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:
Oct. 15, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 04, 2000
Jeffrey Lowell, Ventura, CA (US);
Brian D. Macy, Santa Ynez, CA (US);
Joseph Treiber, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
McLaren Automotive Group, Inc., Livonia, MI (US);
Abstract
A hydraulic coupling for use in a vehicle drivetrain includes a housing and a pair of rotary members projecting therefrom. The hydraulic coupling also includes a hydraulic circuit defining a low-pressure portion wherein the hydraulic fluid is at a first, lower pressure and a high-pressure portion wherein the hydraulic fluid is in a second, elevated pressure relative to the first pressure. A hydraulic pump is operatively supported within the housing and located within the path of the hydraulic circuit between the low pressure and high-pressure portions. The hydraulic pump is operable to pump hydraulic fluid from the low-pressure portion to the high-pressure portion of the hydraulic circuit. In addition, a clutch is supported within the housing and located within the high-pressure portion of the hydraulic circuit. The clutch is actuable by hydraulic fluid that is pumped by the hydraulic pump at the second, elevated pressure to couple the pair of rotary members together. Furthermore, the hydraulic coupling of the present invention includes a control valve that is operable in response to a signal from a controller to selectively control the actuation of the clutch independent of the fluid pressure in the high-pressure portion of the hydraulic circuit.