Mechanical Function, Overview

Fig 1: Active On Demand Coupling Mechanical Function Overview

Courtesy of VOLVO CARS CORPORATION

1. Pressure plate
2. Rollers for axial piston
3. Rollers for working piston
4. Axial piston
5. Working piston
6. Input shaft
7. Cam disc
8. Housing for outer clutch driven plates
9. Outer clutch driven plates
10. Inner clutch driven plates
11. Compression springs
12. Output shaft

The engine torque is transferred to the propeller shaft via the transmission. The input shaft is separated from the output shaft. The disc package must be applied to transfer torque to the rear axle. Inner and outer wet clutch plates are the power transmission points between the input and output shafts.

The cam disc, which is sine shaped, rotates at the same speed as the propeller shaft. The axial piston rollers run on the cam disc's roller coaster and press the axial piston in and out, which creates an oil pressure which acts on the working piston, which in turn applies the disc package.