Importance

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Abstract

The present invention is an improved apparatus for cooling a clutch assembly in a power transmission device with a fluid. The power transmission device includes a shaft, a drive member fixed to the shaft and a driven member supported for rotation by the shaft. The clutch assembly includes at least one clutch plate and at least one friction disk which cooperate to couple the drive member and driven member when engaged and uncouple the drive member and driven member when disengaged. A fluid operated actuator selectively moves the clutch plate and friction disk between engaged and disengaged positions. The improvement comprises a passage in the shaft which conducts a cooling fluid to a location for bathing the clutch assembly and removing heat from the clutch assembly. A bore in the shaft is in communication with the passage at a location between a source of the cooling fluid and the clutch assembly. A valve member is located in the bore and is movable from a first position allowing a first restricted flow of the cooling fluid through the passage and a second position allowing a second relatively greater flow of the cooling fluid though the passage to the clutch assembly. The valve member is movable from the first position to the second position in response to the clutch assembly being actuated between the engaged and disengaged positions. The valve member may also move to a third restricted position at which flow of the cooling fluid is substantially equal to the first restricted flow when the clutch assembly is moved to the engaged position.

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First Claim