The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 05, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 25, 1997
Lawrence Craig Kennedy, Kettering, OH (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A clutch includes an input element with an engaged input shaft and clutch plate rotatable in concert. The clutch plate has an annular portion with a clutch plate set of lands and grooves mating with a housing set of lands and grooves to define a shear zone space. A cover is included as part of the housing and engages the body and includes a reservoir. A pump plate is captured between the cover and the body separating out a working chamber generally within the body and includes a pump port. The pump port includes an outer extreme edge that is substantially in line with the outer surface of the clutch plate. A valve port in the pump plate is positioned near the radial outside of the reservoir. A control arm normally closes the valve port and is movable to open the valve port. When the valve port is closed, fluid carried in the working chamber moves radially outward under centrifugal force and is forced through the pump port under operation of a wiper due to relative rotation between the clutch plate and the pump plate so that substantially all of the fluid is pumped out of the working chamber and a high slip speed is established between the housing and the clutch plate. A rotating peripheral accumulator is defined between the depleted surface of the clutch plate and the annular step of the body that accommodates fluid inertia and provides volumetric compensation for fluid pressurization and compression caused by an externally applied torque change.