Pressure Plates
The functional purpose of pressure plates
Clutches, within their function as the link between the engine and the gearbox, transfer the torque moment generated by the engine to the gearbox.
The pressure plate, which is bolted onto the flywheel, presses the clutch plate against the friction plate. The clutch plate, which sits on a splined cog, transfers the revs to the gearbox.
Besides the main function of the link respectively separation of the crank shaft and the gearbox input shaft, a modern clutch fulfils a whole range of important tasks:
- facilitating a gentle, smooth start
- enabling swift gear changes
- preventing the rev vibrations from the engine from influencing the gearbox and thus reducing wear-and-tear and unacceptable noise
- serving as overload protection for the complete drive train (e.g. in the case of gear change failures)
- ensuring durability and simple replacement
Build forms:
Clutch technology differentiates between the following build forms:
Single plate clutch with cast housing
Release takes place using release levers, with pressure applied via the release bearings.
Deployment in:
Older models of utility vehicles
Single plate clutch with sheet metal housing
Release takes place using a membrane spring, with pressure applied via the release bearings.
Deployment in:
Utility vehicles
Advantages:
Lighter weight due to clutch housing material
Improved force transfer via the plate springs with lining abrasion
Single plate clutch with sheet metal housing
Release takes place using a membrane spring drawn taut by the release bearings.
Deployment in:
Utility vehicles
Advantages:
Space saved in the drive train due to short-length construction
Dual plate clutch with cast housing
Release takes place via the release levers, with pressure applied by the release bearings.
Deployment in:
Heavy-duty utility vehicles
Advantages:
Improved force transfer of the torque moments between two driver plates
Dual plate clutch with sheet metal housing
Release takes place via a membrane spring drawn taut via the release bearings
Deployment in:
Heavy-duty utility vehicles
Advantages:
Space-savings within the drive train
Single plate clutch with fixed ancillary down thrust
Release takes place via the membrane spring pulled taut by release bearings. A hollow shaft allows for powering a second unit.
Deployment in:
Ready mix concrete trucks or waste disposal vehicles
Advantages:
Permanently activated ancillary down thrust via the clutch
Dual plate clutch with independent release lever system
Release of the drive unit and ancillary down thrust takes place via two release lever sets - acting independently.
Deployment in:
Agricultural plant
Dual plate clutch with dependent release lever system
Release of drive unit and ancillary down thrust takes place via a joint lever set in two stages - acting inter-dependently.
Deployment in:
Agricultural plant