Clutch backing plate with fluid drain
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorRobert Neil Paciotti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A backing plate for a friction clutch pack includes a shoulder or flange through which a plurality of radial drain passageways extend. The radial drain passageways intersect a circumferential channel which collects hydraulic fluid from the friction clutch. The radial passageways, assisted by centrifugal force, direct hydraulic fluid flow radially outwardly, away from other friction pack clutches and thus prevent such fluid from creating drag and causing increased spin losses as it flows to and through disengaged clutch packs.
Claims19
A friction clutch pack for an automatic transmission comprising, in combination,
- a plurality of first clutch plates coupled to a drive member,
- a plurality of second clutch plates interleaved with said plurality of first clutch plates and coupled to a driven member,
- an actuator disposed on one side of said pluralities of clutch plates, and
- a backing plate disposed on another side of said pluralities of clutch plates, said backing plate including an axially extending flange and a plurality of radial passageways extending through said flange.
A friction clutch pack for an automatic transmission comprising, in combination,
- a plurality of first clutch plates coupled by first interengaging splines to a drive member,
- a plurality of second clutch plates interleaved with said plurality of first clutch plates and coupled by second interengaging splines to a driven member,
- an actuator disposed on one end of said pluralities of clutch plates, and
- an annular backing disc disposed on an opposite end of said pluralities of clutch plates, said backing disc including an axially extending flange and a plurality of radial passageways extending through said flange.
A friction clutch pack for an automatic transmission comprising, in combination,
- a plurality of first clutch plates coupled by first interengaging splines to a drive member,
- a plurality of second clutch plates interleaved with said plurality of first clutch plates and coupled by second interengaging splines to a driven member,
- an actuator disposed on one end of said pluralities of clutch plates, and
- a backing plate disposed on an opposite end of said pluralities of clutch plates, said backing plate including an axially extending flange, a plurality of radial passageways extending through said flange and a circumferential channel intersecting said radial passageways.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.