Patent ID: 8821336

Claim:
A clutch assembly for use in an automatic transmission, the clutch assembly comprising: a plurality of interleaved clutch plates selectively engageable to interconnect a first member with a second member, wherein at least one first clutch plate of the plurality of interleaved clutch plates is attached to the first member and at least one second clutch plate of the plurality of interleaved clutch plates is attached to the second member; and a backing plate disposed adjacent to the plurality of interleaved clutch plates, the plurality of interleaved clutch plates being configured to be compressed against the backing plate when the clutch assembly is engaged, the backing plate comprising a first piece and a second piece, the first and second pieces cooperating to form an annular passageway therebetween; wherein the first piece of the backing plate has an outer side, the first piece forming a plurality of inlet openings to the annular passageway through the outer side of the first piece, the plurality of inlet openings are formed in the outer side of the first piece along a circumference of the first piece, the first and second pieces each have an annular shape and cooperate to form an annular outlet of the annular passageway, the backing plate is configured to supply fluid to the plurality of interleaved clutch plates through the annular outlet, and the first and second pieces each have a plurality of spline teeth and spline grooves that mate with each other to connect the first and second pieces together.