Multi-disk friction device selective lubrication on demand

A friction device (10) comprising:

• a drive member (12) and a driven member (14) that are rotatable about a common axis (A) and that define a clutch housing (16) therebetween;
• a clutch pack (24) interposed between said drive and driven members (12, 14) and operable to connect and disconnect said drive and driven members for transferring and interrupting torque therebetween;
• a piston assembly (40) supported by said clutch housing (16) and moveable between a disengaged position wherein said drive and driven members (12, 14) are disconnected and an engaged position that connects said drive and driven members (12, 14) through said clutch pack (24);
• a source of pressurized cooling fluid that is provided to said clutch pack (24) through said clutch housing (16), a control valve (74) supported in said clutch housing (16) and moveable between open and closed positions, said control valve (74) including an annular sealing plate (76) and a biasing member (78) that acts to bias said sealing plate (76) to said closed position, said control valve (74) operable to control the flow of cooling fluid from said source to said clutch pack (24);
• and
• an actuator (80) operatively connected to said piston assembly (40), said actuator (80) including an annular hub (82) extending from said piston assembly (40) toward said control valve (74), said hub (82) including a plurality of fingers (84) defined at the distal end of said hub (82), said plurality of fingers (84) adapted to engage said sealing plate (76) of said control valve (74) such that movement of said piston assembly (40) from said disengaged position to said engaged position moves said sealing plate (76) of said control valve (74) from said closed position to said open position against the biasing force of said biasing member (78) to selectively allow flow of pressurized cooling fluid past said control valve (74) and into contact with said clutch pack (24) when said drive and driven members (12, 14) are connected and further operable to disengage said control valve (74) such that said control valve (74) moves to its closed position when said piston assembly (40) moves from said engaged position to said disengaged position to selectively terminate flow of pressurized cooling fluid into contact with said clutch pack (24) when said drive and driven members (12, 14) are disconnected.