Clutch with dual area piston and independent pressure control
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsSteven P. Moorman, Andrew W. Philllips
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a clutch having two pistons, a first piston defining a first, smaller area and a second piston, defining a second, larger area. The separate pistons are independently provided with flows of pressurized hydraulic fluid from first and second independent modulatable control valves. Engagement of the clutch may be rapid by providing hydraulic fluid to the smaller area piston, provide greater engagement force by providing hydraulic fluid to the larger area piston or a combination of speed and force by utilizing modulated or unmodulated flows of hydraulic fluid to both pistons.
Claims16
A dual area piston assembly comprising, in combination,
- a first solenoid valve for selectively providing a first flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid,
- a second solenoid valve for selectively providing a second flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid,
- a clutch operator having a housing defining a first cylinder adapted to receive a first piston having a first surface area and said first flow of hydraulic fluid and a second cylinder adapted to receive a second piston having a second surface area different from said first surface area and said second flow of hydraulic fluid.
A dual area piston clutch comprising, in combination,
- a first solenoid valve having a first fluid output,
- a second solenoid valve having a second fluid output,
- a clutch operator having a first piston defining a first surface area acted upon by said first fluid output and a second piston defining a second surface area greater than said first surface area and acted upon by said second fluid output, and
- a clutch engaged by translation of said first and said second pistons.
A clutch assembly having a dual piston operator comprising, in combination,
- a first modulating solenoid valve having a first fluid output,
- a second modulating solenoid valve having a second fluid output,
- a clutch operator having a housing defining a first cylinder and a second cylinder, said first cylinder in fluid communication with said first fluid output of said first solenoid valve and receiving a first piston having a first surface area, said second cylinder in fluid communication with said second fluid output of said second solenoid valve and receiving a second piston having a second surface area larger than said first surface area, and
- a clutch having interleaved clutch plates engaged by translation of said first and said second pistons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.