Single plate clutch

Component
1) Clutch plate
In single plate clutch only one clutch plate is used. Clutch plate is main component of clutches. It is
thin disc type metallic plate having both side frictional surfaces. Frictional surfaces on plate must be
of such material to provide friction for transmitting torque without sleeping. The coefficient of friction
of contact surfaces should be high for proper connection without slipping. Clutch plate is assembled
in between flywheel and pressure plate.

Fig: Clutch plate

2) Pressure plate:
The pressure plate which is generally made up of cast iron. It helps in applying pressure on clutch
plates to maintain the proper contact between the surfaces of flywheel and clutch plate by means of
spring which are attached to it.
 Fig: Pressure plate

3) Springs:
Springs are used to maintain the pressure on pressure plate for proper connection between clutch
plate and flywheel and prevent the slipping of contact surfaces.

Fig: Springs
4) Flywheel:
Flywheel is attached to engine output and its other side comes in contact with clutch plate when
pressure is applied by the pressure plate.

5) Operating mechanism:
This includes foot pedal, linkage, bearing and lever etc. All these components are connected in a
sequence. Foot pedal is located inside the automobiles; a lever mechanism is attached with foot pedal
which transmit the motion from pedal to spring by means of thrust bearings.

Construction
A single plate clutch is consisting of various parts; for proper working. They are arranged in a
systematical order. Mainly it consists of a clutch plate with both side friction lining and some other
parts which helps in the proper functioning of a clutch like flywheel, pressure plate, thrust bearing,
hub, springs and input mechanism for engaging and disengaging of clutch. Clutch plate is attached
with the hub between flywheel and the pressure plate, it moves axially on driven shaft. In singe plate
clutch; clutch plate should have both side friction lining because it is mounted between pressure plate
and flywheel, friction is responsible for the torque transmission. The pressure plate is attached with the
flywheel and springs. Pressure plate helps to push the clutch plate towards the flywheel. A lever is
attached to thrust bearings with some mechanism on driven shaft which transmits input and output
motion from clutch pedal.
 Fig: single plate clutch
We can divide different parts of single plate clutch as driving side parts and driven side parts. Clutch
plate is junction between the both sides. In driving side flywheel is attached to engine and driven
members are pressure plate, springs, thrust bearings and liver etc.

Working:

Working of single plate clutch is very simple. A mechanism is responsible for the engagement and
disengagement of clutch. We easily engage and disengage the torque transmitting shafts just by apply
some force on the paddle of automobile. A lever is attached to the paddle which is responsible for
the force transmission from the paddle. When pedal is pressed spring is compressed and engine is
free to move without any load. Lever is attached in such a manner when we press the clutch paddle
 thrust bearing moves forward and pressure plate moves backward or it moves away from the
flywheel; due to this the connection between the clutch plate and flywheel released and shafts are
disengaged. This time we can easily change gears in case of automobiles. Again if we want to engage
the shafts just release the clutch paddle; then springs attached to the pressure plate push the
pressure plate forward. Clutch plate is mounted between the pressure plate and flywheel on the hub.
Clutch plate has both side friction lining that’s why it mounted in between pressure plate and flywheel
and helps in torque transmission.

Advantages:
 The working of the single plate clutch is smooth i.e. the engagement and disengagement is very
smooth in operation
 Less slip occurs in it; slip is occurs only at the time of engagement after engagement no slip occurs
and the functioning becomes very smooth.
 Power losses are very less.
 Less heat generates because only single plate is used. Heat generation creates problem in power
transmission and can damage the working parts.
 Sometimes it works as a safety device and prevent the damage in running parts if input torque/
power exceed the required torque then slip occurs between the clutch plate and contact surface
because it works on a specific range of torque.
 Single plate clutches have quick operation and respond fast.
 No requirement of coolant because less is generated therefore they are called dry clutches.

Disadvantages:
 It has less torque transmitting capacity
 It has bigger in size even for transmitting less torque.
 It requires high maintenance because they are dry clutches and it is necessary to prevent them from
moisture or any leakage of lubricant/oil in machinery.
 Single plate clutches have high wear and tear rate and have less smooth engagement.

Applications:
These are used in large size automobiles where radial space is not constrain such as trucks and cars.

This is all about single plate clutch working and its parts. If you have any query regarding this article,
ask by commenting. If you like this article, don’t forget to share it on social networks. Subscribe our
website for more informative articles. Thanks for reading it.
Material

Cover plate Mild steel

Damper spring retainer plate Mild steel

Cushion spring Mild steel

Clutch hub Mild steel

Diaphragm spring Mild steel

Retainer spring Mild steel

Damper spring Spring steel

Coil spring Spring steel
Pressure plate Cast iron
Bolts to fasten flywheel and Steel
cover plate

Clutch plate Structural Steel

Rivets on cushion spring Brass
Friction facing Asbestos base
Rivets on facing Aluminum brass
Manufacturing:
1. A method of manufacturing a clutch plate disc having a center
hole comprising, providing a knurling tool that is generally frusto
conical in shape having teeth running from the small end thereof
towards the larger end thereof, exerting a pressure between said
knurling tool and said disc and rolling said knurling tool over at least
the entire surface of one side of said disc whereby grooves are
formed in said disc from the center hole to the outer periphery
thereof.
A process for manufacturing a friction plate for a clutch, said friction plate comprised of an
annular core having a bonding surface, and a large number of friction material segments adhered
to the bonding surface in a circumferential direction of the core with an oil groove provided
between every adjacent segments.

Design of single plate clutch

1. Design Problem Statement
The primary aim of this work is to design a rigid drive clutch system that meets multiple objectives such
as Vibrational rigidity, Structural and Thermal strength. Also, to demonstrate a systematic approach to
solving multi-objective problems by Response Surface Optimization to obtain Pareto optimal solutions.
 Fig: Clutch Assembly

A. Forces analysis
1. General Nomenclature
P1 – Friction pad inner diameter

P2 – Friction pad thickness

P3 – Friction facing thickness

Ri – Inner radius of clutch disc in meters

Ro – Outer radius of the clutch disc in meters

N – Speed of engine in rpm = 3750 rpm

ωr – angular velocity in rad/s

Pmax – clamping pressure in MPa

2. Mathematical Calculations
𝑅 = (𝑅𝑖 + 𝑅𝑜)/ 2 = 0.1𝑚 In general, the frictional torque acting on the clutch plate is given by 𝑇 = 𝑁 × μ ×
W×R

In general, the frictional torque acting on the clutch plate is given by 𝑊 = 3000𝑁

𝑃 × 𝑟 = 𝐶 (𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡)

Axial force on the clutch pad,

𝑊 = 2𝜋 × 𝐶 × (𝑅𝑜 − 𝑅𝑖)

𝐶 = 0.0119𝑁𝑚

The maximum pressure occurs at the inner radius and the minimum pressure at the outer radius.

In general, the frictional torque acting on the clutch plate is given by

𝑃𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝐶/ 𝑅𝑜 = 0.0994 𝑀𝑝𝑎

𝑃𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐶/ 𝑅𝑖 = 0.1492 𝑀𝑝𝑎

Here, we consider the maximum pressure value obtained in the Finite Element Analysis of the clutch
plate.

B. Thermal Analysis
1. Nomenclature
T – Temperature of the disc in Celsius

Tl – Limiting temperature of the material in Celsius = 150ºC

µ - Coefficient of friction of the material = 0.4

k – Thermal conductivity of the material in Watts per meter Kelvin

h – Heat transfer coefficient of the material.in Watts per sq. meters per Kelvin.

q – Heat energy generated in watts

qf – heat flux in W/m2

t – Slip time in seconds = 0.5s

A – Area of a friction pad = 0.000931m2

2. Mathematical Calculations
𝜔𝑟 =( 2 × 𝜋 × 𝑁)/ 60 = 392.6 𝑟𝑎𝑑/sec

𝑞 = 𝜇 × 𝑃𝑚𝑎𝑥 × 𝜔𝑟 = 23.4375 W

𝑞𝑓 = (𝑞/ 𝐴) = 25155 𝑊/𝑚2

References
U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,771 discloses a Slip Friction Clutch and U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,642 discloses a Synchronizing
Coupling utilizing friction discs. U.S. Pat. No. 2,690,248 shows a clutch with discs that have grooves of uniform depth.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,073,424 shows a clutch with discs having intersecting grooves. U.S. Pat. No. 1,898,978 shows a clutch
plate with radial grooves that are deeper at their outer end. U.S. Pat. No. 2,516,544 shows a clutch plate with grooves
that are closed at their outer ends. None of these patents show clutch plates having grooves restricted at their outer
ends.

1. http://mostreal.sk/html/guide_55/g-adv/GADV1.htm

2. http://inside.mines.edu/~apetrell/ENME442/Labs/1301_ENME442_lab5.pdf

3. Dr. Max Yi Ren, Notes for MAE 598: Design Optimization

4. How a car clutch works By Mike Bumbeck, automedia.com

5. http://www.dynardo.de/fileadmin/Material_Dynardo/dokumente/seminar/Doku
_Bearing_Angle_English_v12.pdf

6. http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn/2013/495918/

7. http://www.ansys.com/staticassets/ansys/conference/confidence/boston/down loads/obtaining-
and-optimizing-convergence.pdf

8. Design Optimization of the Rigid Drive Disc of Clutch Using Finite Element Method

9. Abdullah, O., Schlattmann, J., and Pireci, E., "Design Optimization of the Rigid Drive Disc of Clutch Using
Finite Element Method," SAE Technical Paper 2014-01-0800, 2014, doi:10.4271/2014-01-0800. 10.ANSYS.
(2009). Design Exploration. Canonsburg: ANSYS.