Tesma International, Inc.

Chabi Bhookmohan

Saverio Bozzo

Harold Vahle

A torque transmitting member for use in a plate clutch assembly includes a gear having interior and exterior splines. The exterior splines define exterior tooth surfaces, and the interior splines define corresponding interior trough surfaces. The clutch plate assembly includes an outer annular member having a annular section radially spaced from the splines of the torque transmitting member so as to define an annular space therebetween. One group of clutch plates is keyed to the outer annular member, and another group intermeshes with the external tooth surfaces of the torque transmitting member. An opening extending from an interior trough surface to the exterior tooth surface allows a liquid lubricant fed into the interior trough surfaces to be directed radially outwardly by centrifugal force into the plurality of parallel clutch plates. A lubricant controlling dam structure associated with each opening is provided at a free end of the inner splines of the torque transmitting member and extends inwardly from at least a portion of the inner trough surface. The dam structure is formed at a position radially inwardly from the exterior tooth surfaces, leaving the exterior tooth surface unaffected by the formation thereof.

Plate clutch assembly having a torque transmitting member with an

A torque transmitting member for use in a plate clutch assembly includes a gear having interior and exterior splines. The exterior splines define exterior tooth surfaces, and the interior splines define corresponding interior trough surfaces. The clutch plate assembly includes an outer annular member having a annular section radially spaced from the splines of the torque transmitting member so as to define an annular space therebetween. One group of clutch plates is keyed to the outer annular member, and another group intermeshes with the external tooth surfaces of the torque transmitting member. An opening extending from an interior trough surface to the exterior tooth surface allows a liquid lubricant fed into the interior trough surfaces to be directed radially outwardly by centrifugal force into the plurality of parallel clutch plates. A lubricant controlling dam structure associated with each opening is provided at a free end of the inner splines of the torque transmitting member and extends inwardly from at least a portion of the inner trough surface. The dam structure is formed at a position radially inwardly from the exterior tooth surfaces, leaving the exterior tooth surface unaffected by the formation thereof. In a method of forming the torque transmitting member, the dam structure is formed by a dam structure forming tool having a dam forming periphery constructed and arranged to form the dam structures, preferably all simultaneously, at a position disposed radially inwardly from the exterior tooth surfaces.

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Thornhill, Canada

Chabi Bhookmohan