CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
A clutch is a mechanical device which enagages and disengages powertransmission.Especially
from driving shaft to driven shaft.

In the simplest application.clutches connect and disconnet two rotating shaft(drive shaft or line
shafts.) In these devices, one shaft is typically attached to an engine or other power unit(the
driving member) while the other shaft is typically the motiond involved are rotary,linear clutches
are also possible.

In a torque-controlled drill,for instance,one shaft is driven by a motor and the other drives a drill
chuck. The clutch connects the two shafts so they may be locked together and spin at the same
speed (engaged),locked together but spinning at different speeds(slipping),or unlocked and
spinning at different speeds(disengaged)
1.1 Principal of clutch

It operates on the principal of frication.when two surfaces are brought in contact and are
held against each other due to frication between them, they can be used to transmit power If
one is rotated, then other also rotates. One surface is connected to engine and other to the
transmission system of automobile. Thus, clutch is nothing but a combination of two
frication surfaces.

1.2Main parts of clutch

. It consists as
(a) A driving member,
(b) A driven member,
(c) An operating member.

. Driving member has a flywheel which is mounted on the engine crankshaf. A disc is
bolted to flywheel which is know as pressure or driving disc.
. the driven member is a disc called clutch plate. This plate can slide freely to and fro on
the clutch shaft.
. the operating member consists of pedal or lever which can be pressed to disenagaged
the driving and driven plate.
1.3 types of clutches
Following are the two main types of clutches commonly used in engineering
Practice:

1. Positive clutches
2. Frication clutch

Positive clutches
(a) The positive clutches are used when a positive drive is required. The simplest type
of a positive clutch is a jaw or claw clutch. The jaw or claw clutch. The jaw clutch
permits one shaft to drive another through a direct contact of interlocking jaws. It
consists of two halves, one of which is permanently fastened to the driving shaft by a
sunk. The other half of the clutch is movable and it is free to slide axially on the
drive shaft, but it is prevented from turning relatively, to its shaft by means of feather
key.
(b) A square jaw type is used where engagement and disengagement in motion and of
rotation. The spiral jaw may be left-hand or right-hand, because power transmitted
by them is in one direction only this type of clutch is occasionally used where the
clutch must be engaged and disengaged while in motion. The use of jaw clutches are
frequently applied to sprocket wheels, gears and pulleys. In such a case, the non-
sliding part is made integral with the hub.

Friction clutches
A frication clutch has its principal application in the transmission of power of shafts and
machines which must be started and stopped frequently .Its application is also found in
case in which power is to be delivered to machines partially or fully loaded. The force of
frication is used to start the driven shaft from rest and gradually brings it up to the proper
speed without excessive slipping of the frication surfaces. In automobiles, frication
clutch is used to connect the engine to the drive shaft. In operating such a clutch, care
should be taken so that the frication surfaces engage easily and gradually bring the
driven shaft up to proper speed. The proper alignment of the bearing must be maintained
and it should be located as close to the clutch as possible it may be noted that:

1. The contact surfaces should develop a frication force that may pick up and hold the
load with reasonably low pressure between the contact surfaces.

2. The heat of frication should be rapidly dissipated and tendency to grab should be at a
minimum.

3. The surface should be backed by a material stiff enough to ensure a reasonably

uniform distribution of pressure.
1.3.1 Types of frication clutches
Thought there are many types of frication clutches, yet the following are important
from the subject point of view;

1. Disc or plate clutches( single disc or multiple disc clutch)

2. Cone clutches

3. Centrifugal clutches

i. Single plate clutch

A single plate is commonly used in cars and light vehicles.It has only
one clutch plate which is mounted on the splienes 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 the clutch pedal.
 When clutch is engaged podition,the clutch plate remains gripped between flywheel and
pressure plate.Friction linings are provide on both the sides of clutc plate.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 transmission is connected
to transmission system which in turns rotates wheels of engine.
When the clutch 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.

ii. Multi plate clutch

Multi-plate clutch consists of more than one clutch plates contrary to
single plate which consists of only one plate.Friction surface are made in
case of multi-plate clutch. Due to increased number of friction surfaces,a
multi-plate clutch can transmit large torque.
 Therefore, it is used in racing cars and heavy motor vehicles with have
high engine power. The clutch plates are firmly held by the force of coil
springs and they assembeled in a drum.