Hydromechanical coupling with clutch assembly and magnetorheological clutch actuator

A transfer mechanism for controlling the magnitude of a clutch engagement force exerted on a multi-plate clutch assembly that is operably disposed between an input member and an output member, comprising:

• an actuator fixed for rotation with the input member and having a piston chamber and first and second flow passages formed therein;
• a piston slidably disposed within said piston chamber for selectively engaging a clutch pack of the multi-plate clutch assembly;
• a pump for pumping a magnetorheological fluid within a flow path defined between said piston chamber and said first and second flow passages;
• and
• an electromagnet operably disposed between said piston chamber and one of said first and second flow passages, wherein said electromagnet is selectively energized for manipulating a viscosity of said magnetorheological fluid to induce a back pressure within said piston chamber, thereby inducing axial movement of said piston for engaging the multi-plate clutch assembly.

A transfer case comprising of:

• an input shaft driving a first output shaft;
• a second output shaft;
• a multi-plate clutch assembly having an input member and an output member, said input member driven by said first output shaft and said output member coupled for driving said second output shaft;
• and
• a torque transfer mechanism for controlling the magnitude of a clutch engagement force exerted on said multi-plate clutch assembly, said torque transfer mechanism including an actuator fixed for rotation with said input member and having a piston chamber formed therein, a piston slidably disposed within said piston chamber for selectively engaging said multi-plate clutch assembly;
• a pump for pumping magnetorheological fluid through said piston chamber;
• and
• an electromagnet operably disposed between said piston chamber and said pump, wherein said electromagnet is selectively energized for manipulating a viscosity of said magnetorheological fluid to induce a back pressure within said piston chamber, thereby inducing axial movement of said piston for engaging said multi-plate clutch assembly.