Automotive Drivetrains

CLUTCHES

Purpose
To connect and disconnect engine power flow to
the transmission at the will of the driver.

Clutch System
Clutch systems
are used to
disengage the
engine from the
road
When the clutch
pedal is
depressed, the
clutch (and
transmission) is
disengaged from
the engine

Clutch System
With your foot off of the pedal, the
clutch is engaged to the engine.
The pressure plate holds the clutch
against the flywheel, allowing power to
travel through the clutch to the input
shaft of the transmission ...
The engine power
will transfer
through the
clutch to the road

System
Components
Flywheel: Transfers engine power to the
clutch
Input shaft: Transfers power from
clutch to the transmission
Clutch Disk (clutch): Splined to input
shaft; transfers power from engine to
the input shaft
Pressure Plate Assembly: Spring pressure
tightly holds the clutch to the flywheel

Components cont:
Release Bearing (throw-out bearing):
Connected through linkage or hydraulics to
the clutch pedal; Provides a way for the
pressure plate to release pressure on the
clutch
Pilot Bearing (bushing) : Mounted in the
tail of the crankshaft. Stabilizes the input
shaft. Not always used for FWD.
Clutch Fork (if applicable): Slides the
release bearing into and away from the
pressure plate assembly

Components cont:

Clutch Linkage (or hydraulic plumbing):

Allows the driver to operate the clutch
fork
Clutch (bell-housing) Housing: Encloses
the clutch assembly
Maybeintegralwiththetransmissionorremovable

Clutch Components Flywheel

Mounted on the rear

of the crankshaft
Acts as balancer for
engine
Adds inertia to the
rotating crankshaft
Provides a surface for
the clutch to contact
Usually surrounded by
a ring gear for electric
starter operation

Flywheel Construction
Usually constructed
of nodular cast iron
which has a high
graphite content
The graphite helps
lubricate
engagement of the
clutch
May also be
constructed from
cold rolled steel

Dual-mass Flywheel

The flywheel hub

and clutch mating
area are two
separate
components
Springs are used to
dampen engine and
clutch engagement
oscillations

Dual-mass Flywheel

Flywheel Measurements
Run-out measured with a dial indicator
Parallelism straight-edge & feeler gauge
Thickness micrometer or dial indicator

Clutch Components
Input (clutch)
shaft

Projects from the front of the transmission

Usually has a pilot which rides in a
bearing or bushing in the end of the crankshaft
The clutch disc is splined to the clutch shaft

Clutch Components Clutch

Disc

Is squeezed between the flywheel and the pressure

plate
Transmits power from the engine crankshaft to the
transmission input shaft

Clutch Disc Construction

Facing manufactured with frictional material
(may contain asbestos)
Other surface materials include:
paper-based
ceramic
cotton
brass

Clutch Disc Types

Rigid - used
primarily for
industrial/racing
applications.
Flexible - most
common, everything
from grandmas
cruiser to
street/strip racing.

Flexible Clutch Disc

Hub flange - in direct contact with the input shaft

Friction ring - in direct contact with the
flywheel/pressure plate.

Flexible Clutch Disc

Clutch facing friction
material
marcel springs
- facing
dampener
Torsional springs - further dampening for clutch
application
Stop pins - limits the torsional springs travel
Rivets -fastens the facing material to marcel (springs)

Clutch Components
Pressure Plate (clutch cover)

Squeezes clutch disc onto flywheel

Can be engaged or disengaged
Acts like a spring-loaded clamp

Pressure Plate - Types

Belleville/diaphragm-type Spring: uses a
cone-shaped diaphragm spring for clamping
force.
Multiple-Coil Springs: DUGH!
Semi-centrifugal: clamping force increases
as rotational (centrifugal) force increases

Belleville/diaphragm Spring:

Spring-type Pressure Plate

Benefits and Disadvantages:

Belleville/diaphragm type:
cost effective
uniform engagement
limited spring pressure

Spring:
unlimited pressure capabilities
as springs wear, pressure may become
inconsistent

Clutch Components

Release (throw-out) bearing

Operated by the clutch linkage

Presses against the pressure plate to release
the clutch

Clutch Components

Pilot Bearing (bushing)

Installed (pressed) into a machined bore in the end of

the crankshaft or flywheel
May be a bushing, ball-bearing or roller-bearing

Clutch linkage Mechanical

Linkage-type

Clutch linkage Mechanical

Cable-type

Clutch linkage Hydraulic

Most Commonly used today

Hydraulic Clutch Master

Hydraulic Clutch Slave

Hydraulic Clutch Slave

Concentric-type

Dual-clutch Transmission

Essentially an
automatic manual
transmission
Delivered to the
mainstream by
Volkswagen now
being used/developed
by most mfg.
Eliminates the power
sucking torqueconverter of an
automatic transmission

Dual-clutch Transmission

Utilizes two input

shafts one inside of
the other
Each input shaft will
have a dedicated
clutch or clutch pack
splined to it.
A processor
(computer) will
engage one or the
other clutches (or
neither for neutral.)

Dual-clutch Transmission

May use a wet or dry clutch-pack

Dual-clutch Transmission

or conventional clutch disc design

Dual-clutch Transmission

Each of the
input-shafts
controls half
of the
transmissions
gear-sets

Dual-clutch Transmission