Abstract: A power transmission device (100) includes: a rotary shaft (4) extending in the vehicle width direction to transmit power to drive wheels of the vehicle; a rotary parts housing chamber (16) disposed on the end section or in its vicinity of the rotary shaft (4) in the axial direction and adapted to house rotary parts including a clutch (5R); and a breather chamber (81) disposed on the outside (the upper side) of the rotary shaft (4), wherein a first communication passage (80) is provided to communicate with the breather chamber (81) and the rotary parts housing chamber (16). The oil intruded into the breather chamber (81) is discharged from the breather chamber (81) through the first communication passage (80) and is led to the rotary parts housing chamber (16) by the negative pressure due to the pull-in to the rotary parts housing chamber (16) accompanying rotation of the rotary parts.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve assembly for controlling a clutch in a vehicle transmission. The valve assembly includes a housing with a first port for connection to a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, a displaceable sealing piston disposed within the housing, a valve spring for displacing the sealing piston, a snap-spring having first and second equilibrium positions, and an overstroke spring. In the first equilibrium position a spring force displaces the sealing piston to uncover the first port to enable fluid flow through the valve, and in the second equilibrium position the valve spring displaces the sealing piston to block the first port to block fluid flow through the valve. Moving from the first equilibrium position to the second equilibrium position includes displacing the overstroke spring.

Abstract: A lockup clutch mechanism of a hydraulic transmission device includes a lockup piston that is capable of moving toward a front cover to press first and second friction plates, and a flange member that together with the lockup piston defines an engagement-side oil chamber. The front cover and the lockup piston define a first lubricant passage that supplies hydraulic oil to the first and second friction plates. A second lubricant passage communicating with the first lubricant passage is formed in a centerpiece of the front cover. A first shaft oil passage communicating with the engagement-side oil chamber and a second shaft oil passage communicating with the second lubricant passage are formed in an input shaft.

Abstract: A vehicle driving apparatus includes a rotating electrical machine and an engagement device, which are disposed on a power transmission path linking an input member drive-coupled to an internal combustion engine and an output member drive-coupled to a wheel. The engagement device includes an engagement input coupled to the input member, an engagement output that forms a pair with the engagement input and is coupled to the rotating electrical machine, a friction member disposed between the engagement input and the engagement output, and a pressing member that presses the friction member in a pressing direction. An oil pressure chamber is formed between the pressing member and either the engagement input or the engagement output. A biasing spring biases the pressing member in the pressing direction when no oil pressure is supplied to the oil pressure chamber and is disposed on an exterior of the oil pressure chamber.

Abstract: A disc brake having one or multiple axially movable rotor discs with annular friction surfaces disposed axially between an annular piston in an annular pressure cavity formed in a housing and annular reaction plate attached to the piston. Friction pads are provided on the reaction plate and also on an axially movable annular reaction disc disposed between the rotor discs. A positioning plate is disposed between the piston and rotor discs and has axially movable poppets thereon, each with a friction pad for contacting the adjacent rotor disc. Individual springs on each poppet bias the poppet pads, rotor discs and friction pads axially together to provide a desired initial braking torque. Upon fluid pressure applied in the piston cavity, the housing moves the positioning plate to move the poppets to release braking torque.

Abstract: A multi-disc frictional engagement mechanism includes a plurality of driven plates and drive plates, a hydraulic piston, a spring which comes into contact with a pressure receiving portion of the hydraulic piston, an oil chamber which causes a hydraulic pressure to act on the pressure receiving portion, and a lock mechanism which restricts a movement of the hydraulic piston in a coupling direction toward the driven plates and the drive plates in a state where the hydraulic pressure is supplied to the oil chamber, the spring is compressed by the pressure receiving portion and the driven plates and the drive plates are not coupled.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve assembly for controlling a clutch in a vehicle transmission. The valve assembly includes a housing with a first port for connection to a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, a displaceable sealing piston disposed within the housing, a valve spring for displacing the sealing piston, a snap-spring having first and second equilibrium positions, and an overstroke spring. In the first equilibrium position a spring force displaces the sealing piston to uncover the first port to enable fluid flow through the valve, and in the second equilibrium position the valve spring displaces the sealing piston to block the first port to block fluid flow through the valve. Moving from the first equilibrium position to the second equilibrium position includes displacing the overstroke spring.

Abstract: A kit for improving the performance of a clutch assembly, including at least one steel plate configured and dimensioned to be received through the open end of the housing and disposed in mating relationship with a terminal one of the plural friction elements, at least one friction disk configured and dimensioned to be received through the open end of the housing and disposed in mating relationship with the at least one steel plate to form in combination with the plural friction elements and plural steel plates an extended interleaved stack, with the at least one friction disk forming a new terminal friction element, and a retaining ring configured and dimensioned to be secured over the open end of the housing and including an integrally formed, annular inner friction surface adapted to confront the new terminal friction element to directly receive forces applied through the clutch assembly.

Abstract: A driving force transmitting apparatus includes a rotating shaft, a frictional engagement device, a piston member, a piston housing, a piston chamber, an oil pressure sensor, an attachment hole, an operating-oil receiving chamber, a bubble removing chamber, and a bubble discharging groove. The rotating shaft has an axial direction and is rotatable around the axial direction. The frictional engagement device includes a frictional engagement unit which is disposed around the rotating shaft and which includes first and second friction members that are alternately stacked in the axial direction. The piston member is movable in the axial direction to press the frictional engagement unit so that the first and second friction members are engaged with each other. The piston housing contains the piston member. The piston chamber is defined between an inner surface of the piston housing and the piston member.

Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a hub rotatable about an axis and at least partially surrounding a cavity, a damper ring within the cavity, able to revolve about the axis, rotatable relative to the hub, a spring, a friction disc, forced elastically by the spring into contact with the damper ring, and a second friction disc contacting the damper ring and providing a reaction to the force of the spring.

Abstract: A torque transfer coupling includes first and second rotary members. A transfer clutch operatively connects the first and second rotary members. A piston, disposed in a piston chamber, is actuable to engage the transfer clutch. A hydraulic pump in fluid communication with a sump containing hydraulic fluid has a first pump member fixed for rotation with the first rotary member and a second pump member fixed for rotation with the second rotary member such that relative rotation between the first and the second pump members generates a fluid pumping action. A first flow path supplies hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to the piston chamber. A second flow path supplies hydraulic fluid from the piston chamber to a control valve for regulating the pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied to the piston chamber. The second flow path includes an aperture extending through the second pump member.

Abstract: The present device is an improved clutch system that conveys rotational energy from a power source to the gearbox input shaft of a motorcycle. A clutch basket is mechanically coupled to the power source and slidably engaged to pronged clutch drive plates, which are frictionally engaged to splined steel driven plates. A clutch hub engages the splined steel driven plates when pressurized air moves a piston against a pressure plate, causing the clutch hub and splined steel driven plates to engage. The rotating splined steel driven plates will then rotate the clutch hub to convey rotational energy to the gearbox input shaft of the motorcycle.

Abstract: A torque transmission includes a housing arrangement drivable around an axis of rotation and filled with fluid and a clutch arrangement between the housing arrangement and a driven member. The clutch arrangement has a first friction surface formation rotatable with the housing arrangement and a second friction surface formation rotatable with the driven member. A clutch piston is movable axially for producing and canceling frictional engagement of the first and the second friction surface formation. A piston carrying element is connected to the clutch piston on the radially inner side for axial movement of the clutch piston. The piston carrying element has in its radially inner end region a first axial supporting area for axially supporting the driven member at the piston carrying element and a second axial supporting area for supporting the piston carrying element at the housing arrangement.

Abstract: A clutch arrangement of disc-type design, which has two clutch parts that have at least one element which forms a surface of a friction pairing and which bears friction surfaces. The clutch parts can be operatively connected to one another by an actuating device, which has a pressure element. The actuating force, which acts on the clutch parts, is supported centrally on a support surface which is situated opposite the effective piston surface and which is aligned in the direction of the piston surface. The final element, which forms a surface of a friction pairing, in the line of action of the actuating force has a thickness which is smaller than the thickness of the other elements.

Abstract: A method of operating a friction plate clutch includes activating a clutch control mechanism to engage the friction plate clutch, and engaging a holding clutch. The clutch control mechanism is then deactivated, rendering it unable to maintain engagement of the friction plate clutch. The holding clutch is used to retain engagement of the friction plate clutch. One embodiment of the method uses a wedge clutch as the holding clutch. A latching clutch assembly includes a friction plate clutch movable between an engaged and a disengaged position.

Abstract: A wet clutch arrangement, particularly a wet plate clutch or lockup clutch including a first friction face formation coupled with a housing arrangement for rotation around an axis of rotation and a second friction face formation coupled with an output member for rotation around the axis of rotation, and a preferably ring-shaped pressing piston. The pressing piston, together with the housing arrangement, defines a pressure fluid space and is movable in direction of the axis of rotation through a change in fluid pressure in the pressure fluid space for influencing the frictional interaction between the friction face formations. An operant fluid application surface of the pressing piston is in the range of 15000 mm2 to 25000 mm2 for generating a force acting upon the pressing piston.

Abstract: A clutch control apparatus for receiving an air flow more easily and to obtain a higher cooling performance in a power unit for a saddle-ride type vehicle while avoiding the size of the main engine body becoming larger in the front-and-rear direction. The power unit includes a clutch apparatus installed in a clutch chamber. The clutch apparatus is disposed in the course of power transmission from a crankshaft to a drive wheel. The clutch chamber is formed between a crankcase and a clutch cover that is coupled to a side surface of the crankcase. A clutch control apparatus that controls the switching of the connection and disconnection actions of a clutch apparatus is attached to the outer surface of a clutch cover in a position at a side of a cylinder block.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, a piston apparatus of an automatic transmission includes a piston member capable of moving in the axial direction of the rotation shaft, and a hydraulic chamber, and has been configured so that the piston member moves in the axial direction due to pressure in the hydraulic chamber. The piston member includes a cylinder part that extends in the axial direction and to which pressure in the hydraulic chamber is transmitted, a pressing part that extends in the radial direction and presses against a friction engaging element of the automatic transmission, and a connecting part that connects the cylinder part and the pressing part and, with respect to the axial direction, is offset from the pressing part in a direction of separation from the friction engaging element. Also, the axial direction offset amount of the connecting part from the pressing part of the piston member has been set larger than the stroke amount of the piston member.

Abstract: A wet clutch comprising at least one friction disk (10) which is loaded by a piston (5) against an end disk (4). In order to run a forced pressure medium flow over the friction surfaces (11, 12) of the wet clutch, two pressures cavities (7, 8) having a connection in the region of the friction surfaces, are loaded with varying pressures. In order to improve such arrangements, the invention proposes that the leakage flow flowing over the supports of the friction disks is limited.

Abstract: A wave spring holding structure includes a wave spring that includes crest portions and recessed portions that are alternately formed in a circumferential direction thereof, and a first gap; a circular member provided to be rotatable around an axis; and an arc-shaped snap ring that includes a second gap, and that restricts movement of the circular member in a direction of the axis. The wave spring and the snap ring share the axis with the circular member. The wave spring and the snap ring are rotatable with respect to each other. The wave spring is disposed and held between the circular member and the snap ring so that the crest portions protrude toward the circular member, and the recessed portions protrude toward the snap ring. The first gap is formed in one of the crest portions.

Abstract: A starting device includes a housing; an output side member; a clutch mechanism; a working oil passage that supplies working oil to a hydraulic chamber of the clutch mechanism from an oil pressure source side; and a lubricating oil passage including a supply oil passage that supplies lubricating oil to the housing from the oil pressure source side and a return oil passage for returning the lubricating oil to the oil pressure source side from the housing, wherein the working oil passage and the lubricating oil passage are formed to overlap at least partially in an axial direction.

Abstract: A method of operating a friction plate clutch includes activating a clutch control mechanism to engage the friction plate clutch, and engaging a holding clutch. The clutch control mechanism is then deactivated, rendering it unable to maintain engagement of the friction plate clutch. The holding clutch is used to retain engagement of the friction plate clutch. One embodiment of the method uses a wedge clutch as the holding clutch, and another embodiment uses a one-way bearing clutch. The clutch control mechanism may be a hydraulic clutch control. A latching clutch assembly includes a friction plate clutch movable between an engaged and a disengaged position. A bearing clutch is operatively coupled to the friction plate clutch and has a locked and a released position. The locked position is configured to oppose movement of the friction plate clutch from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

Abstract: A friction device for an automatic transmission according to the invention includes a retainer, a wave coil spring, a center support, a piston, and a plurality of plates. The retainer is disposed on the inner circumference of a transmission case. The wave coil spring is disposed on a seating portion of the retainer. The center support is disposed in the transmission case. The piston is disposed in a pressure chamber of the center support and provided with a return force by contacting with the wave coil spring. The plates are spline-connected with the inner circumference of the transmission case and pressed by the piston. Further, the retainer has a protruding portion to align the center axis of the wave coil spring with the center axis of the transmission case.

Abstract: A clutch including: a first piston displaceable to operate a clutch pack; a second piston; a first fluid chamber partially formed by the pistons, wherein the second piston is displaceable by fluid pressure in the first fluid chamber; and a locking means fixable by the second piston to hold the pack closed. In a preferred embodiment, the locking means includes at least one displaceable ball. In another preferred embodiment, in response to a loss of fluid pressure in the first chamber, the second piston is displaceable to enable displacement of the locking means to open the pack. In a further preferred embodiment, the clutch includes a second chamber, separate from the first chamber and partially formed by the first piston. The first piston is displaceable in response to fluid pressure in the second chamber. The pack remains closed after a loss or reduction of fluid pressure in the second chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for actuating a torque transmitting device in a transmission includes a sump for receiving a hydraulic fluid and a piezoelectric pump for pumping the hydraulic fluid from the sump to the torque transmitting device. A first fluid flow path communicates the hydraulic fluid from the sump to the piezoelectric pump and a second fluid flow path communicates the hydraulic fluid from the piezoelectric pump to the torque transmitting device. An exhaust means selectively communicates the hydraulic fluid from the torque transmitting device to the sump.

Abstract: A double clutch of a double clutch transmission is described and illustrated, and can include an inner clutch which is connected to an inner shaft and has an inner disk carrier for inner disks; an outer clutch which is connected to a hollow shaft arranged co-axially with respect to the inner shaft and has an outer disk carrier for outer disks; and a drive member arranged on a drive shaft and having inner and outer drive disks which can be operatively connected to the inner or outer disks and which form an inner clutch pack or an outer clutch pack together with the disks; wherein a common disk carrier for both clutch packs is attached to the drive member; the disk carrier includes two hubs associated with the clutch packs and engaged within one another; and each hub comprises a plurality of teeth.

Abstract: A clutch device for a motor vehicle has friction elements around which coolant flows and which, by way of a piston, can be pressed against one another for torque transmission. The first piston side is acted on with operating pressure, and the second piston side is acted on with coolant pressure. A valve, by which the operating pressure can be set, and a device which makes a reaction of the coolant pressure on the operating pressure possible are provided. The device is designed as a hydraulic resistance cascade and is connected between coolant supply and coolant return lines of the friction elements. A return pressure line branches off in the center of the hydraulic resistance cascade and is connected to the valve.

Abstract: A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.

Abstract: A power transfer assembly for use in a motor vehicle and having a hydraulic coupling operable to transfer drive torque to a driveline in response to slip. The hydraulic coupling includes a transfer clutch, a clutch operator for engaging the transfer clutch, a fluid actuation system including a fluid pump for controlling movement of the clutch operator, and a magnetorheological pump clutch capable of selectively shifting the fluid pump between operative and inoperative states.

Abstract: A clutch system selectively transmitting torque in an automatic transmission according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: a rotation axis rotated by the torque; at least one plate disposed at an exterior of the rotation axis and moved along an axial direction of the rotation axis; at least one disk alternately disposed with the plate and moved along the axial direction of the rotation axis, the disk having at least one wave along a radial direction thereof; and a piston applying force to the disk and the plate along the axial direction of the rotation axis such that a frictional force is generated between the plate and the disk. Therefore, the clutch system of this invention has advantages of enhanced durability and operability.

Abstract: A hydraulic servo for a brake in an automatic transmission has a piston secured against rotation without provision of a protrusion on the piston engaging the transmission casing. The piston of the hydraulic servo has an inner cylindrical surface configured to grasp, along their lengths, return springs compressed between the piston and a return plate to which the return springs are fixed. The return plate is bolted to a bulkhead portion of the transmission case and, thus, the piston member is fixed to the bulkhead portion and thereby prevented from rotating.

Abstract: A fluid actuated rotational coupling device is provided with improved sealing of fluid passages. The device includes a fluid actuated rotational coupling that is disposed on a rotatable shaft. The coupling defines a fluid port. A key is received within a keyway in the coupling and/or shaft and defines a fluid passage extending therethrough having fluid ports at either end aligned with the fluid port in the coupling and a fluid port in the shaft. The key also defines grooves formed in surfaces of the key and surrounding the fluid ports. Seals are disposed within the grooves in the key. By locating the fluid passage and seals in the key, the seals may be removed and replaced without removing the coupling from the shaft. Further, the seals are less likely to be damaged during installation of the coupling device on the shaft.