Clutch Design

Hello Guest,

I've moved your thread to the Education forum since this project is actually school work.

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Moose

Guest --

First I would like you to think about the requirement for that part of your system that engages and disengages the clutch. Here are some questions only you can answer without giving the rest of us a detailed drawing of your system:

1. Will this operation be done upon some signal from an automated component of the system or will it be done by a conscious action of a human operator? If a human operator what body movement will do the job? Will a human operator be expected to hold the system in position either in the engaged state, the disengaged state or both? (see 4. below)

2. How rapidly will the engagement and disengagement take place? Too fast could cause destructive shock loads, too slow and friction heating and wear of the clutch surface might be excessive. You'll need an understanding of energy and momentum transfer issues, if not at the analytical level at least at a practical level.

3. How often will the engage and disengage functions be required to cycle? Too often and wear and heating problems are possible.

4. How much force is required to hold the clutch in each position? How will this force have to vary for various operating conditions of the system? (different speeds, power levels, environmental conditions like shocks and vibrations)

5. What temperature range will the hydraulic actuator have to function in?

Now, go closely study a manual transmission clutch system in an automobile, preferably one with a mechanical rather than hydraulic clutch. All the basic requirements will be there in both a hydraulic system and a mechanical system; but they may be somewhat more obvious when you view the mechanical system. Best to search out a well illustrated pictorial representation. You will likely find 6 different kinds of springs in the system between the driver's foot and the engine flywheel engagement surface. Each has a function related to my questions 1 through 4 above.

When you find a link to a good diagram post it here so we can find it and use it in our discussion. I suspect the first question you will ask is something like "I can only find 3 or 4 of the springs. Where are the rest?"

Oh, BTW, please tell us what educational level are you working at?

Ed Weldon