A clutch is a mechanical device used to transmit power from one component (the driving member) to another (the driven member). Clutches are used whenever the abjlity to limit the ower or motion needs to be controlled either in amount or over time (e.g., electric screwdrivers limit how much tora ———— amount or over time ‘wansmitted through use of a clutch; clutches control whether automobiles transmit engine ‘the wheels). power to Inthe simplest application clutches are employed in devices which have two rotating shafts. fc these devices one shaft is typically attached to a motor or other power unit (the driv ing member) while the other shaft (the driven member) provides output power for work to be done. In a drill for insta ‘one shaft is driven by a motor and the other drives a drill chuck. The clutch connects the tw that they may be locked together and spin at the same speed (engaged), locked together but spi dif speeds (slipping), or unlocked and spinning at different speeds (disengaged) lutch is also used to allow shifting or changing of gears when is running. For shiftin Slutch is first disengaged then gear is shifted and then clutch is engaged, Clutch has to be disenea to stop the vehicle and also at the time of idlit It operates on the principle of friction.aShen two surfaces are brought in contact and are held a due to friction between them they can be used to transmit power. If one ‘Fotated, other also rotates, One surface i$ connected to engine and other to the transmis. *ystem of automobile. Thus, clutch is nothing buta combination of two friction surfaces Thychicles with a manual trapefil al transaxle, the power flows through clutch. This ‘cvice couples and uncg iransmission or transaxle and the engine. The clutch is \'sually operated e clutches have a pow jevice to reduce diver dso that the clutch operates automatically |4)half shaft Differential assembly ‘Fig-2.1 Longitudinal engine with the clutch and five-speed manual The clutch is located between the engine flywheel and the transmission or transaxle. Fig. 2 shows the clutch location in a front-wheel-drive powertrain. This engine mounts longitudinal. Fg 22 shows the clutch location in affront-wheel-drive car with a transyersely-mounted engineae eae. Aoneh® awe A _pHemy estrone a Pe ra} ‘The functions of clutch are as follows [4] ‘To disange the transminion/gear box from engine by prusing the clutch down. oT eae b S >. While disengaged, it permits the driver to shift the transmission into various Bears This / allows the driver to select the proper gear (Ist, Hind, rd, 1Vth,- Vth, reverse oF neutral) <7 for the operating condition. > eS 3, _ While engaging (clutch pedal moving up), the-lutch slips momentarily. This provides >, » smooth engagement and lessens the shock on gears, shafts, and other drivetrain parts. ue toovercome the inertia of the vehicle, the driver Asthe engine develops enodgh Siheels turn and the vehicle begins to move. When engaged, the clutch transmits power from the engine to the transmission. All slippinghas stopped. ‘The requirements of a clutch are as follows [3] : ts Torque transmission + Clutch should be able to transmit maximum torque of the engine, 2. Gradual engagement + 3. Heatdissipation ; Itshould be able to dissipate large amount ol during the clutch operation due to friction. ee Dynamic balancing + Itshould be dynamically bal speed engine, 5. Vibration damping + It should have suitable mechanism to damp vibrations and so eliminate noise produced during power’ transmission. 6, Size It should bg as small as possible. 7, Free pedal play : In order to reduce effective clamping load on the carbon thrust bearing and wear, it should have free pedal play. 8, Easy in operation : It should be ensy (0 operate with little exertion. 9, Lightness The driven member of clutch should be made as light #s possible so that it will not continue to rotate for any length of time after the clutch has been disengaged, Clutch should engage gradually to avoid sudden jerks Jerks. fFheat which is generated anced particularly in the case of higItconsist of — (a) adriving member ; (6) adriven member ; and (©) an operating member, ing member has a flywheel wi hich is mounted onthe engine crankshaft. A disc ish flywheel which is known as press: Rete late of driving dis. ‘Tee driven member isa dise called clutch plate, This plate can slide freely to and f clutch shaft. ) Ae operating member consists driving and driven plate Eg “Types of Friction Materials Various materials have been used for the dis m clutches typically use a compou ‘material. There are three types of friction of a pedal or lever which can be pressed to dise friction facings. including asbestos in nd organic resin with copper wire facing or materials/ linings, namely : @ Woven type; Moulded type; Gi) Mill board type. (©) Moven type : Made impregnating a cloth with certain bin, of asbestos fiber, sometimes on solution are baked and rolled, (8) Moulded type : Made from a matrix oF asbestos fiber and starch or any othe binding materials. Then, they heated to a certain te Pressure, The only disadvantage ofthis type friction material is that each clu has to be moulded separately. ii) Milt board type : Include ast They are cheap as well as quit ders or by spinni brass wire. The woven sheets treated with mperature for moulding in d estos sheets treated with different type of inp te satisfactory in operation, 5 ‘The most common friction materials and their coefficient of fiction are as follows HlGi) Multi-plate cluteh; = Wet; = Dry. (ii) Cone cluteh ; ~ External; = Internal, Multi-plate clutch can be either wet or dry. A wet clutch is operated in an oil batch y dry clutch does not use oil, Oil immersed clutches are, however, ‘of automatic transmission. This cooling lubricating fl Performance and longer life. Wet clutches, Surfaces of a wet clutch can be slippery, lower coefficient of friction and so elimin: hte 7 4 Since from used in conjunction with, luid keeps surfaces clean and gives , however, tend to lose some energy to the |; liquid. stacking multiple clutch disks can compensate ate slippage under power when fully engaged. clutches also known as axial clutches. Frictional Contact axial or Disc Clutches: An axial clutch is one in which the mating frictional members are moved in a direction pant to the shaft. Clutch consists of a driving dise connected to the drive shaft atid a driven disc cone to the driven shaft. A friction plate is attached to one of the members. Actuating spring keeps bt the members in contact and power/motion is transmitted from one member to the other Plate Clutch: A single plate is commonly used in cars and light vehicles. It has only one clutch plate whi ‘mounted on the splines of the clutch shaft. A flywheel is mounted on the crankshaft of the engite Pressure plate is connected to the flywheel through the bolts and clutch springs. Its free to slide clutch shaft with the movement of clutch pedal. When clutch is in engaged position, the clutch ‘ remains gripped between flywheel and pressure plate. Friction linings are provided on both the a ‘clutch plate. On one side clutch plate isin touch wR flywheel and on other side with pressure pa transmits power from engine to transmission ‘system which in turn rotates wheels of engine. 3 When the clutch plate isto be disengaged, the clutch pedal is pressed. Because of this ie plate moves back and clutch plate is disengaged from flywheel. Thus, luch shaft tps even if engine flywheel is rotating. In this position, power does not reach the wheels and vehi! stops running. ‘Single plate clutch is shown in fig, 2.3.Clute Flywheel — Sorin ty Sting Chtch Pressure Plate 1 ~ clutch Piate Friction Lining Release Lever plate Release lever working of Single plate clutehe SRMLALALe pnts ingrnm showing theAdvantages: % The operating load is practically uniform and constant on the driven plate It has a compact design, which results in smaller clutch housing. Release lever is not required, since the diaphragm itself acts as a series of leven Squeaks, rattles and vibrations are mostly eliminated, > ee ® It can be withstand higher rotational speeds. ii) Multi-plate clutch: Multi-plate clutch consists of more than one clutch plates contrary to single plate clutch ich consists of only one plate. Friction surfaces are made in case of multi-plate clutch. Due pp increased number of friction surfaces, multi-plate clutch can transmit large torque. Therelor is used in racing cars and heavy motor vehicles which have high engine power. The clutch plates are alternatively fitted with engine shaft and the shaft of gear box. Thee are firmly held by the force of coil springs and they assembled in a drum, One plate sles the grooves on the flywheel and the next plate slides on spines provided on pressure plate. 1his h alternate plate slides in grooves on the flywheel and the other on splines of pressure plate ‘we take two consecutive plates, then one has inner and other has outer splines. When the clutch pedal is pressed, the pressure plate moves back against the force o! *! ing, then the clutch plates are disengaged and engine flywheel and gear box are decoupl! ever, when clutch pedal is not pressed the clutch remain in engaged position and the pov® ‘be transmitted from engine flywheel to the gear box. “This type of clutch has been shown in fig, 2.6.