Clutches

Clutch Mechanisms

Clutch - is a machine member which is used to connect shafts so that the driven shaft
rotate with the driving shaft and to disconnect them at will.
Disk Clutch
Uniform Pressure Theory (new, unworn)

FN   PN  ro  ri2 2
 T   FN R

2  ro 3  ri 3  2  ro 3  ri 3 
T   FN  2 2  R  2 2 
3  ro  ri  3  ro  ri 

FN = normal force
PN = axial pressure
T = frictional torque
μ = coefficient of friction
ro = outside radius
ri = inside radius
R = mean radius of the friction surface
Uniform Wear Theory (old, worn)
For Uniform Wear Theory, the intensity of pressure varies with the radius

  2 2
  ro  ri 
1 1 FN
PN   PN  c T   
r r  2  ro  ri  
c  PN r  FN 
T      ro  ri  ro  ri 
 Pmax ri  2  ro  ri  

 Pmin ro  ro  ri 
T   FN  
 2 
FN  2 c  ro  ri 
 ro  ri 
T   FN R R 
T   c  ro  ri
2 2
  2 
Single Plate vs. Multiple Plate Disk Clutch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DL0j0eKD8Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP48YRhebv0
Disk Clutch
1. In general, total frictional torque acting on the friction surface (or on the clutch) is given by

2  ro 3  ri 3  r r 
T   FN R(ns ) R  2  R o i 
3  ro  ri 2   2 
(uniform pressure) (uniform wear)

2. For the number of pair of friction surfaces, ns:

ns  2 (single plate) ns  NT 1 (multiple plate, NT is total no. of disks)

3. For Uniform Wear Theory, the intensity of the pressure varies with the radius. The average
pressure (Pave) on the friction or contact surface is given by
FN
Pave 
  ro 2  ri 2 
4. The uniform pressure theory gives a higher frictional torque than the uniform wear theory.
Therefore in case of friction clutches, uniform wear should be considered, unless otherwise
stated.
Cone Clutch
Cone Clutch
ro  ri
T   FN R R
2
Before engagement, the axial force needed to engage is:

Fa  FN  sin    cos  
Therefore, given the frictional torque, the axial force to engage is:

 Fa R
T
 sin    cos   T = frictional torque
μ = coefficient of friction
R = mean radius of the friction surface
After engagement, the axial force needed to maintain engagement is: ro = larger radius
ri = smaller radius
Fa  FN sin  FN = normal force
Fa = axial force
α = cone angle
Cone Clutch
For Uniform Wear Theory, the intensity of pressure varies with the radius

Fa  2 c  ro  ri 
1 1
PN   PN  c
r r
c  PN r
 Pmax ri
 Pmin ro
To find the required width of the cone friction surface

FN  PN 2 Rb T   FN R  2 PN R 2b