Method for supplying bearing components of a hydrodynamic clutch with lubricant and corresponding hydrodynamic clutch

A hydrodynamic coupling comprising:

• a primary wheel and a secondary wheel, which together are shaped to form a working area that is capable of being filled with an operating fluid, the working area having an inlet and an outlet;
• respective bearing elements supporting the primary wheel and the secondary wheel for rotation;
• an operating fluid system, comprising
• a direct circulation connecting the outlet from the working area to the inlet into the working area;
• an operating fluid source;
• at least one filling line, which enables connecting the inlet at least indirectly to the operating fluid source;
• at least one emptying line which enables connecting the outlet at least indirectly to the operating fluid source;
• the filling line and the emptying line are connected via the direct circulation to the inlet and the outlet;
• the operating fluid system comprises a first device operable to provide or interrupt a flow of operating fluid in the filling line from the operating fluid source to the inlet and a second device operable to provide or interrupt the flow of operating fluid in the emptying line between the outlet and the operating fluid source;
• a lubricant supply system for supplying lubricant at least to the bearing elements which support the primary wheel and the secondary wheel;
• lubricant supply system is connected to the filling line in the direction of flow after the operating fluid source and before the first device, the supply system is operable to permit or interrupt the flow of operating fluid in the filling line from the operating fluid source to the inlet;
• the lubricant supply system is capable of at least indirect connection to the direct circulation;
• and a third device operable for diverting the operating fluid from the direct circulation.