Patent ID: 8636125

Claim:
A dual clutch actuation device for actuating a dual clutch in a dual clutch transmission, the dual clutch actuation device comprising: a housing fixedly secured to the dual clutch transmission and defining first and second annular slots; a first annular piston at least partially slidably disposed in the first annular slot, the first annular piston including an axially facing first end, a second end opposite the first end, an outer surface having a first channel, an inner surface having a second channel, and a first annular end seal fixedly secured to the first end of the first annular piston, and wherein the first channel is disposed axially offset from the second channel; a second annular piston at least partially slidably disposed in the second annular slot, the second annular piston including an axially facing first end, a second end opposite the first end, an outer surface having a third channel and an inner surface having a fourth channel, and a second annular end seal fixedly secured to the first end of the second annular piston, and wherein the third channel is disposed axially offset from the fourth channel; a first annular piston chamber defined by the first annular slot and the first annular piston, wherein the first annular piston chamber is filled with a hydraulic fluid; a second annular piston chamber defined by the second annular slot and the second annular piston, wherein the second annular piston chamber is filled with the hydraulic fluid; a first outer seal disposed in the first channel of the first annular piston; a second outer seal disposed in the third channel of second annular piston; a first inner seal disposed in the second channel of the first annular piston; a second inner seal disposed in the fourth channel of second annular piston; a first annular bearing assembly having a first race in contact with the second end of the first annular piston and a second race in communication with one of the clutches of the dual clutch; and a second annular bearing assembly having a first race in contact with the second end of the second annular piston and a second race in communication with the other of the clutches of the dual clutch, and wherein the dual clutch is actuated by independently pressurizing the hydraulic fluid in at least one of the first and second annular piston chambers forcing at least one of the first and second annular pistons to slide out of the first and second annular slots and wherein the first inner seal and first outer seal prevent debris from entering the first piston chamber and the second inner seal and second outer seal prevent debris from entering the second piston chamber.