Multi-plate clutch transmission and marine vehicle including a multi-plate clutch transmission

A multi-plate clutch transmission, comprising:

• a first shaft;
• a first gear mounted on and non-rotatable relative to the first shaft;
• a second shaft;
• a second gear coaxially mounted on and rotatable relative to the second shaft, the second gear engaging with the first gear and being arranged to rotate in a first rotational direction when the first shaft rotates in a first shaft rotational direction;
• a clutch basket fixed to one of the first gear or the second gear and coaxially mounted on and rotatable relative to one of the first shaft or the second shaft, respectively, the one of the first or second shaft comprising an externally threaded portion with external threads, the clutch basket comprising one or more friction disks extending radially inward from an interior surface of the clutch basket;
• a sleeve comprising internal threads that mate with the externally threaded portion on the one of the first or second shaft and one or more friction disks extending radially outward from an exterior surface of the sleeve;
• and
• means for moving the sleeve to selectively cause the one or more friction disks on the sleeve to move into and out of contact with the one or more friction disks on the clutch basket,
• wherein a lead angle of the internal and external threads is selected as a function of pressure capacity of material of friction disks on the sleeve and the clutch basket and one or more of
• a number of friction disks on the sleeve and the clutch basket,
• inner and outer diameters of friction disks on the sleeve and the clutch basket,
• a coefficient of friction between material on friction disks on the sleeve and material on friction disks on the clutch basket,
• prime mover torque to be transmitted,
• a gear ratio between the first gear and the second gear, and
• a relationship between clutch capacity and idle torque.

A method of providing a multi-plate clutch transmission, the multi-plate clutch transmission comprising

• a first shaft,
• a first gear mounted on and non-rotatable relative to the first shaft,
• a second shaft,
• a second gear coaxially mounted on and rotatable relative to the second shaft, the second gear engaging with the first gear and being arranged to rotate in a first rotational direction when the first shaft rotates in a first shaft rotational direction,
• a clutch basket fixed to one of the first gear or the second gear and coaxially mounted on and rotatable relative to one of the first shaft or the second shaft, respectively, the one of the first or second shaft comprising an externally threaded portion with external threads, the clutch basket comprising one or more friction disks extending radially inward from an interior surface of the clutch basket,
• a sleeve comprising internal threads that mate with the externally threaded portion on the one of the first or second shaft and one or more friction disks extending radially outward from an exterior surface of the sleeve, and
• means for moving the sleeve to selectively cause the one or more friction disks on the sleeve to move into and out of contact with the one or more friction disks on the clutch basket,
• the method comprising:
• selecting a lead angle of the internal and external threads as a function of pressure capacity of material of friction disks on the sleeve and the clutch basket and one or more of
• a number of friction disks on the sleeve and the clutch basket,
• inner and outer diameters of friction disks on the sleeve and the clutch basket,
• a coefficient of friction between material on friction disks on the sleeve and material on friction disks on the clutch basket,
• prime mover torque to be transmitted,
• a gear ratio between the first gear and the second gear, and
• a relationship between clutch capacity and idle torque.