Patent ID: 6935480

Claim:
A start-up element for an automatic transmission, comprising: a fluid filled start-up clutch comprising relatively rotating frictional elements which are controlled to provide an idle mode with substantial slip and a power transmission mode with a controlled amount of slip, between a rotating engine input and a rotating gearbox output of an automatically controlled gearbox; a pump for pressurizing an operating fluid for operating the automatically controlled gearbox, the pump being flanged to the start-up clutch, and driven by the rotating shaft from the engine, independent of a state of the start-up clutch, while supplying cooling fluid to the start-up clutch; and a cover surrounding the start-up element and the pump, wherein the pump is supported on an engine side by front pump support integrated into the cover, and start-up clutch and the automatically controlled gearbox are separated by a gear seal integrated into the cover, whereby the pump and start-up clutch are provided together in a separate space from the automatically controlled gearbox separated by the gear seal.