch pack having a plurality of friction disks, wherein the second clutch pack will selectively transfer torque from the torque supplying member to a second torque receiving member, and wherein the first piston chamber is positioned radially outward of the second clutch pack.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a second piston chamber positioned radially outward of the second clutch pack, wherein the second piston chamber is operably connected the second clutch pack for exerting a compressive force on at least a portion of the second clutch pack.

7. A torque transmitting apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a first clutch pack having a plurality of friction disks, wherein the first clutch pack will selectively transfer torque from a torque supplying member to a first torque receiving member;

a second clutch pack having a plurality of friction disks, wherein the second clutch pack will selectively transfer torque from the torque supplying member to a second torque receiving member;

a first piston assembly positioned radially outward of the first clutch pack and including a first piston for exerting an axial force on the first clutch pack.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first clutch pack includes a first clutch hub coupled to a plurality of first hub disks and a clutch drum coupled to a plurality of first drum disks, wherein at least a portion of the first hub disks are interleaved with the first drum disks.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first clutch hub is splined for mating with a first transmission input shaft.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second clutch pack includes a second clutch hub coupled to a plurality of second hub disks and a plurality of second drum disks coupled to the clutch drum, wherein at least a portion of the second hub disks are interleaved with the second drum disks.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second clutch hub is splined for mating with a second transmission input shaft.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a torsional damper coupled for rotation with the clutch drum.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a second piston chamber positioned radially outward of the second clutch pack, wherein the second piston chamber is operably connected the second clutch pack for exerting a compressive force on at least a portion of the second clutch pack.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a first piston chamber positioned radially inward of the clutch pack, wherein the first piston chamber is operably connected the clutch pack for exerting a compressive force on at least a portion of the clutch pack as a first fluid is pressurized into the first piston chamber.

15. A torque transmitting apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a first clutch, wherein the first clutch will selectively transfer torque from a torque supplying member to a first torque receiving member;

a second clutch, wherein the second clutch will selectively transfer torque from the torque supplying member to a second torque receiving member;

a first piston assembly positioned radially outward of the first clutch and including a first piston for exerting an axial force on the first clutch; and

a second piston assembly positioned radially outward of the second clutch and including a second piston for exerting an axial force on the second clutch.

16. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising a first balance chamber formed at least partially between the first piston and the torque supplying member, wherein movement of the first piston as a fluid flows into the first piston chamber will displace a second fluid from the balance chamber.

17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the first clutch is a first clutch pack having a plurality of first friction disks and the second clutch is a second clutch pack having a plurality of second friction disks.

18. The assembly of claim 16, further comprising a clutch drum operably interposed between the torque supplying member and the first clutch pack

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the first clutch pack includes a plurality of first drum disks connected to the a clutch drum and the second clutch pack includes a plurality of second drum disks connected to the a clutch drum.

20. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the first clutch is positioned axially adjacent the second clutch.