FME 212: Friction Clutch Problems

1. Based on the geometry of contacting friction surfaces, name two types of friction clutches. Two circular plates, each of radius R, are in contact over their circular faces, the centres of which are coincident. If the contacting friction surfaces are pressed together by a normal force P, and the unit pressure (force per unit area) between these contacting surfaces is uniformly distributed throughout their areas of contact, show that the maximum frictional torque that can be transmitted by the contacting surfaces is given by:

2 T = PR 3
where is the limiting coefficient of friction between the contacting friction surfaces. What would be the maximum frictional torque that could be transmitted by the contacting friction surfaces if these surfaces were in a state of uniform wear? 2. A flat-plate friction clutch with two pairs of friction surfaces has inner and outer radii of R1 and R2, respectively. The total axial load on the clutch is W and the limiting coefficient of friction between the contacting friction surfaces is . Assuming uniform wear and using the usual notations, show that the total axial load may be expressed as follows:

P = 2kr1
and that the maximum torque that the clutch can transmit without slipping may be expressed as follows:

T = 2Pr2
where r1 = (R2 R1 ) , r2 = 3.

R1 + R2 and k is a constant. 2

A clutch with two pairs of contacting friction surfaces is designed to transmit a maximum torque of 9 Nm without slipping. The maximum normal pressure between the contacting friction surfaces is limited to 100 000 N/m2. The inner diameter of the clutch plate is 130 mm and the limiting coefficient of friction between the contacting friction surfaces is 0.3. Assuming uniform wear, determine

Friction Clutches

the required outer diameter of the clutch plate and the axial thrust that must be applied in order for the clutch to transmit the maximum design torque. For a clutch of the same dimensions as above, given that the contacting friction surfaces are a perfect match, that the limiting normal pressure between the friction surfaces is the same, and that the maximum torque that should be transmitted without the clutch slipping remains the same, what will be the required axial thrust and the limiting coefficient of friction? 4. Friction clutches can function as overload protection devices. theoretical basis of this statement. Explain the

A friction plate clutch has a single pair of mating friction surfaces of 200 mm inside diameter and 300 mm outside diameter. The mean value of the coefficient of friction is 0.3 and the applied axial force is 4 712.4 N. Assuming uniform wear, determine the maximum and minimum normal contact pressures between the friction surfaces and the torque capacity of the clutch. What will be the values of the maximum normal contact pressure, the minimum normal contact pressure and the torque capacity of the clutch, if normal contact pressure is assumed to be uniform, with all other factors remaining unchanged? 5. Give two circumstances in which relative slip in friction clutches would be desirable. Show that, under conditions of uniform wear, the torque capacity of a friction plate clutch is given by:

T=
where

P(D2 + D1 ) 4

T is the torque capacity per pair of contacting friction surfaces is the mean value of the coefficient of friction across the contacting
friction surfaces P is the axial force pressing the friction surfaces together D1, D2, are the inner and outer diameters of the friction surfaces, respectively.

6.

Name three common designs of friction clutches. A plate clutch has four pairs of mating friction surfaces whose outside diameter is 130 mm and inside diameter is 75 mm. The mean coefficient of friction between mating surfaces is 0.10. Assuming that the uniform pressure theory applies, find the pressure between the mating surfaces and the corresponding transmissible torque, given that the actuating axial force is 5 kN.

Friction Clutches

For the same actuating force and the same clutch dimensions, what would be the maximum contact pressure between the mating friction surfaces, assuming that the uniform wear theory applied? 7. Briefly discuss the two most commonly used theories of pressure distribution across the friction surfaces of a plate clutch. A plate clutch with two pairs of contacting friction surfaces is designed to transmit a maximum torque of 165 Nm. The ratio of the maximum transmitted torque to the applied axial torque is to be 55mm. The maximum diameter of the friction linings is to be 300 mm. Given that the limiting coefficient of friction is 0.25 and that the uniform wear theory applies to this clutch, determine: (a) The minimum diameter of the friction linings (b) The maximum contact pressure on the friction surfaces. For this same clutch, what would be the maximum transmitted torque, as predicted by the uniform pressure theory, if the applied axial force remained the same? 8. Compare and contrast the friction plate clutch and the rigid coupling.

Motor

Clutch

Load

Fig. Q8
Figure Q8 illustrates a constant torque, variable speed motor coupled to a load by way of a friction plate clutch. The clutch has two pairs of contacting friction surfaces. The load requires 50 kW at 1 500 rpm. The clutch begins to slip if it is made to transmit 100 kW at 1 500 rpm. The total axial thrust applied to the clutch when it is fully engaged is 8488 N, and the inner and outer diameters of the friction surfaces are 200 and 300 mm, respectively. (a) Assuming uniform wear, determine the coefficient of friction for the contacting friction surfaces. (b) Before the motor is coupled to the stationary load, through engagement of the clutch, the motor speed is 3 500 rpm, but eventually the two speeds equalize at

Friction Clutches

the operating speed of 1 500 rpm. Determine the ratio of the effective motor inertia to that of the load. (c) If it takes two seconds for the motor and the load speeds to equalize after clutch engagement, what is the effective motor inertia? In all calculations, neglect clutch inertia. 9. A motor is to drive a load through a friction plate clutch. When the load is being driven at its operational constant speed of 1800 rpm, it required a driving torque of 320 Nm. The maximum torque that can be transmitted by the clutch without slipping is 640 Nm. The inner diameter of the friction surfaces is 200 mm and the outer diameter is 300 mm. If the maximum axial pressure between the friction surfaces is to be 270 kN/m2, and uniform wear may be assumed, then: Determine the required axial thrust The suitable number of pairs of friction surfaces, given that the effective motor inertia is 0.75 times that of the load, if the limiting coefficient of friction is approximately 0.3 Given that before clutch engagement the load is stationary, what is the speed of the motor before clutch engagement? Given that motor inertia is 3 kgm2, how long will it take, after clutch engagement, for motor and load speeds to equalize? Assume the motor to be a constant torque, variable speed motor

Resources BUDYNAS, RICHARD G. and J. KEITH NISBETT. Shigleys Mechanical Engineering Design, 8th Edition, Chapter 16 Clutches, Brakes, Couplings, and Flywheels. McGraw-Hill International, 2008. DIMAROGONAS, ANDREW D. Machine Design. A CAD Approach, Chapter 10 Design of Dry Friction Elements. John Wiley and Sons Incorporated, 2001. WILSON, CHARLES E. Computer Integrated Machine Design, Chapter 12 Clutches. Prentice Hall, 1997. BURR, ARTHUR H. and JOHN B. CHEATHAM. Mechanical Analysis and Design, Second Edition, Chapter 3 Friction Theory and Applications. Prentice Hall, 1995. SPOTTS, M. F. Design of Machine Elements, 6th Edition, Chapter 6 Belts, Clutches, Brakes, and Chains. Prentice Hall, 1991.
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Friction Clutches

JUVINALL, ROBERT C. Fundamentals of Machine Component Design, Chapter 18 Clutches and Brakes. John Wiley and Sons, 1983. BLACK, PAUL H. and O. EUGENE ADAMS Jr. Machine Design, 3rd Edition, Chapter 17 Clutches and Brakes. McGraw-Hill International, 1981. DEUTSCHMAN, A. D., W. J. MICHELS and C. E. WILSON. Machine Design: Theory and Practice, Chapter 13 Brakes and Clutches. Collier Macmillan, 1975. ept.com/eptroot/public/schools/clthbrk.pdf Many standard texts on engineering mechanics include chapters on friction, which may deal with disc friction and clutch theory. Many standard texts on the theory of machines include chapters dealing with clutch theory. Other Internet Resources.

Friction Clutches