Patent ID: 8474589

Claim:
A fluid actuated clutch, comprising: a clutch housing; an output shaft extending from an end of said clutch housing; shaft support tapered roller bearings interposed between said output shaft and clutch housing in both axial and radial restraining engagement; a friction pack interposed between a back plate and pressure plate and operatively connected to said output shaft; a fluid actuated piston received by and operative within said clutch housing; a thrust bearing interposed between said piston and said pressure plate; wherein reaction thrust loads from said back plate are restrained by said clutch housing through said output shaft and at least one of said shaft support tapered roller bearings; and wherein said tapered roller bearings have inner and outer races and wherein a first annular spacer ring is interposed between and positions the outer races of the tapered roller bearings, and a second annular spacer ring is interposed between and positions the inner races of the tapered roller bearings, said reaction thrust loads passing through a first tapered roller bearing, into said first annular spacer ring and through said outer race of said second tapered roller bearing to said clutch housing, and wherein said first tapered roller bearing engages a retaining shoulder of said output shaft, and said second tapered roller bearing engages a retaining shoulder of said clutch housing.