Clutch assembly having reaction force circuit

A clutch for use in a motor vehicle drive line component comprising, in combination,

• a first member,
• a second member having a pair of spaced apart stops,
• a modulating clutch assembly operably disposed between said first member and said second member, said modulating clutch having a first plurality of clutch discs disposed for rotation with said first member, a second plurality of clutch discs interleaved with said first plurality of clutch discs and disposed for rotation with said second member and a clutch operator for applying force to said first and said second pluralities of clutch discs, said clutch operator including a stationary electromagnetic coil, a rotor partially surrounding said electromagnetic coil, a band of flux directing material disposed about said rotor and an armature disposed adjacent said rotor, said modulating clutch assembly disposed on said second member between said pair of stops, whereby reaction force generated during clutch operation is contained in said second member.

A twin clutch axle comprising, in combination,

• an input member,
• a gear set driven by said input member and having an output member disposed perpendicularly to said input member,
• a pair of clutches, each of said clutches having an input driven by said output member, an output, a reaction member having stops, a multiple disc clutch positioned on said reaction member between said stops and operatively disposed between said input and said output and a clutch operator disposed on said reaction member adjacent said multiple disc clutch and between said stops for applying compressive force to said multiple disc clutch, said clutch operator including a stationary electromagnetic coil, a rotor partially surrounding said electromagnetic coil, a band of flux directing material disposed about said rotor and an armature disposed adjacent said rotor, whereby reaction force generated during clutch operation is contained in said reaction member.