In the figure below,
you can see that the flywheel is connected to the engine, and the
clutch plate is connected to the transmission.
Exploded view of car clutch.
When your foot
is off the pedal, the springs push the pressure plate
against the clutch disc, which in turn presses against the
flywheel. This locks the engine to the transmission input
shaft, causing them to spin at the same speed.
Photo courtesy Carolina Mustang Pressure plate
The amount of
force the clutch can hold depends on the friction between
the clutch plate and the flywheel, and how much force the
spring puts on the pressure plate. The friction force in the
clutch works just like the blocks in the friction section of
How Brakes Work, except that the spring presses on the
clutch plate instead of weight pressing the block into the
ground.
How a clutch engages and releases.
When the clutch
pedal is pressed, a cable or hydraulic piston pushes on the
release fork, which presses the throw-out bearing against
the middle of the diaphragm spring. As the middle of the
diaphragm spring is pushed in, a series of pins near the
outside of the spring causes the spring to pull the pressure
plate away from the clutch disc (see
below). This releases the clutch from the spinning
engine.
Photo courtesy Carolina
Mustang Clutch plate
Note the springs in the clutch plate.
These springs help to isolate the transmission from the
shock of the clutch engaging.
What Can Go Wrong?
The most common
problem with clutches is that the friction material on the
disc wears out. The friction material on a clutch disc is
very similar to the friction material on the pads of a disc
brake, or the shoes of a drum brake -- after a while, it
wears away. When most or all of the friction material is
gone, the clutch will start to slip, and eventually it won't
transmit any power from the engine to the wheels.
The clutch only wears while the clutch
disc and the flywheel are spinning at different speeds. When
they are locked together, the friction material is held
tightly against the flywheel, and they spin in sync. It is
only when the clutch disc is slipping against the flywheel
that wearing occurs. So if you are the type of driver who
slips the clutch a lot, you will wear out your clutch a lot
faster.
Another problem sometimes associated with
clutches is a worn throw out bearing. This problem is often
characterized by a rumbling noise whenever the clutch
engages.
We give our thanks to
HOW STUFF WORKS for allowing us to use their info and
graphics!
For more information on how engines
or anything else in this world works, visit
www.howstuffworks.com.
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