CLUTCHES

A clutch is a friction device which permits the connection and disconnection of shafts.
The design of clutches and brakes are comparable in many respects.
1-Plate or disk clutches:
A multiple disk clutch is shown in figure. The plates shown as A are usually steel and are
set on splines on shaft C to permit axial motion (except for the last disk). The plates
shown as B are usually bronze and are set on splines of member D. The number of pairs
of surfaces transmitting power is one less than the sum of the steel and bronze disks;
n= n
steel
+ n
bronze
D C
A A
A A
A
B B B
B
F / 2
F / 2
F
R
o
R
i
***The capacity is given by:
T= F.f.R
f
.n
Where:
T= torque capacity, Nm
F = axial force, N
f = coefficient of friction
R
f
= friction radius
3 3
2 2
0
2
3
o i
f
i
R R
R
R R
1

]
If the contact pressure is assumed uniform
OR:
2
o i
f
R R
R
+
If wear is assumed uniform.
R
o
= outside radius of contact of surfaces, m
R
i
= inside radius of contact of surfaces, m
n = number of pairs of surfaces in contact
***The axial force F is given by:
F = p(R
o
2
- R
i
2
)
Where:
p = is the average pressure
***The power capacity is :
Power = TN(2/60), Watt
Where :
T = shaft torque, Nm
N = speed of rotation, rev/min
2- Cone clutches:
A cone clutch achieves its effectiveness by the wedging action of the cone part in the cup
part.
F F
b

A) The torque capacity of a cone clutch with the parts engaged based on uniform
pressure is:
3 3
2 2
2
sin 3
o i
o i
R R Ff
T
R R
1
_

,
]
## The torque capacity can also be written in an alternate form as:
3 3
2
3 sin
o i
m
R R
T Ff
R b
1

1
]
Where:
R
m
= mean radius = 0.5(R
o
+R
i
), m
b = face didth, m
= pitch cone angle.
OR:
3 3
2 2
2
3
o i
n
o i
R R
T F f
R R
1

,
]
Where F
n
= p(2R
m
)b
B) The torque capacity of a cone clutch based on uniform wear is given by:
sin
m
n m
FfR
T F fR

** The pressure variation, where uniform wear is assumed is:
( )
2
o i
F
p
R R r

**The maximum pressure occurs at the smallest radius

( )
max
2
o i i
F
p
R R R

** The minimum pressure occurs at the largest radius

( )
min
2
o i o
F
p
R R R

** The average pressure is

( )
2 2
av
o i
F
p
R R

Engaging cone clutches:

A problem encountered with cone clutches not encountered with multi-disk clutches is
the possibility of a large force to engage a clutch than that required during operation
when the cup and cone are rotating at the same speed. A conservative procedure is to
assume that no relative rotary motion occurs during engagement, for which the maximum
axial force F
e
necessary to engage the cup and cone is:
F
e
= F
n
(sin + fcos)
This force is the maximum required to obtain the desired normal force F
n
which in turn
develops the frictional force to give the desired frictional torque.
** Axial force required to hold cup and cone in engagement, with friction taken into
account will vary between:
F = F
n
sin and F = F
n
(sin -fcos)
** Axial force required to disengage cup and cone. Ordinarily, with the cone angles
commonly used, no force is necessary to disengage the parts, although it is possible that
if fcos > sin, an axial force F
d
my be necessary to disengage the parts:
F
d
= F
n
(fcos - sin)
*** Power capacity for a cone clutch is as follows, depending upon whether uniform
wear or uniform pressure is assumed:
For uniform wear:
2
60 9.550 sin 9.550
n m m
F R N FfR N
P TN

_ _


, ,
Watt
For uniform pressure:
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
2 2 2
60 3 9.550 sin 9.550 3
o i o i
n
o i o i
R R R R N Ff N
P TN F f
R R R R

_ _

_ _ _ _



, , , ,
, ,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Problem:
A soft cone clutch has a cone pitch angle of 10
0
, a mean diameter of 300 mm, and a face
width of 100 mm. Using a coefficient of friction of 0.20, the assumption that uniform
wear exists, and the average pressure is 70 KN/m
2
for a speed of 500 rev/min, determine:
1)- the force required to engage the clutch
2)- the power that can be transmitted.
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