Patent ID: 8087501

Claim:
A hydraulic one-way clutch (HOWC) configured for use in a vehicle transmission, said HOWC comprising: a non-rotatable disc extending about an axis and defining at least one exhaust port extending therethrough; wherein said non-rotatable disc includes a plurality of first external teeth extending radially away from said axis; a rotatable disc extending about said axis and disposed axially adjacent said non-rotatable disc; wherein said rotatable disc includes a plurality of second external teeth extending radially away from said axis; wherein said rotatable disc is configured to rotate relative to said non-rotatable disc, about said axis, between a closed position and an open position; wherein said rotatable disc covers said at least one exhaust port when said rotatable disc is in said closed position to prevent fluid from flowing out through said at least one exhaust port; wherein said rotatable disc uncovers said at least one exhaust port when said rotatable disc is in said open position to allow fluid to flow out through said at least one exhaust port; wherein each of said first external teeth define a first tooth thickness configured to engage a housing within the transmission; and wherein each of said second external teeth define a second tooth thickness configured to engage the housing within the transmission and allow a finite degree of relative rotation between said rotatable disc and each of said non-rotatable disc and the housing such that said rotatable disc rotates between said closed position and said open position.