A clutch is a mechanical device that engages and disengages the power transmission, especially from the driving shaft to the driven shaft.
In the most straightforward application, clutches connect and disconnect two rotating shafts. One post is typically attached to an engine or other power unit (driving member) in these devices, while the other shaft (the driven member) provides output for work.
A Clutch is a mechanism that enables the transmission of rotary motion from the driving shaft to the driven shaft without slipping. In the manual transmission system of an automobile, the power from the engine crankshaft to the drive wheels flows through a clutch located between the engine and gearbox. The clutch couples and uncouples the transmission and engine. When starting the engine, the clutch disconnects the engine crankshaft and the gearbox.
Engagement of clutch allows for power transfer from the engine to the transmission and eventually to the drive wheels. Disengagement of the grip provides the necessary half of power transfer that enables the engine to continue running while no power is supplied to wheels. The clutch is kept engaged when the vehicle is moving and needs to be disengaged when:
Starting the engine; any load will stall the engine
Shifting the gear; it is not possible to change two gears while any power is being transmitted through them
Modeling the engine and stopping the vehicle; there is no power transmission to the rear wheels, and the car stops while the engine is still running.
The clutch's engagement and disengagement are controlled by pedal (operated by the driver's foot) and clutch linkage.
A single plate clutch consists of three parts, the driving plate or flywheel, clutch plate or driven plate, and the pressure plate. The clutch plate can be regarded as the "cheese between the sandwich, " the flywheel, and the pressure plate representing the two pieces of bread. Essentially it consists of a steel plate whose both sides are lined with friction material. The clutch permits a certain amount of slip on engagement. Friction caused by slipping generates heat which would tend to burn any of the materials used for clutch lining. The basis of most clutch lining is asbestos suitably banded with gum or resin. A wire is sometimes included in the bonding process to increase the resistance to wear. The clutch plate is mounted on a hub that is splined from inside and is thus free to slide over the shaft of the gearbox. There are springs arranged circumferentially, which provide axial force to keep the clutch in the engaged position. A pedal is offered to pull the pressure plate against the spring force whenever it is required to be disengaged.
Multi-Plate Clutch
When more torque is transmitted, such as in heavy transport vehicles and racings cars, use is made of multiple clutches in which more contact area is provided in a compact package by increasing the number of friction surfaces. The unit essentially consists of
Friction Plate, which has a friction lining on both sides. However, the plate adjacent to the flywheel has a friction lining only on the side away from the flywheel. These friction plates are attached at the top and to the flywheel and are free to move axially. These plates rotate with the flywheel and hence with driving shafts. The friction plates are in two sets. One sets slides in grooves on the flywheel while the other set moves on the splines made on the hub of the pressure plate. Further, the arrangement is such that the containers with outer and inner splines are set alternately.
Discs or plates which are supported on splines of the driven shafts. These plates are located in between the friction plates and can slide axially.
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