Clutch assembly with an oil pump clutch housing and a carrier engaged with a clutch pack outer circumference

Abstract

The present invention broadly comprises a ring carrier with a wall arranged to engage at least a portion of an outer circumference of a clutch pack for a clutch assembly for a vehicle and a clutch housing with a wall arranged to engage at least a portion of an inner circumference of the clutch pack. The wall for the housing includes at least one opening and the clutch housing is arranged to pump fluid through the opening in the wall independent of the rotation of an output hub for the carrier. The clutch housing can be configured as an inner clutch housing. The clutch housing includes a connecter portion arranged to transfer engine torque to the cylindrical wall from an outer housing of the clutch assembly connected to an engine crankshaft. The present invention also includes a clutch assembly with the ring carrier and clutch housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective back view of a present invention ring carrier;

FIG. 2 is a back view of the ring carrier shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the ring carrier shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective back view of a present invention clutch housing;

FIG. 5 is a back view of the clutch housing shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the clutch housing shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an exploded back view of a first present invention dual clutch assembly;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the assembly shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section of the assembly in FIG. 7 along line 9-9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is the cross-section of the assembly in FIG. 7 with background lines removed;

FIG. 11 is a cross-section of a second present invention dual clutch assembly;

FIG. 12 is a cross-section of a third present invention dual clutch assembly;

FIG. 13 is a cross-section of a fourth present invention dual clutch assembly;

FIG. 14 shows a dual clutch assembly from a commonly assigned United States Patent Application; and,

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating a present invention method for optimizing fluid flow through a clutch housing in a clutch assembly in a vehicle.

Claims

1. A ring carrier, comprising: a substantially cylindrical wall arranged to engage at least a portion of an outer circumference of a clutch pack for a clutch assembly for a vehicle.

2. The carrier of claim 1 further comprising: an output hub.

3. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said clutch pack comprises an inner circumference and said assembly further comprises a clutch housing arranged to engage said inner circumference.

4. The carrier of claim 3 wherein said assembly further comprises an outer housing and said clutch housing is connected to said outer housing.

5. A clutch housing, comprising: a substantially cylindrical wall arranged to engage at least a portion of an inner circumference of a clutch pack in a clutch assembly for a vehicle.

6. The clutch housing of claim 5 wherein said cylindrical wall further comprises at least one opening.

7. The clutch housing of claim 6 wherein said assembly comprises a first fluid and a rotatable output hub and said clutch housing is arranged to pump said first fluid through said at least one opening independent of said rotation of said output hub.

8. The clutch housing of claim 6 wherein said vehicle comprises an engine crankshaft, said assembly comprises a second fluid and an outer housing connected to said crankshaft, said clutch housing is connected to said outer housing, and said clutch housing is arranged to pump said second fluid through said at least one opening whenever said outer housing is rotating.

9. The clutch housing of claim 5 wherein said clutch housing is configured as an inner clutch housing for said assembly.

10. A clutch assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a clutch housing arranged to engage an inner circumference of a clutch pack; and,a carrier arranged to engage an outer circumference of said clutch pack.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said carrier further comprises a substantially cylindrical first carrier wall, where said first carrier wall is arranged to engage said outer circumference.

12. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said clutch housing further comprises a substantially cylindrical housing wall arranged to engage said inner circumference.

13. The assembly of claim 12 further comprising: a first fluid, wherein said carrier further comprises a rotatable output hub, said housing wall further comprises at least one opening, and said clutch housing is arranged to pump said first fluid through said at least one opening independent of said rotation of said output hub.

14. The assembly of claim 12 wherein said vehicle comprises an engine crankshaft, said assembly comprises a second fluid and a first outer housing connected to said crankshaft, said clutch housing is connected to said first outer housing, and said clutch housing is arranged to pump said second fluid through said at least one opening whenever said first outer housing is rotating.

15. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said vehicle comprises an engine and said clutch housing is arranged to transfer torque from said engine to said clutch pack.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein said vehicle further comprises an engine crankshaft, said assembly further comprises a second outer housing connected to said crankshaft, and said clutch housing further comprises a first annular housing disc connected to said second outer housing.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein said first annular housing disc further comprises at least one connection point; and, said assembly further comprising: a fulcrum engaged with said clutch pack and a first lever spring, said first lever spring with an outer circumference engaged with said at least one connection point, and said first spring arranged to engage said fulcrum.

18. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising: a second lever spring; and, wherein said clutch housing further comprises a second annular disc with a fulcrum portion arranged to engage said second lever spring and a clutch portion arranged to engage said clutch pack.

19. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said clutch housing is an inner clutch housing.

20. A method for optimizing fluid flow through a clutch housing in a clutch assembly in a vehicle, comprising: engaging an inner circumference of a clutch pack with a clutch housing; and,rotationally locking said clutch housing with an engine crankshaft.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said assembly comprises a ring carrier with an output hub and said clutch pack further comprises an outer circumference; and, said method further comprising: engaging said outer circumference with said ring carrier; and,rotationally locking said ring carrier and said output hub.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said assembly further comprises cooling fluid, said engine comprises a crankshaft, and said clutch housing comprises a wall engaging said inner circumference and having at least one opening; and, said method further comprising: rotating said clutch housing independent of said output hub; and,pumping said fluid through said at least one opening whenever said crankshaft is rotating.