Clutch system of tractor

❑ A clutch is required to connect the rotational power from the flywheel of the engine to the
gearbox especially at the time of selection of proper gear, specially at the time of starting, or
moving the tractor from position of rest.

❑ Clutch is a device used to connect and disconnect the tractor engine from the transmission
gears and drive wheels. Clutch transmits power by means of friction between driving and
driven members.

Necessity of clutch in tractor:

1. Engine needs cranking by any suitable device. For easy cranking, the engine is
disconnected from the rest of the transmission unit by a suitable clutch.

2. To change the gears, the gearbox must be kept free from the engine power.

3. When the belt and pulley of the tractor works in the field it needs to be stopped without
stopping the engine.

Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS

 The clutch used in automobiles can be classified as follows

1. Friction type clutch 2. Dog clutch 3. Liquid clutch

1.1. Single plate clutch
1..1.1. Axial spring type single plate clutch
1.1.2. Diaphragm type single plate clutch
1.2 Multi plate clutch
1.3. Cone clutch

❑ The agricultural tractors mostly use axial spring Clutch, as the name suggests, uses a
clutching force (axial force) to transmit the rotational motion from one shaft to another.
Most tractor clutches are frictional clutches

To transmit power from shaft 1 to shaft 2, the flat discs are forced together with a force (axial
force), F. the friction between the discs, A and B, causes the rotational motion of shaft 1 to be
transmitted to shaft 2.
Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS
 The torque that this system can transmit is given by
T= uFR
Where u = coefficient of friction between the two discs A and B
F = Axial force with which the two discs are put together.
R = mean effective radius of the friction surface of the discs.

Requirements of a good clutch

1. The clutch should be able to transmit 1.25 to 1.50 times the maximum engine torque.
2. The clutch material should have good coefficient of function.
3. Lot of heat is generated due to the relative motion between the flywheel, pressure plate
and clutch plate during clutch operation. This heat needs to be quickly dissipated,
otherwise high temperature can damage clutch components.
4. The clutch should have low moment of inertia, otherwise the clutch will keep spinning
at high speed even during gear changing.

Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS

 5. Vibration and Jerk absorption. The clutch should be able to take up sudden jerks
encountered when the clutch plate comes in contact with the rotating flywheel.
6. The clutch should be dynamically balanced or it will lead to vibrations at high speeds.
7. The operation of the clutch pedal should be easy for the operator and not tiresome,
especially for operating for long durations.
Main components of a Single Plate Axial Spring type friction clutch:

1. Flywheel: It is connected to the engine crankshaft and is used to store the energy.
2. Clutch Plate: It consists of a steel disc with the centre splined. Frictional material is
mounted (riveted) around the circumference of the steel disc.
3. Pressure Plate: The pressure plate pushes the clutch plate onto the flywheel due to
spring pressure so that the clutch plate on one side and the flywheel on the other.
4. Axial Springs: Axial springs provide the clamping force due to which the power can be
transmitted from the flywheel to the clutch plate.
5. Clutch cover: It is not only covers the clutch components, but also provides motion
from the flywheel to the pressure plate.
6. Clutch release system: it consists of those components which are required for engaging
-disengaging the power transmission to the clutch plate.
Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS
Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS
Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS
 Design of Clutch
Considerations in Designing a Friction Clutch
The following considerations must be kept in mind while designing a friction clutch.

1. The suitable material forming the contact surfaces should be selected.

2. The moving parts of the clutch should have low weight in order to minimise the inertia load,
especially in high speed service.

3. The clutch should not require any external force to maintain contact of the friction surfaces.

4. The provision for taking up wear of the contact surfaces must be provided.

5. The clutch should have provision for facilitating repairs.

6. The clutch should have provision for carrying away the heat generated at the contact surfaces.

7. The projecting parts of the clutch should be covered by guard.

❑ A single disc or plate clutch consists of a clutch plate whose both sides
are faced with a frictional material (usually of Ferrodo). It is mounted on the hub which is free
to move axially along the splines of the driven shaft.

Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS

Consider two friction surfaces maintained in contact by an axial thrust (W ) as shown in fig.
Let ,
T = Torque transmitted by the clutch,
p = Intensity of axial pressure with
which the contact surfaces are
held together,
r1 and r2 = External and internal radii of
friction faces,
r = Mean radius of the friction face, and
Fig. Forces on a disc clutch.
µ = Coefficient of friction.

We shall now consider the following two cases :

1. When there is a uniform pressure, and
2. When there is a uniform axial wear.
1. Considering uniform pressure. When the pressure is uniformly distributed over the entire
area of the friction face as shown in Fig. above, then the intensity of pressure,
𝑾
p=
𝝅([(r1)2 − [(r2)2]

Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS

where W = Axial thrust with which the friction surfaces are held together.

Now, frictional torque on the elementary ring of radius r and

thickness dr is given by:

Tr = 2π.µ.p. r2.dr ………..(1)

Integrating this equation within the limits from r2 to r1 for the total friction torque, we get,

2. Considering uniform axial wear. The basic principle in designing machine parts that are
subjected to wear due to sliding friction is that the normal wear is proportional to the work of
friction.
The work of friction is proportional to the product of normal pressure ( p) and the sliding
velocity (V). Therefore,

Normal wear ∝ Work of friction ∝ p.V

or p.V = K (a constant) or p = K/V

Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS

❑ It may be noted that when the friction surface is new, there
is a uniform pressure distribution over the entire contact surface.

❑ This pressure will wear most rapidly where the sliding velocity
is maximum and this will reduce the pressure between the friction
surfaces.

❑ This wearing-in process continues until the product

p.V is constant over the entire surface. After this, the wear will
be uniform as shown in Fig. Fig. Uniform axial wear.

Let p be the normal intensity of pressure at a distance r

from the axis of the clutch. Since the intensity of pressure varies
inversely with the distance, therefore
p.r = C (a constant) or p = C / r
and the normal force on the ring,
𝑪
δW = p. 2π r. dr = 𝒓 . 2π r. dr = 2π.C.dr
𝑾
By integrating the above equation, we get, C = 𝟐𝝅(r −r )
1 2

Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS

 Putting the value of p (p = C/r) and integrating, we get,

R= r1 + r2/2
Some key points:
1. In general, total frictional torque acting on the friction surfaces (or on the clutch) is given by
T = n.μ.W.R
Where, n = Number of pairs of friction (or contact) surfaces, and
R = Mean radius of friction surface

2. For a single disc or plate clutch, normally both sides of the disc are effective. Therefore a
single disc clutch has two pairs of surfaces in contact (i.e. n = 2).
3. Intensity of pressure is maximum at the inner radius (r2) of the friction or contact surface

4. Intensity of pressure is minimum at the outer radius (r1) of the friction or contact surface
5. The average pressure ( pav) on the friction or contact surface is given by,

𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆

Pav = 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔−𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆

6. In case of a new clutch, the intensity of pressure is approximately uniform, but in an old
clutch, the uniform wear theory is more approximate.

Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS

Example 1. Determine the maximum, minimum and average pressure in a plate clutch when the
axial force is 4 kN. The inside radius of the contact surface is 50 mm and the outside radius is
100 mm. Assume uniform wear.
Solution:

Given: W = 4 kN
ri = 50mm
ro = 100mm

We know that intensity of pressure is maximum at the inner radius (ri )

i.e. pmax ×ri = C

Or C = 50 pmax

Again, W = 2π C (ro– ri )

W = 2π × 50 × pmax (100 – 50)

4 × 1000 = 2π × 50 × pmax (50)

pmax = 0.254 N/mm2

Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS

For minimum pressure,

pmin × ro = C

C = 100 × pmin

W = 2π C(ro– ri )

W = 2π pmin × 100(100-50)

4 × 1000 = 2π pmin × 100(50)

pmin = 0.1273 N/mm2

For average pressure,

𝑊
Pav = 𝜋 r 2−r
o i2

4 ∗1000
Pav = 𝜋 10000 −2500

Pav = 0.17 N/mm2

Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS

Example 2. A single plate clutch with both sides effective, has an outer diameter of 30 cm and
inner diameter of 20 cm. The maximum intensity of pressure at any point in the contact surface
is not exceed 1 kg/cm2. If the coefficient of friction is 0.3, determine power transmitted by a
clutch at speed of 2000 rpm.

Solution:
Given- Do = 30 cm or ro = 15 cm
Di = 20 cm or ri = 10 cm
Pmax = 1 kg/cm2
N = 2000 rpm
n = 2
µ = 0.3

We know that, T = n µWR (i)

W = 2π C (ro– ri ) (ii)
pmax ×ri = C (iii)

Combining above eq. (i), (ii) and (iii), we get,

T = n µ 2π C (ro– ri ) R = n µ 2π pmax× ri (ro– ri ) R

W C

Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS

 ro+ri 15+10
For uniform wear condition, Mean radius (R) = = = 12.5 cm
2 2

T = n µ 2π C (ro– ri ) R = n µ 2π pmax ×ri (ro– ri ) R

T = 2 × 0.3 × 2π × 1 × 10(15– 10 ) × 12.5

= 2355 kg-cm or 23.55 kg-m

2π𝑁𝑇 2π×2000×23.55
Horse power transmitted by clutch = = = 65.73 hp
4500 4500

P = 65.73 hp

Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS

Example 2. A plate clutch having a single driving plate with contact surfaces on each side
is required to transmit 110 kW at 1250 r.p.m. The outer diameter of the contact surfaces is to
be 300 mm. The coefficient of friction is 0.4.
(a) Assuming a uniform pressure of 0.17 N/ sq. mm; determine the inner diameter of the
friction surfaces.
(b) Assuming the same dimensions and the same total axial thrust, determine the maximum
torque that can be transmitted and the maximum intensity of pressure when uniform wear
conditions have been reached.

Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS

Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS
Agricultural Tractor Er. Babban Yadav SHUATS