Patent ID: 8944230
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
1. A clutch assembly comprising a plurality of friction plates, a plurality of reaction plates, at least one of the reaction plates interposed between the friction plates, an actuator configured to act on the reaction plates to urge the reaction plates together to engage the friction plates to transfer torque from the reaction plates to the friction plates, the plurality of friction plates and the plurality of reaction plates positioned between the actuator and a backing plate of the clutch assembly, and a separator spring coupled to the plurality of reaction plates, the separator spring including (i) a plurality of first portions, each of the first portions engaged with a different one of the plurality of reaction plates and comprising a clamp and a pair of grips coupled to the clamp, the grips engaging surfaces on opposite faces of a reaction plate, (ii) a plurality of second portions coupled to the first portions, the second portions biased to maintain a predetermined first distance between the first portions when the actuator is de-energized and deflectable to a second distance smaller than the first distance when the actuator is energized, (iii) a first tang that defines one end of the separator spring, the first tang engaged with a surface of the backing plate, and (iv) a second tang that defines an opposite end of the separator spring, the second tang engaged with one of the reaction plates.