10-05-2014, 04:40 PM
Clutches
Purpose
A clutch is designed with the following requirements
Allow the vehicle to come to a stop while the transmission remains in gear
Allow the driver to smoothly take off from a dead stop
Allow the driver to smoothly change gears
Must not slip under heavy loads and full engine power
Components
Primary components
Flywheel
Clutch disc
Pressure plate
Throwout bearing
Secondary components
Pilot bearing
Release fork
Slave cylinder
Operation
Flywheel
The flywheel attaches to the crankshaft flange
The flywheel’s mass is used to store rotational energy to allow the vehicle to smoothly start out
The flywheel has a machined surface, which the clutch disc rides on
The pressure plate bolts to the flywheel
Release Systems
Mechanical
A system of levers and linkages and/or cables connecting the clutch pedal with the release fork
Hydraulic-Mechanical
A hydraulic master cylinder is used to transmit force to the slave cylinder which pushes on the release fork
Hydraulic
A hydraulic master cylinder is used to transmit force to the slave cylinder which is located in the bellhousing and pushes directly on the throwout bearing