Functions And Uses Of An Industrial Clutch

By Melissa Brooks


In the modern world, almost every mechanical equipment, device, and machine that people use has a clutch inside it. Some examples of machines that have clutches include manual transmission cars, automatic transmission cars, cordless drills, chain saws, and some yo-yos among many others. The list of items that operate using clutches of some kind is endless. Thus, it may be impossible to name all of them in this article. In the modern life industrial clutch is very useful.

A clutch refers to a mechanical gadget that is used in machines to engage and disengage power transmission, particularly from driving shafts to driven shafts. In their simplest applications, these devices disconnect and connect 2 rotating shafts. Shafts are usually classified as line shafts and drive shafts among other classifications. One shaft is usually connected to the power unit, which may be an engine or some other device.

The second shaft serves as a means of offering output power for work. Rotary motion is generated from this setup. There are also ways in which the setup can be connected so that it produces linear clutches. A torque-controlled drill is a perfect example of how a clutch works. The setup in the drill involves two clutches, with the motor driving one shaft while the drill chuck is driven by the second shaft.

In this setup, a clutch connects together the two shafts. The work of a clutch is ensuring that the two shafts are locked together to offer a tight connection. With this, rotation of the two shafts at a similar pace is ensured in setup called an engaged setup. The two shafts can be locked together in another setup so that they rotate at varying speeds. This setup is called slipping setup.

In the final structure, the two shafts are unlocked. The two shafts rotate at different speeds since they are unlocked. This structure is called the disengaged structure. The operation of clutches in this setup usually depends on frictional forces. The roles played by frictional clutches are many. One role of these clutches is connecting a moving member to another moving or stationary member. The intention of this connection is to synchronize their movement.

Besides synchronizing speeds, the two members may be connected to one another with the intention of transmitting power. One member is usually connected to the source of power and the clutch is used to transmit energy/power to the second member. When there is a difference in speed between two members, it is referred to as slippage. In an ideal setup, slippage is supposed to be minimum.

Different materials have found use in making clutches in the past. At some point, asbestos was used. However, the dangers associated with asbestos made it to be dropped. Today, various materials are used, including ceramic material, and compound organic resin. Ceramic materials usually are used in very heavy applications like heavy-duty towing and racing. Thus, industrial clutches are made using ceramic.

In most applications, there is a device referred to as a clutch damper. This device is used to soften the response of clutches as they engage or disengage shafts. Clutch disc centers usually have a mechanism that serves as a damper in automotive applications. Besides softening engagement and disengagement, it also reduces driveline vibration.




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