CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A ROTATING CLUTCH

摘要

A control system for a rotating clutch in an engine driven power train having a rotating housing and an actuating piston axially movable in a bore defined therein in a direction to engage the clutch when fluid is supplied to a chamber formed between the piston and the housing. A clutch control valve is infinitely variably positionable to control fluid flow to the chamber in a direction to bias the actuating piston toward clutch engagement through centrifugal force acting on the fluid in combination with an outlet passage in the housing through which fluid is continuously outwardly bled from the chamber by such centrifugal force so that partial engagement of the rotating clutch can be achieved at relatively high engine speeds to effect a disproportionately lower power train speed at any control valve setting intermediate full clutch engagement and disengagement.