Patent ID: 6607062
Filing Date: 2003-08-19
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A hydraulically actuated friction coupling comprising:a hollow case to be rotated by an outside drive torque; at least one output shaft drivingly connected to said case; a frictional clutch pack for selectively engaging and disengaging said case and said output shaft, said clutch pack comprising at least one first member coupled to rotate with said at least one output shaft and at least one second member coupled to rotate with said case, said members being frictionally engageable with one another; a hydraulic clutch actuator for selectively frictionally loading said clutch pack, said actuator comprising: a hydraulic pump for generating a hydraulic pressure to frictionally load said clutch pack; a piston assembly disposed within said case between said pump and said clutch pack, said piston assembly including a pressure plate adjacent to said hydraulic pump and a thrust plate axially spaced from said pressure plate and adjacent to said clutch pack, said plates fixed to each other through a pair of concentric radially spaced resilient annular seal members so as to define an annular cavity within said piston assembly, wherein said annular cavity is in fluid communication with an outlet port of said hydraulic pump.