Fly Wheels, Clutch Plates and Friction explained
It's the part of the clutch system as refered to below as the pressure plate and clutch plate and flywheel area where clutch plate engages it for which I've replaced them all:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/clutch1.htm
Fly Wheels, Clutch Plates and Friction
In a car's clutch, a flywheel connects to the engine, and a clutch plate connects to the transmission. You can see what this looks like in the figure below.
Your browser does not support JavaScript or it is disabled.
[SIZE=-1]Exploded view of car clutch[/SIZE] 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.
[FONT=arial,helvetica]
[SIZE=-2]Photo courtesy Carolina Mustang[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Pressure plate[/SIZE]
[/FONT]
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 described 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.
Your browser does not support JavaScript or it is disabled.
[SIZE=-1]How a clutch engages and releases[/SIZE] 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.
[FONT=arial,helvetica]
[SIZE=-2]Photo courtesy Carolina Mustang[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Clutch plate[/SIZE][/FONT]
Note the springs in the clutch plate. These springs help to isolate the transmission from the shock of the clutch engaging.
This design usually works pretty well, but it does have a few drawbacks. We'll look at common clutch problems and other uses for clutches in the following sections.
It's the part of the clutch system as refered to below as the pressure plate and clutch plate and flywheel area where clutch plate engages it for which I've replaced them all:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/clutch1.htm
Fly Wheels, Clutch Plates and Friction
In a car's clutch, a flywheel connects to the engine, and a clutch plate connects to the transmission. You can see what this looks like in the figure below.
Your browser does not support JavaScript or it is disabled.
[SIZE=-1]Exploded view of car clutch[/SIZE] 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.
[FONT=arial,helvetica]
[SIZE=-2]Photo courtesy Carolina Mustang[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Pressure plate[/SIZE]
[/FONT]
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 described 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.
Your browser does not support JavaScript or it is disabled.
[SIZE=-1]How a clutch engages and releases[/SIZE] 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.
[FONT=arial,helvetica]
[SIZE=-2]Photo courtesy Carolina Mustang[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Clutch plate[/SIZE][/FONT]
Note the springs in the clutch plate. These springs help to isolate the transmission from the shock of the clutch engaging.
This design usually works pretty well, but it does have a few drawbacks. We'll look at common clutch problems and other uses for clutches in the following sections.
