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Clutch

Subject Incharge
Mr. Rohit Bharat Patil
Assistant Professor
email: [email protected]

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 Clutch
• Necessity of clutch in a automobile
• Working and Construction
1. Single plate
2. Multi plate
3. Centrifugal
4. Semi Centrifugal
5. Electromagnetic clutches
6. Fluid Flywheel

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 Clutch
Clutch is a device to connect driving and driven shafts of a
machine, where the driven shaft can be disconnected almost
instantaneously from the driving shaft as desired by the operator or
driver.

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 Principle of Clutch

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 Clutch
• Let the shaft A and Disc C be revolving at some speed say N rpm.
Shaft B and disc D keyed to it are stationary, initially when the
clutch is not engaged.
• Now apply some axial force W to disc D , so that it comes in
contact with Disc C.
• As soon as the contact is made the force of friction between C and
D will come into play and consequently the disc D will also start
revolving
• The speed of D depends upon friction force present, which in turn
is proportional to the force W applied.
• If W is increased gradually , the speed of D will be increased
correspondingly till the stage comes when speed of D becomes
equal to speed of C. Then clutch is said to be fully engaged.

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 Necessity of Clutch
• Clutch does engaging and disengaging of engine from gearbox.
• To reduce the shocks and vibration of engine during
transmission of engine power to rear axle by universal joint
• To change the gear during motion of engine by disengagement
of gearbox from engine.

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 Basic Requirements of Clutch
1. Torque Transmission
2. Gradual Engagement
3. Heat Dissipation
4. Dynamic Balancing
5. Vibration Damping
6. Size
7. Inertia
8. Ease of operation

1)Torque Transmission:
• The clutch should be able to transfer the maximum torque of
engine under all conditions.
• Usually designed to transmit 125 to 150% of maximum engine
torque.
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 Basic Requirements of Clutch
2) Gradual Engagement: Clutch should take the drive gradually
without occurrence of sudden jerks
3)Heat Dissipation: During clutch application large amount of heat is
generated, the rubbing surfaces should have sufficient area and mass
to absorb the heat generated. The design of clutch should ensure
proper ventilation or cooling for adequate dissipation of heat.
4)Dynamic Balancing: This is necessary particularly in high speed
clutches.
5)Vibration damping: Suitable mechanism should be incorporated
within the clutch to eliminate the noise produced in transmission
6)Size: The size of clutch must be smallest possible , so that it occupy
minimum amount of space.

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 Basic Requirements of Clutch
7)Inertia: The clutch rotating parts should have minimum inertia.
(Otherwise when clutch plate is released for gear changing, clutch
plate will keep on spinning)
8)Ease of Operation: The operation of disengaging the clutch should
be easy for driver.

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 Single Plate Coil Spring Clutch

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 Single Plate Coil Spring Clutch
• A single plate is most common type of clutch used in cars and light
vehicles. It has only one clutch plate which is mounted on the
splines of the clutch shaft.
• A flywheel is mounted on the crankshaft of the engine. A pressure
plate is connected to the flywheel through the bolts and clutch
springs. It is free to slide on the clutch shaft with the movement
of clutch pedal.
• When clutch is in engaged position, the clutch plate remains
gripped between flywheel and pressure plate. Friction linings are
provided on both the sides of clutch plate.
• When clutch is in engaged position, the clutch plate remains
gripped between flywheel and pressure plate. Friction linings are
provided on both the sides of clutch plate.

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 Single Plate Coil Spring Clutch
• On one side clutch plate is in touch with flywheel and on other side
with pressure plate. Due to friction on both sides, the clutch plate
revolves with engine flywheel.
• Transmission Therefore, clutch transmits engine power to clutch
shaft. Clutch shaft is connected to transmission (or gear box) of
automobile.
• Thus, clutch transmits power from engine to transmission system
which in turn rotates wheels of engine.
• When the clutch plate is to be disengaged, the clutch pedal is
pressed. Because of this pressure plate moves back and clutch plate
is disengaged from flywheel.
• Thus, clutch shaft stops rotating even if engine flywheel is rotating. In
this position, power does not reach the wheels and vehicle also stops
running.

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 Single Plate Diaphragm Clutch

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 Single Plate Diaphragm Clutch
• In this type of diagram type springs are used instead of coil /
helical springs.
• This type of clutch does not require any release levers as the
spring itself acts as the series of levers.
• This type of springs do not have constant rate characteristics as in
the case of coil springs and the pressure on the diaphragm springs
increases until it is in flat position, thereafter decreases after
passing this position.
• Hence the driver does not have to exert heavy pedal pressure to
hold the clutch out of engagement compared to coil spring type.
• In coil spring type the spring pressure increases when the pedal is
depressed to disengage the clutch and high pressure is required to
keep the clutch in disengaged position.

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 Single Plate Diaphragm Clutch
• In the engaged position the spring pivots on the inner pivot rings as
it is held on the clutch cover so that its outer rings contacts with
the pressure plate.
• Again in this conical position the spring exerts through pressure to
keep the pressure plate in firm contact with the clutch plate and
flywheel.

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 Single Plate Diaphragm Clutch
• When the pedal is depressed the linkage moves release bearing
towards the flywheel to disengage the clutch.
• As the bearing contacts with inner position of the conical springs it
moves that position forward which cause the link to move
backward.
• This removes the
pressure on the
pressure plate and
release the clutch
plate from contact
with other driving
members

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 Single Plate Diaphragm Clutch
Advantages Of Diaphragm Clutch :-
1. It is more compact by means of storing energy. Thus compact
design results in smaller clutch housing.
2. Diaphragm spring is less affected by centrifugal forces.
3. In Diaphragm spring the load deflection curve is not linear,
therefore in this case the clutch facing wears the pressure by
diaphragm spring gradually increases.
4. The diaphragm spring acts as both, the clamping spring as well as
the release lever. So many parts like struts, eye bolts, levers etc.

Disadvantages Of Diaphragm Clutch :-

• To get more co-efficient of friction, the size and diameter of
Diaphragm is increased.
• Compare to Diaphragm spring, Coil springs have tendency to distort
in the transverse direction at higher speeds.
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 Multi Plate Clutch

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 Multi Plate Clutch
Flywheel:
• Flywheel consists of a cylindrical wheel
bolted to the engine crankshaft. Friction
surface is provided on the vertical side of
flywheel.
• The cylindrical portion of flywheel contains
internal teeth for engaging with outer teeth
type clutch plates.
Clutch plates:
• Two sets of clutch plates are used, i.e. one
with outer teeth and other with inner teeth.
• The outer teeth type plate engages with the
inner teeth of flywheel. The inner teeth type
plate engages with the splined clutch shaft.

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 Multi Plate Clutch
When the clutch is engaged position:
• Fig. shows multi-plate clutch assembly in engaged position. It
means that, clutch pedal is not pressed by the driver.
• This condition is referred as Clutch Pedal Position-Up. When the
clutch pedal position is up, the axial force offered by clutch spring
ensures that, pressure plate is pressed against the flywheel (ie.
towards flywheel) with clutch plate being sandwiched between
pressure plate and flywheel.
• Therefore, drive gets engaged and power is transmitted from
flywheel to outer teeth type plate, further from outer teeth type
plate to inner teeth type plate and then to the clutch shaft.

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 Multi Plate Clutch
When the clutch needs to be disengaged:
• For disengaging the clutch, the clutch pedal is pressed by the
driver. This condition is referred as Clutch Pedal Position-Pressed-
Down.
• When the clutch pedal is pressed down, the release lever pulls the
pressure plate away from the clutch plate against the axial force
offered by clutch spring and thereby, compressing it.
• This loosens the frictional contact be- tween the set of clutch
plates and flywheel.
• Therefore, drive gets disen- gaged and power is not transmitted
from engine to clutch plate and hence, clutch shaft.

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 Multi Plate Clutch
Advantages of Multi-plate Clutch:
1. Compact in overall size, hence it needs small space to accommodate.
2. Higher torque transmission capacity.
3. Smoother power transmission.
4. Low rate of wear and tear.
5. More durable
Disadvantages of Multi-plate Clutch:
1. The complicated design of clutch plate set.
2. Difficult for maintenance and servicing.
3. Higher cost.
Applications:
1. It is used, where high torque transmission is required. For example:
Racing cars.
2. 2. It is used, where space availability is less. For example: Scooters,
Motorbikes etc.
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 Centrifugal Clutch

Courtesy: https://electricalworkbook.com/centrifugal-clutch/
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 Centrifugal Clutch
• Centrifugal clutch works on the principle of centrifugal force, which
states that, "magnitude of centrifugal force increases along with
increase in speed and vice-versa."
• Centrifugal clutches engage and disengage with the flywheel based
on the magnitude of centrifugal force, which depends upon speed.
• Therefore, driven member automatically engages with the driving
member after attaining a particular speed.
• Hence, a clutch pedal is not required for drive engagement and
disengagement. Therefore, these clutches are used with automatic
transmission.
• Fig. shows the centrifugal clutch in stationary or disengaged
position. The friction shoes are held back by the helical tension
springs. Therefore, friction shoes do not have any contact with the
clutch plate, in this disengaged position.

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 Centrifugal Clutch
Process of engaging clutch
• When driving shaft starts rotating, then spider and friction shoes
also start rotating at same angular speed. Due to rotary motion, a
centrifugal force is exerted on friction shoes in radially outward
direction. Due to this centrifugal force, friction shoes tend to slide
away from the centre of driving shaft.
• When the speed of spider increases upto a value, at which,
centrifugal force becomes more than the spring force. This
exceeding centrifugal force overcomes the spring force, due to
which, shoes are extended towards the inner surface of clutch
plate and get pressed against the clutch plate.
• With further increase in speed, the engagement continues and
increases upto 100%, thereby, ensuring that, there is no slippage.

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 Centrifugal Clutch
Process of disengaging clutch
When the vehicle speed is lowered (brake applied), spring force over-
comes the centrifugal force and the shoes are pulled back towards
the center of shaft. Thus, power drive to the clutch shaft gets
disengaged.

Advantages of Centrifugal Clutch

1. It eliminates the need of clutch pedal.
2. It provides ease of driving due to absence of clutch pedal.
3. Simple to operate.
4. Drive engagement is very smooth.

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 The material in this presentation belongs to St. Francis Institute of Technology and is solely for educational purposes. Distribution and modifications of the content is prohibited.

Centrifugal Clutch
Disadvantages of Centrifugal Clutch
1. Low torque transmitting capacity.
2. It results in one-sided wear of friction lining.
3. The spring tension loosens over a working period of time.
4. High cost.

Engineering Applications of Centrifugal Clutch

1. Lower torque transmitting capacity applications.
2. Automatic or semi-automatic transmission systems.
3. Typical applications are: Mopeds and Small passenger cars.

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Semi Centrifugal Clutch

• Semi Centrifugal Clutches used in high powered engines and racing
car engines where clutch disengagements require appreciable and
tiresome drivers effort. The power transmitted with partly by clutch
springs and remaining by the centrifugal action of an extra weight
provided in the system.
• The clutch springs transmit power at low engine speed and the
centrifugal force transmit power at higher engine speed.

Construction of Semi Centrifugal Clutch

Besides clutch, pressure plate and splines shaft it mainly consists of:
• Compression spring (3 numbers)
• Weighted levers (3 numbers)

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Working of Semi Centrifugal Clutch
• When the engine at low speed the spring keeps the clutch engaged
to transmit power, the weighted levers do not have any pressure on
the pressure plate.
• When engine at high speed the weights fly off and levers exert
pressure on the pressure plate which keeps the clutch firmly
engaged to transmit high torque.
• Thus instead of having more stiff springs for keeping the clutch
engaged firmly at high speeds, they are less stiff because of
centrifugal forces of weighted levers, so that the driver may not get
any strain in operating the clutch.
• when the engine speed decreases, the weights fall and the
weighted levers do not exert any pressure on the pressure plate and
only spring pressure is exerted on the pressure plate to keep the
clutch engaged.
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Advantages
1. Clutch operation is very easy.
2. Less stiff clutch springs are used as they operate only at low
engine speeds.
Disadvantages
1. Springs have transmitted the torque at lower engine speeds only.
2. Centrifugal forces work only at higher engine speed to transmit
torque.
Applications
1. Semi Centrifugal Clutches used in high powered engines and
racing car engines.
2. Semi centrifugal clutch is often used in mopeds, go-
karts, chainsaws, mini bikes, lawn mowers, and some
paramotors and boats.

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 Electromagnetic Clutch
• When the clutch is actuated,
current flows through the
electromagnet producing a
magnetic field.
• The rotor portion of the clutch
becomes magnetized and sets up
a magnetic loop that attracts the
armature.
• The armature is pulled against
the rotor and a frictional force is
generated at contact.

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 Electromagnetic Clutch
• Within a relatively short time, the load is accelerated to match
the speed of the rotor, thereby engaging the armature and the
output hub of the clutch.
• In most instances, the rotor is constantly rotating with the input
all the time.

Disengagement
• When current is removed from the clutch, the armature is free to
turn with the shaft.
• In most designs, springs hold the armature away from the rotor
surface when power is released, creating a small air gap.

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Fluid Flywheel
• It is also known as
Fluid clutch or fluid
coupling which couples
the driving member
with the driven
member through a
media of fluid.
• It consists of two
members in which one
is a driving member
and the other one is
driven member as
shown in Figure.

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• The driven member is free to slide on splines provided on the
transmission shaft. The two rotors are filled with a fluid of
required viscosity.
• Radial ribs are provided to form a number of passages to avoid
the formation of eddies. They also guide the fluid to flow in the
desired direction.
• When the engine is started, the driving member called the
impeller starts to move inside the housing containing oil. Pockets
of moving driving members are completely filled with oil. Due to
this, the centrifugal force forces the oil outward radially.

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• The pockets are designed in such a way that the splashed oil will
strike the pockets or vanes of the driven member.
• Hence it is forced to move in the same direction.
• When the engine speed increases the oil which is coming out
from the pocket of the driving member strikes the pockets of the
driven member with greater force.
• Thus, it tends the driven member to rotate at the same speed.

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 Torque Converter
• A torque converter is a
type of fluid coupling
which is used to transfer
rotating power from the
engine of a vehicle to the
transmission.
• It takes place of a
mechanical clutch in an
automatic transmission.

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Its main functions are:
1. It transfers the power from the engine to the transmission input
shaft.
2. It drives the front pump of the transmission.
3. It isolates the engine from the load when the vehicle is
stationary.
4. It multiplies the torque of the engine and transmits it to the
transmission. It almost doubles the output torque.

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There are four components inside the very strong housing of the
torque converter:
1. Impeller
2. Turbine
3. Stator
4. Transmission fluid
• The housing of the torque converter is bolted to the flywheel of
the engine, so it turns at whatever speed the engine is running at.
• The fins that make up the pump of the torque converter are
attached to the housing, so they also turn at the same speed as
the engine.
• The cutaway below shows how everything is connected inside the
torque converter.

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• The impeller inside a torque converter is a type of centrifugal

pump. As it spins, fluid is flung to the outside.
• The fluid then enters the blades of the turbine, which is connected
to the transmission. The turbine causes the transmission to spin,
sending power through shafts, differentials, and out to the driving
wheels.
• This means that the fluid, which enters the turbine from the
outside, has to change direction before it exits the center of the
turbine. It is this directional change that causes the turbine to spin.
• The fluid exits the turbine at the center, moving in a different
direction than when it entered.
• The fluid exits the turbine moving opposite the direction that the
pump (and engine) are turning. If the fluid were allowed to hit the
pump, it would slow the engine down, wasting power. This is why a
torque converter has a stator.
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THANK YOU

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