The Boeing Company

Robert L Delsman

Norman D Thompson

Cooling of one or more clutch disks (23), to extend service life by avoiding overheating, is provided for by directing a jet of oil into the central opening of the annular pressure plate (29) of the clutch (11). Centrifugal force impels such oil outwardly towards the inner end of the annular clutch disk friction facing material region (46) between the pressure plate (29) and the drive input member (12) where the fluid then passes along grooves (27) in the friction facing material (26). To assure a high volume flow by reducing scattering of the fluid to other regions of the clutch (11) and to reduce turbulence and foaming, an annular deflector member (56) is seated at a beveled inner surface (57) of the pressure plate (29) and forms an annular flow path (59) which continuously increases in diameter toward the friction facing material region (46). Aided by centrifugal force, the deflector member (56) entraps a volume of oil and guides the entrapped oil into the region (46 ) of the friction facing material (26).

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Dallas, OR, United States of America

Robert L Delsman