Multi-disc clutch

A multi-disc clutch for transmitting torque between a rotary shaft and a rotary clutch part, the multi-disc clutch comprising:

• a clutch pack having a plurality of inner friction discs alternatively interleaved with a plurality of outer frictions discs, the inner discs being splined for rotation with and axial movement on the shaft and the outer discs being splined for rotation with and axial sliding movement on the clutch part, the inner discs having at least two conduit apertures;
• a counterpressure plate rotationally and axially fixedly connected to the shaft adjacent a first end of the clutch pack, the counterpressure plate having first fastening elements aligned with each of the at least two conduit apertures it the inner discs;
• a pressure piston fixed for rotation with the shaft and axial movement relative to a second end of the clutch pack between a first position and a second position, the pressure plate being operable in its first position to release frictional engagement of the clutch pack for establishing a non-torque transmitting mode and being operable in its second position to frictionally engage the clutch pack for establishing a torque transmitting mode, the pressure pistol having second fastening elements aligned with each of the at least two conduit apertures in the inner discs;
• a distributor insert fixed for common rotation and axial movement with the pressure piston, the distributor insert being configured to at least partially define an annular lubricant chamber and at least two axially-extending tubular extensions that are in fluid communication with the lubricant chamber, the lubricant chamber being delineated by the pressure piston, an annular plate segment of the distributor insert, and a side wall segment of the distributor insert connected to the annular plate segment and extending toward the pressure piston, the lubricant chamber is adapted to receive lubricant from a remote source, each of the at least two tubular extensions being configured to pass through a corresponding one of the at least two conduit apertures in the inner discs;
• a reset device including at least two reset elements each disposed within a corresponding one of the tubular extensions of the distributor insert, each of the reset elements operable to normally bias the pressure piston toward its first position, each reset element having a first portion engaging a corresponding one of the first fastening elements on the counterpressure plate and a second portion engaging a corresponding one of the second fastening elements on the pressure piston;
• and
• an actuator operable for moving the pressure piston from its first position into its second position in opposition to the biasing of the reset elements.

A multi-disc clutch, comprising:

• an inner rotary part rotatable about a rotational axis;
• an outer rotary part surrounding the inner rotary part for rotation relative thereto about the rotational axis;
• a counterpressure plate rotationally and axially fixedly connected to the inner rotary part;
• a disc stack disposed adjacent to the counterpressure plate and including an inner disc coupled for rotation with the inner rotary part and an outer disc coupled for rotation with the outer rotary part, the inner disc having first and second conduit apertures formed therethrough;
• a pressure plate assembly including a pressure piston, a distributor insert rotationally and axially fixedly connected to the pressure piston, and a reset device, the pressure piston being axially moveable relative to the disc stack between a released position and an engaged position, the pressure piston being operable in its released position to disengage the disc stack and being operable in its engaged position to frictionally engage the disc stack, the distributor insert including a radially extending plate segment and an axially extending end wall segment at least partially defining an annular lubricant chamber, the distributor insert further including first and second axially-extending tubular conduits in fluid communication with the lubricant chamber and which pass through corresponding ones of the first and second conduit apertures in the inner disc, the first tubular conduit having a first lubricant opening and the second tubular conduit having a second lubricant opening, the reset device being operable to normally bias the pressure piston toward its released position, the reset device having a first reset element disposed within the first tubular conduit and a second reset element disposed within the second tubular conduit, wherein each of the first and second reset elements engages the counter pressure plate and one of the distributor insert and the pressure piston;
• and
• an actuator for moving the pressure plate from its released position into its engaged position in opposition to the biasing of the first and second reset elements;
• wherein a lubricant is supplied from a source of lubricant through the lubricant chamber into the first conduit and the second conduit and is discharged through the first and second lubricant openings for cooling the disc stack.