Abstract: A spring apparatus for a positive engagement clutch in which a sliding sleeve is forced into and out of locked engagement with a drive shaft by a spring mechanism. The spring mechanism includes a shift fork containing sliding blocks which engages with a peripheral groove on the sliding sleeve, a prestressing lever, and a spring guide. The spring guide interconnects the shift fork and the prestressing lever. The prestressing lever is capable of being locked in an engaged position in which the spring is compressed until the sliding sleeve engages with the drive shaft, and a disengaged position in which the spring is relaxed and a rigid connection occurs.

Abstract: A forced cooling friction brake or clutch apparatus which has a plate stack of interleaved plates including at least one plate rotatable with a shaft and axially shiftable thereon, and at least one plate axially shiftable on a housing. A pressure plate is axially juxtaposed with the stack and axially shiftable on the housing and defines a pressurizable compartment which can be subjected to fluid pressure to urge the pressure plate against the stack. An annular carrier on the shaft inwardly of the stack engages plates of the stack rotatable with the shaft, the carrier having an annular cavity opening axially to one side thereof and being formed with radial passages communicating with the cavity and opening toward the stack. A coolant channel is formed in the housing and opens toward the side of the carrier and into the cavity for delivering a forced flow of a coolant thereto.

Abstract: A friction clutch or brake includes at least one friction disk which is engageable by a piston to provide a braking effect of the disk. In order to cool the friction disk when the piston engages with the disk, a valve arrangement is arranged which injects oil onto the disk and through an opening provided in the disks. The actuation of the valve arrangement is provided in response to the piston, i.e. when the piston is moved towards the brake disks, the valve arrangement opens a channel through which the oil is injected toward the disks. In order to avoid a collection of oil in the vicinity of the disks after the braking action is terminated, the disks are provided with a toothed profile which discharges continuously oil to an external space and thus away from the friction disk. Thus no drag moments occur which are caused through oil adhering between the friction areas.