MODULATABLE POWER TRANSMISSION CLUTCH AND A MARINE TRANSMISSION

Title:

MODULATABLE POWER TRANSMISSION CLUTCH AND A MARINE TRANSMISSION

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO2003091097

Kind Code:

A3

Abstract:

A transmission housing (H) having a modulatable power transmission therein which includes a clutch (C) having interleaved clutch plates and having a central power transmitting shaft (11) extending axially through the clutch. The clutch includes a fluid operated movable piston (9) for effecting clutch operation by compression of the plates. The piston has a smaller piston area (35) and a larger piston area (37), the smaller piston area has fluid flow directed to it a variable fluid pressure whereby the clutch is modulatable. The larger piston area is adapted to have fluid flow directed thereto to effect maximum and unmodulatable engagement of the clutch. A spring loaded normally closed trigger valve (SV) controls fluid flow to the larger piston area in response to fluid pressure above a predetermined amount at the smaller piston area. The trigger valve is mounted on the outside of the transmission housing and is readily accessible for adjustment, for example. The trigger valve is normally closed so that pressure fluid is directed to the smaller piston area at a variable fluid pressure whereby the clutch is modulatable. When the valve is open by fluid pressure over a predetermined amount, the valve permits fluid flow to the larger piston area to effect maximum and unmodulatable engagement of the clutch for full clutch capacity.

Inventors:

MATRANGA GERALD
CLARK ANDREW

Application Number:

PCT/US2003/004864

Publication Date:

February 05, 2004

Filing Date:

February 19, 2003

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

TWIN DISC INC (US)

International Classes:

B63H23/30; F16D25/0638; F16D25/063; F16D48/02; (IPC1-7): B63H23/30; F16D25/10

Foreign References:

US4186829A	1980-02-05
US5199317A	1993-04-06
US6443286B1	2002-09-03

Other References: