Wet clutch
AssigneeCNH America LLC
InventorJay Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wet clutch includes a clutch carrier that encloses a stack of clutch plates and a clutch backing plate. Two sets of alternating slots are provided in the clutch carrier. One set of slots is shallower than the other set and is configured to support the clutch backing plate. The other set of slots is deeper and is configure to support many of the clutch plates. The first set of slots is shallower in order to keep the clutch backing plate from pressing against and partially binding the stack of clutch plates together.
Claims21
A wet clutch for a transmission comprising:
- (1) a clutch carrier including a cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion defining a first plurality of axial slots therein and defining a second plurality of axial slots therein that are shorter than the first plurality of slots;
- (2) a gear including a splined hub disposed inside the cylindrical portion;
- (3) a stack of clutch plates including
- (i) a first set of clutch plates including protrusions configured to engage the first plurality of slots, and
- (ii) a second set of clutch plates interleaved with the first set of clutch plates and including splines configured to engage the splined hub;
- and
- (4) a clutch backing plate including protrusions configured to engage the second plurality of slots.
A clutch for a transmission comprising:
- (1) a clutch carrier defining a first plurality of axial slots and a second plurality of axial slots shorter than the first plurality of slots;
- (2) a gear including a splined hub disposed inside the clutch carrier;
- (3) a stack of clutch plates including
- (i) a first set of clutch plates including ears configured to engage the first plurality of slots, and
- (ii) a second set of clutch plates interleaved with the first set of clutch plates and including protrusions configured to engage splines of the splined hub;
- and
- (4) a clutch backing plate including ears configured to engage the second plurality of slots.
A wet clutch for a transmission comprising:
- (1) a clutch carrier including a cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion defining a first means for engaging clutch plates therein and defining a second means for engaging a clutch backing plate that is different from the first means;
- (2) a gear including a hub disposed inside the cylindrical portion, the hub further including a third means for engaging clutch plates;
- (3) a stack of clutch plates including
- (i) a first set of clutch plates including fourth means for engaging the first means, and
- (ii) a second set of clutch plates interleaved with the first set of clutch plates and including fifth means for engaging the third means;
- and
- (4) a clutch backing plate including sixth means for engaging the second plurality of slots.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.