Force transmitting assembly

A force transmitting assembly operable between a plurality of engaged conditions in which said force transmitting assembly is operable to transmit forces of different magnitudes and a disengaged condition in which said force transmitting assembly is ineffective to transmit force, said force transmitting assembly comprising a first member, a circular force transmitting disc connected with said first member, a second member, a circular reaction disc connected with said second member, said first member and said force transmitting disc being rotatable relative to said second member and said reaction disc when said force transmitting assembly is in the disengaged condition, and actuator means for operating said force transmitting assembly between the disengaged condition and the plurality of engaged conditions by effecting axial movement between reaction and force transmitting discs, said actuator means including first piston means having a first annular piston area against which fluid pressure is applied when said force transmitting assembly is in a first engaged condition in which said force transmitting assembly is effective to transmit force of a first magnitude, a second annular piston area against which fluid pressure is applied when said force transmitting assembly is in a second engaged condition in which said force transmitting assembly is effective to transmit force of a second magnitude, said first annular piston area being disposed radially outward of said second annular piston area, said first piston means being disposed in a first axial end portion of said force transmitting assembly at a location which is axially offset to first side of said reaction and force transmitting discs, second piston means having a third annular piston area against which fluid pressure is applied when said force transmitting assembly is in a third engaged condition in which said force transmitting assembly is effective to transmit force of a third magnitude, a fourth annular piston area against which fluid pressure is applied when said force transmitting assembly is in a fourth engaged condition in which said force transmitting assembly is effective to transmit force of a fourth magnitude, said third annular piston area being disposed radially outward of fourth annular piston area, said second piston means being disposed in a second axial end portion of said force transmitting assembly at a location which is axially offset to second side of said reaction and force transmitting discs.

A force transmitting assembly operable between a plurality of engaged conditions in which said force transmitting assembly is operable to transmit forces of different magnitudes and a disengaged condition in which said force transmitting assembly is ineffective to transmit force, said force transmitting assembly comprising a first member, a circular force transmitting disc connected with said first member, a second member, a circular reaction disc connected with said second member, said first member and said force transmitting disc being rotatable relative to said second member and said reaction disc when said force transmitting assembly is in the disengaged condition, a spring assembly connected with said second member and operable to urge said reaction disc and force transmitting disc into engagement with each other to urge said force transmitting assembly away from the disengaged condition toward an engaged condition, and actuator means for operating said force transmitting assembly between the plurality of engaged conditions, said actuator means including a first piston area against which fluid pressure is applied when said force transmitting assembly is in a first engaged condition in which said force transmitting assembly is effective to transmit force of a first magnitude and a second piston area against which fluid pressure is applied when said force transmitting assembly is in a second engaged condition in which said force transmitting assembly is effective to transmit force of a second magnitude, said first and second piston areas being disposed in a first axial end portion of said force transmitting assembly, said first piston area being larger than said second piston area.

A force transmitting assembly operable between a plurality of engaged conditions in which said force transmitting assembly is operable to transmit forces of different magnitudes and a disengaged condition in which said force transmitting assembly is ineffective to transmit force, said force transmitting assembly comprising a first member, a circular force transmitting disc connected with said first member, a circular reaction disc, said first member and said force transmitting disc being rotatable relative to said reaction disc when said force transmitting assembly is in the disengaged condition, a first annular member connected with said reaction disc and disposed in a coaxial relationship with said circular force transmitting disc and with said circular reaction disc, said first annular member having an annular piston section and an annular cylinder section, a second annular member disposed in a coaxial relationship with said first annular member, said second annular member having an annular piston section which is at least partially enclosed by said annular cylinder section of said first annular member, said second annular member having an annular cylinder section which at least partially encloses said annular piston section of said first annular member, a first annular piston area being disposed on said annular piston section of said first annular member and a second annular piston area being disposed on said annular piston section of said second annular member, a first fluid passage connected with one of said first and second annular members to conduct fluid pressure to a first cylinder chamber which is at least partially formed between said annular piston section on said first annular member and said annular cylinder section on said second annular member, and a second fluid passage connected with one of said first and second annular members to conduct fluid pressure to a second cylinder chamber which is at least partially formed between said annular piston section on said second annular member and said annular cylinder section on said first annular member.