Patent ID: 6910561

Claim:
A clutch arrangement comprising: a housing which can rotate about an axis and is at least substantially filled with fluid; at least one first friction element which is fixed against rotation with respect to the housing; an output element which can rotate about said axis with respect to said housing; and at least one second friction element which is fixed against rotation with respect to the output element and can frictionally engage at least one said first friction element; wherein at least one said first friction element and at least one said second friction element each have a plurality of fluid conveying surfaces and a plurality of axially extending fluid passage openings, said fluid conveying surfaces each having a radial component and an axial component, said fluid conveying surfaces of said first friction element guiding fluid radially outward and said fluid conveying surfaces of said second friction element conducting the fluid radially inward when the housing rotates faster than the output element, thereby causing a circulation of fluid around at least some areas of said friction elements via said fluid passage openings.