Electromagnetic mechanical partical clutch

A torque transfer device, comprising:

• a particle clutch comprising an input drum, an output drum and a magnetically reactive medium, said input drum configured to receive torque from an external source, said input drum having regions of high magnetic permeability and low magnetic permeability;
• said output drum disposed within said input drum to define a first gap between said input drum and said output drum, said first gap containing said magnetically reactive medium, said output drum having regions of high magnetic permeability and low magnetic permeability,
• a friction clutch comprising a friction plate at least partially disposed between said output drum and said input drum and at least one biasing member coupled between said friction plate and one of said input drum and output drum for maintaining a second gap between said friction plate and the other of said input member and said output member when said friction plate is disengaged;
• a flux path formed by said regions of low magnetic permeability aligned between said output drum and said input drum;
• and
• a source of magnetic flux, whereby said source of magnetic flux is operable to provide a first level of magnetic flux that traverse said first gap for engaging said particle clutch and a second level of magnetic flux that diverts said flux path to cause said magnetic flux to traverse said second gap to engage said friction clutch.

A torque transfer device, comprising:

• a particle clutch comprising an input drum, an output drum and a magnetically reactive medium, said input drum for receiving torque from an external source, said input drum having a cylindrical portion extending from a base portion, said input drum having regions of high magnetic permeability and low magnetic permeability;
• said output drum having a cylindrical portion extending from a base portion, said output drum disposed within said input drum to define a first gap along said cylindrical portions of said input drum and said output drum, said first gap containing said magnetically reactive medium, said output drum having regions of high magnetic permeability and low magnetic permeability;
• a friction clutch comprising a friction plate disposed adjacent to one of said base portions of said output drum and said input drum to define a second gap therebetween and at least one biasing member coupled between said friction plate and the other of said base portion of said input drum and said base portion of said output drum for maintaining said second gap when said friction plate is disengaged;
• and
• a source of magnetic flux, whereby said source of magnetic flux is operable to transition the device among a non-engaged state where neither of said particle clutch nor said friction clutch are engaged, a partially engaged state where said particle clutch is at least partially engaged, and a fully engaged state where said particle clutch and said friction clutch are fully engaged.