Multi-area clutch assembly

An assembly comprising:

• a housing that defines a cavity;
• an actuator slidably disposed within the cavity of the housing, wherein the actuator includes a first surface that cooperates with the housing to define a first space, a second surface that cooperates with the housing to define a second space, and a third surface that cooperates with the housing to define a third space, wherein the third space is located on a side of the actuator opposite the first and second spaces, and wherein a fluid is located within the third space;
• a torque transmitting element interconnected with the housing that is selectively engageable by the actuator;
• a mechanism connected to the actuator for selectively communicating the fluid located in the third space between the third space and the first space;
• a first fluid passage in communication with the first space and the third space;
• a second fluid passage in communication with the second space, and
• wherein the torque transmitting element is engaged by the actuator when a pressurized fluid is communicated by the second fluid passage to the second space and the pressurized fluid contacts the second surface of the actuator to move the actuator towards the torque transmitting element, and wherein the fluid within the third space communicates through the mechanism into the first space and the fluid within the third space communicates through the first fluid passage to the first space as the actuator moves.

A torque transmitting assembly comprising:

• a housing that defines a cavity;
• an actuator slidably disposed within the cavity of the housing, wherein the actuator includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface cooperates with the housing to define a first space and a second space, and the second surface cooperates with the housing to define a third space, wherein the third space is located on a side of the actuator opposite the first and second spaces, and wherein the first space is hydraulically isolated from the second space;
• a fluid located within the third space;
• a torque transmitting element interconnected with the housing that is selectively engageable by the actuator;
• and
• a mechanism having a first port in fluid communication with the first space and a second port in fluid communication with the third space, wherein the mechanism is operable to selectively allow fluid communication between the first port and the second port, and
• wherein the torque transmitting element is engaged by the actuator when a pressurized fluid enters the second space and contacts the second surface of the actuator to move the actuator towards the torque transmitting element, and wherein movement of the actuator towards the torque transmitting element allows fluid communication between the first port and the second port and the fluid within the third space communicates through the first port and the second port to the first space.