Patent attributes
A coupling device (11;111) including a rotatable housing (13,15;113) defining a clutch cavity and a clutch assembly (29;129) disposed therein. The housing defines an apply chamber (37;137) and a clutch apply member (39) disposed therein to bias the clutch assembly into engagement. A source of pressurized fluid for the clutch apply member comprises a pumping element (59,61;159,161) operable to pump pressurized fluid in response to rotation of a rotor (61;161). There is a stationary plenum assembly (51;153) defining a pumping chamber, and the pumping element is operably disposed within the pumping chamber, and a drive means (63;163) is operable to transmit rotational movement of the rotatable housing (13,15;113) to said rotor (61;161) of the pumping element, such that clutch engagement is not dependent upon coupling input-to-output speed differential.
