Patent ID: 7441642

Claim:
A clutch assembly comprising: a rotor having a rotational axis and an outer surface; a first clutch element contact surface disposed on the rotor outer surface; a second clutch element contact surface disposed on the rotor outer surface spaced axially from the first clutch element contact surface and having a smaller radial distance to the rotational axis than the first clutch element contact surface; a stator disposed around at least a portion of the rotor and having an inner surface defining an axial groove, the axial groove including an outer radial section and an inner radial section; a clutch element disposed between and in contact with the rotor and the stator inner surface; an axial force source in communication with the clutch element, the axial force source configured to supply a predetermined axial force to the clutch element in an axial direction; and a separator mounted around the rotor and configured to receive the predetermined axial force, the separator including a pocket formed therein within which the clutch element is disposed, wherein when an opposing force is applied to the clutch element in a direction opposite the axial direction, the assembly selectively (i) engages by providing contact between the clutch element and the first clutch element contact surface and by providing contact between the clutch element and the inner radial section of the axial groove, when the opposing force is less than the predetermined axial force, and (ii) disengages by providing contact between the clutch element and the second clutch element contact surface and by providing contact between the clutch element and the outer radial section of the axial groove, when the opposing force is greater than the predetermined axial force.