Automobile

Types Of Clutch used in Automobiles – Clutch concepts – Studymaterial

Types of Clutch

1. Single plate clutch
2. Multi plate clutch
3. Diaphragm clutch
4. Centrifugal clutch
5. Hydraulic clutch
6. Fluid flywheel clutch
7. Electric clutch

Single Disc or Plate Clutch

Construction

• Main components of single plate clutch are listed below:

1. Fly wheel

2. Clutch plate
3. Clutch lining
4. Pressure plate
5. Coil spring
6. Release lever
7. Clutch shaft
8. Release lever bearing

• Clutch plate is placed in between fly
wheel and pressure plate.
• Centre of clutch plate is attached with clutch shaft.
• Coil spring is placed in between
pressure plate and clutch cover.
• Release lever is attached with pressure plate.
• Clutch cover is attached with fly wheel with the help of bolt and nuts.

Single plate clutch is used in heavy
vehicles.

Working principle

• When clutch pedal is pressed, release bearing will push the release lever. • So pressure plate will move backward in opposite to spring force.
• In this stage, a gap will form in between clutch plate and pressure plate.
• Therefore, power from the engine is
not transmitted to gear box.
• This is called as clutch disengaged.
When clutch pedal is released
• Pressure plate is pressed by coil spring force.so pressure plate connects the clutch plate with the fly
wheel.
• Now, power from the engine is
transmitted to gear box with the help
of clutch shaft.
• Therefore, this is called as clutch
engaged.

Multi plate clutch

Construction

• It consists of two or more clutch plates and pressure plates. So, it can able to transmit more power when there is a low space.
• It is used in motor cycles and race
cars.The centre of clutch plate is attached with clutch shaft.• Coil spring is placed in between pressure plate and clutch cover.

Working principle

When clutch pedal is pressed Release lever is pressed by release bearing.So pressure plate is moving backward opposite to coil spring pressure.
• At this stage, a gap will form in between clutch plate and pressure plate.
• So the power from engine is not transmitted to gear box.

• This is called as clutch disengaged.
When clutch pedal released
• Pressure plate is pressed by coil spring force.
• So pressure plate connects the clutch
plate with fly wheel.

• Now, engine power is transmitted to
gear box.
• This is called as clutch engaged.

Advantages

1. Transmits more torque.
2. Smooth joining
3. Less noise
4. More life.

Disadvantages

1. Not used in heavy vehicles.
2. Difficult in maintenance
3. High initial cost

Diaphragm clutch

Diaphragm clutch Components

1. Flywheel
2. Clutch plate
3. Pressure plate
4. Diaphragm spring
5. Clutch lining Clutch shaft
7. Pivot ring

Construction

• Here instead of coil spring,diaphragm spring is used.
• Clutch plate is placed in between fly
wheel and pressure plate.
• The centre of clutch plate is attached
with clutch shaft.
• Outside end of the diaphragm spring
is attached with with pressure plate by clamp, screw, and clutch cover with two pivot rings.

Working principle

When clutch pedal is pressed
• Thrust bearing is moving forward and presses the centre of diaphragm spring

• So outside end of the diaphragm
spring pulls pressure plate in backward direction.
• Now, a gap is formed in between
pressure plate and clutch plate.
• Therefore, a engine power is not
transmitted to gear box.
• This is called as Clutch disengaged.
When clutch pedal is released
• Outside end of the diaphragm spring
pushes the pressure plate.
• So clutch plate joins with fly wheel.
• Therefore, engine power is transmitted to gear box.

Advantages

1. Transmits more torque.
2. Low maintenance is required.
3. Low space is required.
4. More life.
5. Works smoothly with less noise.

Fluid fly wheel

Components

1. Crank shaft
2. Gear box shaft

3. Pump
4. Turbine
5. Vanes
6. Oil seal
7. Oil

Construction

• Pump is attached with fly wheel,
which operates by a component called Driving member.
• Turbine is attached with gear box shaft.This is called as Driven member.
• Inside of pump and turbines, vanes
are there. Vanes are filled with oil at a
particular level.
• Oil seal is attached to stop the oil
leakage. Operating method At Idle speed
• When engine rotates with this speed,
pump attached with crank shaft
operates easily.
• Now due to less centrifugal force, oil
will not move fast towards turbine.Therefore, turbine will not rotate and engine power is not transmitted to gear box.

At High speed

• When engine rotates with this speed,
pump rotates fastly.
• Now due to high centrifugal force,oil
will move fast towards turbine blade.
• Therefore, turbine rotates fastly and
engine power is transmitted to gear box.

Advantages

1. Engine power transmission takes place without vibration.
2. Easy maintenance.
3. No need of adjustment.
4. No need of clutch pedal to operate this.
5. Simple construction.
6. Works smoothly without noise.
7. More life.
8. Gears cane be changed easily.

Disadvantages

1. In all speed, up to 2% power loss will be there.

2. Clutch will not work properly when
leakage of oil.
3. Not suitable for automatic gear box.

Centrifugal clutch

Construction

• It works under centrifugal force. So it is known as centrifugal clutch.
• Here, pressure plate is attached with
Ball weights and Bell crank lever.
• Pressure spring is placed in between
clutch plate and pressure plate.
Pressure release springs are placed in
between fly wheel and clutch plate.
• In this type, there is no clutch pedal.
Working priciple

At Idle speed

• When engine works at idle speed,
centrifugal force will not act on ball
weights.
• So, bell crank lever with weights will
not push pressure plate. Therefore, a gap will form in between pressure plate and clutch plate.

• Now, engine power is not transmitted to gear box.

At high speed

• Due to centrifugal force, ball weight
moves and pushes pressure plate
with the help of bell crank lever in
opposite to pressure spring force.
• Now pressure plate pushes clutch plate with fly wheel. So engine power is transmitted to gear box. This is called as clutch engaged.

Note: when engine speed is more than
1000rpm, clutch will not be disengaged.

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