Patent ID: 9624984
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: F16D

Claim:
1. A clutch assembly configured to engage and disengage a first shaft from a second shaft comprising: a drive hub configured to be operatively connected to the first shaft, the drive hub including a plurality of apertures extending from an interior of the drive hub to an exterior of the drive hub; a plurality of friction plates coupled to the drive hub, wherein each of the friction plates is spaced from an adjacent friction plate by a friction plate space; a plurality of reaction plates, wherein each of the reaction plates are spaced from an adjacent reaction plate by a reaction plate space, wherein each the reaction plate spaces is configured to receive one of the friction plates and each of the friction plate spaces is configured to receive one of the plurality of reaction plates; a backing plate, wherein the backing plate is disposed adjacent to one of the friction plates and reaction plates; a retaining ring disposed adjacent to the backing plate and non-adjacent to any one of the plurality of friction plates and plurality of reaction plates; a housing including an inner surface and configured to be operatively connected to the second shaft and which is operatively connected to the drive hub and to the plurality of reaction plates, wherein at least one of the housing and the retaining ring includes a plurality of fluid flow outlets disposed adjacent to the backing plate; and a plurality of fluid flow paths configured to provide fluid flow to the fluid flow outlets, the plurality of fluid flow paths defined at an interface located at the inner surface of the housing and the reaction plates and at an interface located at the inner surface of the housing and the friction plates.