Abstract: A pressurized fluid actuated multi-disk clutch for vehicles, in particular a clutch provided for the shifting of an additional axle in the drive line of an agricultural or industrial vehicle is described. The multi-disk clutch contains a clutch bell housing (34) within which outer clutch disks (30) are arranged, fixed against rotation, and which is supported in bearing, free to rotate, on a shaft (12) with a set of gear teeth that mesh with inner clutch disks (26). Furthermore a piston (46) is provided that can be moved axially against the force of a spring arrangement (54, 55) by means of a pressurized fluid and that acts upon the clutch disk package (28) consisting of the inner clutch disks (26) and the outer clutch disks (30).

Abstract: A multiple disk clutch has a clutch disk stack which is pressed together by a spring arrangement and released by a fluid pressure operated piston which is movable against the force of the spring arrangement. To provide a low cost clutch with fewer parts, the clutch disk stack is placed in an essentially sealed chamber which can be pressurized by a pressure source. One side of the chamber is closed by the piston. The chamber therefore serves both as the clutch disk stack chamber and the piston pressure chamber. If the pressure in the chamber increase, the piston moves against the spring and releases the plates. If the pressure in the chamber decreases, the clutch plates are pressed back together by the spring.