Patent ID: 7389861

Claim:
A hydrodynamic clutch device comprising: a clutch housing connected to a drive; a pump wheel connected to the clutch housing, the pump wheel having a hub; a turbine wheel connected to a takeoff, the turbine wheel and the pump wheel forming a hydrodynamic circuit; a bridging clutch essentially surrounded by the hydrodynamic circuit, the bridging clutch comprising a piston and at least one friction surface which can be acted on by the piston to connect the drive to the takeoff independently of the hydrodynamic circuit, the piston having one surface facing the at least one friction surface and an opposite surface; a pressure space for exerting fluid pressure on the piston, the pressure space being bounded axially by first and second walls, the first wall being formed by the opposite surface of the piston, the first and second walls having a radially outer area; a pressure circuit comprising a first pressure medium line to supply the hydrodynamic circuit with clutch fluid and a second pressure medium line to supply the pressure space with clutch fluid; a seal which is effective in the radially outer area to at least substantially reduce exchange of fluid between the hydrodynamic circuit and the pressure space; and a throttle formed in the second wall, the throttle allowing a defined exchange of fluid between the hydrodynamic circuit and the pressure space.