Patent ID: 7278525

Claim:
A hub member in a torque-transmitting mechanism comprising: a radially extending wall; and a circumferentially extending wall formed integrally with said radially extending wall; said circumferentially extending wall including a first plurality of internal splines, a second plurality of external splines spaced with said internal splines, and a continuous cylindrical end portion at a distal end of said hub and extending beyond both the internal splines and the external splines, said cylindrical end portion forming a free end of the hub member that is configured for added strength and stabilization of the hub member to accommodate hoop stresses; wherein said external splines have a first unobstructed entry path proceeding from said radially extending wall of said hub and configured to enable axial insertion of a first set of friction plates into said hub via said external splines, and wherein said internal splines have a second unobstructed entry path presented at the distal end of said hub member and configured to enable axial sliding movement of a second set of friction plates onto said internal splines, wherein said unobstructed entry paths are unobstructed by said continuous cylindrical end portion, and wherein said second set of friction plates is compressed in the direction of said radially extending wall when the torque-transmitting mechanism is actuated.