Coated reaction plate for a clutch

A reaction member for engagement in a torque-transmitting mechanism of a transmission, said reaction member comprising:

• a reaction member base;
• a coating formed on said reaction member base, said coating being characterized by a coefficient of friction;
• wherein a friction member is selectively engageable in sliding contact with said coated reaction member base, said sliding contact being at least partially characterized by said coefficient of friction of said coating;
• wherein lubricant is disposable between said coating and said friction member to substantially separate said coating and said friction member;
• wherein said sliding contact is characterized by an elasto-hydrodynamic (EHD) traction coefficient of friction of said lubricant when said lubricant is so disposed;
• wherein said sliding contact as characterized by said coefficient of friction of said coating is in the substantial absence of said lubricant;
• and
• wherein said coefficient of friction of said coating does not exceed said EHD traction coefficient of friction.

A friction interface for a torque-transmitting mechanism comprising:

• a reaction member having a first surface;
• a coating disposable on said first surface;
• a friction member having a friction surface;
• wherein sliding contact of said first surface with said friction surface is characterized by a first coefficient of friction;
• and
• wherein sliding contact of said coating with said friction surface when said coating is disposed on said first surface is characterized by a second coefficient of friction, said second coefficient of friction being less than said first coefficient of friction.

A power transmission comprising:

• a torque-transmitting mechanism including:
• a reaction member having a reaction member base;
• a coating formed on said reaction member base, said coating being characterized by a coefficient of friction;
• a friction member selectively engageable in sliding contact with said coated reaction member base
• wherein said coating at least partially controls vibrational shudder of the transmission resulting from said sliding contact;
• wherein lubricant is disposable between said coating and said friction member to separate said coating and said friction member;
• wherein said sliding contact between said coating and said friction member when said lubricant is so-disposed is at least partially characterized by an elasto-hydrodynamic (EHD) traction coefficient of friction of said lubricant;
• wherein said sliding contact between said coating and said friction member is at least partially characterized by said coefficient of friction of said coating in a substantial absence of said lubricant between said coating and said friction surface;
• and
• wherein said coefficient of friction of said coating does not exceed said EHD traction coefficient of friction.