Patent ID: 7588130

Claim:
A hydrodynamic clutch device comprising: a pump wheel; a housing connecting the pump wheel to a drive; a turbine wheel connected to a takeoff, the turbine wheel being located in the housing and cooperating with the pump wheel to form a hydrodynamic circuit; a bridging clutch located in the housing and comprising a piston located between the hydrodynamic circuit and a pressure space, said piston being movable between an engaged position, wherein the drive transmits torque to the takeoff via the bridging clutch, and a released position, wherein the drive transmits torque to the takeoff via the hydrodynamic circuit; a pressure circuit comprising a first pressure medium line which supplies clutch fluid to the hydrodynamic circuit, and a second pressure medium line which supplies clutch fluid to the pressure space; at least one seal effective between the piston and the housing to seal the hydrodynamic circuit from the pressure space; at least one pressure connection comprising at least one though opening in the piston which allows an exchange of clutch fluid between the hydrodynamic circuit and the pressure space regardless of the position of the piston, and the at least one pressure connection comprising a clutch fluid passage device comprising a non-return valve, wherein, when the piston is in the released position, the non-return valve opens to allow flow from the hydrodynamic circuit to the pressure space and closes to prevent flow from the pressure space to the hydrodynamic circuit depending on the pressure differential between the pressure space and the hydrodynamic circuit; and a fluid space separator fixed to the housing in the hydrodynamic circuit between the turbine wheel and the bridging clutch.