Patent ID: 8256600

Claim:
A torque-transmitting mechanism for transmitting torque from a first member to a second member, the torque-transmitting mechanism comprising: a housing connectable to the first member, the housing having a piston chamber including an outer wall, an inner wall radially inboard of the outer wall and a ring retainer groove disposed in the outer wall; a piston disposed in the piston chamber of the housing, the piston having a base portion and an apply portion wherein the apply portion is includes a plurality of piston projections extended from the base portion; a plurality of coil springs each having a first and a second end, wherein the first end is in contact with the base portion of the piston; a spring retainer having a retainer surface, a plurality of retainer projections and a plurality of slots, wherein each of the plurality of retainer projections retain the second end of each of the plurality of springs, the plurality of slots are formed to receive the plurality of piston projections of the apply portion of the piston, and the plurality of slots each include a narrow end and a guide tab disposed at the narrow end; a first ring retainer having an outer portion that is disposed in the groove of the outer wall of the piston chamber and an inner portion in contact with the surface of the spring retainer; and a plurality of reaction plates disposed in the housing, wherein the reaction plates are rotatably engaged to the housing; a plurality of friction plates rotatably engaged to the second member, and wherein the piston is actuatable to force the reaction plates against the friction plates to transmit torque from the first member to the second member.