Patent ID: 8545354

Claim:
A torque transfer apparatus for a transmission, including a rotatable friction clutch pack including a first friction plate contiguous to a second friction plate, the first friction plate coupled to a first transmission element and the second friction plate coupled to a second transmission element; a Belleville spring device including a first periphery and a second periphery, the first periphery mechanically contacting a housing of the transmission, the second periphery mechanically contacting the first friction plate; a hydraulically-activated piston element mechanically coupled to the Belleville spring device; the Belleville spring device configured to urge the first friction plate to engage the second friction plate to effect torque transfer therebetween when the hydraulically-activated piston element is deactivated; and the hydraulically-activated piston element configured to urge the second periphery of the Belleville spring device away from the mechanical contact with the first friction plate when the hydraulically-activated piston element is activated.