Clutches:

Clutch – is a machine member which is used to connect shafts so that the driven shaft will rotate with the driving shaft, and
to disconnect them at will.
Friction Clutch – is a type of a clutch where in the driving force is transmitted by friction.

Plate or Disk Clutch:

Figure: Single Disk Clutch

driven plate
driving plate

key

driven shaft
driving shaft

coil spring

contact surfaces
 dr
Figure:

b p

r
T ro
D d N P
ri
re

F p

where: P – axial force exerted by the spring.

p – pressure on the surface of contact.
F – frictional or tangential force.
Face of Disk:
re – equivalent frictional radius of the clutch.
Dd
d – small diameter of disk. b=  ro  ri
2
D – large diameter of disk.
Torque:
b – face of plate / disk.
T = fNre  fPre
ro – outside radius of disk.
ri – inside radius of disk.
dr – differential radius.
T – torque.
Equivalent Frictional Radius of Disk: For New Clutch: Uniform Pressure.
1. New Clutch: Uniform Pressure. Axial Force:
p=c force P
from: p = 
area A
1  D3  d 3 
re   2 π
3  D  d 2  where: A =  D2  d 2 
4
2. Old Clutch: Uniform Wear.
π
pr = c P = p  D 2  d 2 
4
D + d dm Tangential or Frictional Force:
re    rm
4 2 from: F = fN
where: N = P  axial fprce
where: N = P
d m  mean diameter
π
Dd F = pf  D 2  d 2 
dm  4
2 For Old Clutch: Uniform Wear.
rm  mean radius
Axial Force:
ro + ri
rm  P = prπ  D  d 
2
pr = c:
p max ri  p min ro
For Maximum Pressure:
2P
p max 
πd  D  d 
For Minimum Pressure:
2P
p min 
πD  D  d 
For Multiple-Disk Clutch:
T = fPre N fs
where: N fs  number of friction surfaces
N fs  N p  1
N p  number of plates
Power:
Tn
P=
63,025
n  rpm of clutch or engine or motor
coupled to the clutch.
Illustrative Problem:

An automobile engine develops its maximum brake torque at 2,800 rpm when the brake hp is 200. A design value of
f = 0.25 is expected to be reasonable for the asbestos facing and it is desired that the mean diameter not exceed 8.5 in. ;
permissible pressure is 35 psi. Designing for a single plate clutch, determine the outer and inner diameters of the disk.

Uniform Wear: pr = c Outer and Inner Diameters:

c = 35(4.25) = 148.75 lb/in. from: P = πc  D  d 
Torque: 4, 235.294
63,025(200) D  d   9.063 in.
T=  4,500 in.-lb π(148.75)
2,800
D = 9.063 + d
d
from: T = Pf m 9.063 + d + d
2 8.5 =
2
Axial Force:
17  9.063
4,500(2) d=
P=  4, 235.294 lb 2
0.25(8.5)

d = 3.968 in. ; d = 4 in.

D = 13 in.
Illustrative Problem:

A multiple-disk clutch of 4 pairs of clutch surfaces is rated at 22 hp at 100 rpm; D = 14 in. and d = 7.5 in. If f = 0.25,
find: a) P and b) p.

Axial Force: P Unit Pressure: p

4T 2P
P= p=
f (D + d)N fs πd m  D  d 
4(63,025)(22) 2(2,578.6)
P= p=
0.25(14  7.5)4(100) π(10.75)(14  7.5)
P = 2,578.6 lbs p = 23.49 psi
Cone Clutch:

Figure: p

α α

driven cone

D d P

coil spring driving cone

Face Width: Axial Force:

Dd P = N sinα p
b=
2 sinα P = F cosα
Mean Diameter: For New Clutch: p = c
dm 
D+d 2  ro3  ri3  1  D3  d 3 
re   2 2    2
2 3  ro  ri  3  D  d 2 
Torque:
For Old Clutch: pr = c
Pfr
T= e D+d d
sinα re   m  rm
4 2
Illustrative Problem:

A cone clutch has a face angle of 15º with a maximum diameter of 24 in. and a face width of 3 in. The coefficient of
friction is 0.2 and the permissible pressure on the cone surface is 12 psi. Determine : a) P, b) T, c) Power in hp.

a) Axial Force: b) Torque: Old Clutch

small diameter: 657
T= (0.2)(23.2235)
Dd sin15
from: b = T = 11,790.35 in.lb
2 sinα
c) Power:
d = D  2bsinα
(11,790.35)(800)
d = 24  2(3)sin15 P=
63,025
d = 22.447 in. P = 149.7 hp
 22.447 
P = 12   π  24  22.447 
 2 
P = 657 lbs.
Illustrative Problem:

A cone clutch is to transmit 15 hp at 400 rpm. The mean diameter of the clutch is 10 in. and the face angle is 10 º ; let f = 0.3
and permissible p = 35 psi. Compute: a) P ; b) b ; c) D and d.

a) Axial Force: Old Clutch c) Large and Small Diameters:

2T 2(63025)15 from: D  d = 2bsinα
P= 
fd m 400(0.3)(10) and: D + d =2d m
P = 1,575 lbs 2d m  d  d = 2bsinα
b) Face Width: Old Clutch d = d m  bsinα
2P d = 10  8.25sin10
b=
2 (sinα)(π)(p)(d m ) d = 8.57 in.
1,575 D =11.43 in.
b=  8.25 in.
sin10(π) 35(10)