Patent ID: 8276725

Claim:
A clutch for transmitting torque between a first member and a second member, the clutch comprising: a locking plate having a first engagement groove; a carrier disposed adjacent the locking plate, the carrier including a first aperture; a first engagement member rotatably supported in the first aperture of the carrier, the first engagement member having an actuating portion and an engagement portion, wherein the first engagement member is rotatable into an engagement position and a release position, and wherein the engagement portion of the first engagement member is disposed in the first engagement groove when the first engagement member is in the engagement position; a first apply biasing element having an apply force for rotating the first engagement member into the engagement position; a first release plate in communication with the actuating portion of the first engagement member; and a first release biasing element having a release force for rotating the first engagement member into the release position; and a first electromagnet disposed proximate the release plate, the first electromagnet having an electromagnetic force, wherein the first engagement member is in the engagement position when a combination of the apply force and the electromagnetic force is greater than the release force, and wherein the first engagement member moves to the release position when the release force is greater than the combination of the apply force and the electromagnetic force.