Patent ID: 8056694

Claim:
A disc clutch assembly comprising: a first set of clutch plates each having a respective outer surface; wherein a first portion of the outer surface has a friction material thereon and a second portion of the outer surface is characterized by an absence of the friction material; a second set of clutch plates coaxial with the first set of clutch plates; wherein the clutch plates of the first set alternate axially with the clutch plates of the second set; wherein the first and second sets of clutch plates are configured to be selectively engagable with one another at the first portions of the first set for transferring torque loads; separating devices configured as flexible tabs integral with the first set of clutch plates in contact with the second set and configured to bias the first and second sets of clutch plates apart from one another when the clutch plates are not engaged; wherein each of the clutch plates of the first set has an inner circumference with splines and with some of the flexible tabs spaced along the inner circumference between adjacent ones of the splines, with the splines extending radially inward further than the flexible tabs, and with the flexible tabs extending in one axial direction in contact with an adjacent one of said plates of said second set of clutch plates and others of said flexible tabs spaced along the inner circumference and extending in an opposing axial direction in contact with another adjacent one of said plates of said second set of clutch plates.