Patent ID: 9726239
Date: 2017-08-08
CPC Classifications: F16D

Claim:
1. A power transmitting component comprising: a friction clutch having a plurality of first clutch plates and a plurality of second clutch plates that are interleaved with the first clutch plates; a reservoir configured to hold hydraulic fluid; a hydraulic ram coupled to the friction clutch, the hydraulic ram having a piston chamber and a piston that is movable in the piston chamber between a first position which is retracted relative to the first and second clutch plates, and a second position in which the piston is extended toward the first and second clutch plates to a greater extent than when the piston is in the first position; a pump having a first inlet/outlet and a second inlet/outlet, the first inlet/outlet being coupled for fluid communication to the reservoir; a fluid storage device configured to hold a volume of pressurized hydraulic fluid; and a first valve coupled for fluid communication with the piston chamber, the second inlet/outlet of the pump, and the fluid storage device, the first valve being operable in a first mode and a second mode; wherein the first valve is configured to permit fluid communication between the pump and the fluid storage device, to inhibit fluid communication between the piston chamber and the pump, and to inhibit fluid communication between the piston chamber and the fluid storage device when the first valve is in the first mode; and wherein the first valve is configured to permit fluid communication between the pump and the piston chamber, and to permit fluid communication between the fluid storage device and the piston chamber when the first valve is in the second mode.