AUTOMOBILE

TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
Clutches

Clutch is a mechanism which enables the

rotary motion of one shaft.. transmitted, when
desired, to a second shaft the axis of which is
coincides, with that of the first
REQUIREMENTS OF
CLUTCH
1. Torque transmission The clutch should be
able to transmit the maximum torque of the
engine under all conditions This requires
that the clutch facing must maintain a
reasonable coefficient of friction with the
mating surfaces under all working
conditions.
2. Gradual engagement: The clutch should
positively take the drive gradually without
the occurrence of sudden jerks
REQUIREMENTS OF
CLUTCH
3. Heat dissipation : During clutch application,
large amounts of heat are generated. The
rubbing surfaces should have sufficient area
and mass to absorb the heat generated. The
proper design of the clutch should ensure
proper ventilation or cooling for adequate
dissipation of the heat.
4. Dynamic balancing: This is necessary
particularly in the high speed clutches.
REQUIREMENTS OF
CLUTCH
5. Vibration damping ; Suitable mechanism
should be incorporated within the clutch,
to eliminate noise produced in the
transmission.

6. Size: The size of the clutch must be smallest

possible so that it should occupy minimum
amount of space.
REQUIREMENTS OF
CLUTCH
7. Inertia : The clutch rotating parts should
have minimum inertia. Otherwise, when the
clutch is released for gear changing, the
clutch plate will keep on spinning, causing
hard shifting and gear clashing in spite of
synchronizer
REQUIREMENTS OF
CLUTCH
8. Clutch free pedal play : To reduce effective
clamping load on the carbon thrust bearing
and wear thereof, sufficient clutch free pedal
play must be provided in the clutch.
9. Ease of operation: For higher torque
transmissions the operation of disengaging
the clutch must not be tiresome to the driver.
TYPES OF CLUTCHES
The following are the main types of clutches :

1. Friction clutches
2. Fluid flywheel
Friction clutches
The friction clutches work on the fact that
friction is caused when two rotating discs
come into contact with each other. On the
other hand, the fluid flywheel works on the
transfer of energy from one rotor to the other
by means of some fluid.
Friction clutches may be dry or the wet type.
PRINCIPLE OF FRICTION
CLUTCHES
The principle of a friction
clutch may be explained
by means of Fig Let
shaft A and disc C be
revolving at some
speed, say N r.p.m.
Shaft B and the disc D
keyed to it are
stationary, initially when
the clutch is not
engaged
PRINCIPLE OF FRICTION
CLUTCHES
Now apply some axial
force W to the disc D so
that it comes in contact
with disc C. As soon as
the contact is made the
force of friction between
C and D will come into
play and consequently
the disc D will also start
revolving. speed of D
depends upon friction
force present.
DRY FRICTION CLUTCHES
The following types of dry friction clutches will
be described here :
1. Cone clutch
2. Single plate clutch
3. Multi plate clutch
4. Semi-centrifugal clutch
5. Centrifugal clutch
Cone Clutch
In this type the contact
surfaces are in the form
of cones as shown in
the figure. In the
engaged position, the
male cone is fully inside
the female cone so that
the friction surfaces are
in complete contact.
This is done by means
of springs which keep
the male cone pressed
all the time.
Cone Clutch

When the clutch is engaged, the torque is

transmitted from the engine via the fly wheel
and the male cone to the splined gear box
shaft. For disengaging the clutch the male
cone is pulled out by means of the lever
system operated through the clutch pedal
thereby separating the contact surfaces.
Cone clutch
If the angle of cone is made smaller than
about 20° the male cone tends to bind or join
in the female cone and it becomes difficult to
disengage the clutch.
A small amount of wear on the cone surface
results in a considerable amount of the axial
movement of the male cone for which it will
be difficult to allow.
Single Plate Clutch
A simplified sketch of a
single plate clutch is
given in Fig. Friction
plate is held between
the flywheel and the
pressure plate. There
are springs (the number
may vary, depending
upon design) arranged
circumferentially, which
provide axial force to
keep the clutch in
engaged position.
Single Plate Clutch
The friction plate is mounted on a hub which
is splined from inside and is thus free to slide
over the gear box shaft. Friction facing is
attached to the friction plate on both sides to
provide friction surfaces for the transmission
of power. A pedal is provided to pull the
pressure plate against the spring force
whenever it is required to be disengaged. .
Ordinarily it remains in engaged position.
Advantages & Disadvantage
1. With the single plate clutch, gear changing is
easier than with the cone clutch, because the
pedal movement is less in this case.
2. It does not suffer from disadvantages of cone
clutch i.e., binding of cones etc. and hence it
is more reliable.
As compared to cone clutch the springs have
to be more stiff and this means greater force
required to be applied by the driver while
disengaging.
Multiplate Clutch
The multiplate clutch is
an extension of single
plate type where the
number of frictional and
the metal plates is
increased. The increase
in the number of friction
surfaces obviously
increases capacity of
the clutch to transmit
torque, the size
remaining fixed.
Multiplate Clutch
Multiplate Clutch

The overall diameter of the clutch is reduced

for the same torque transmission as a single
plate clutch. This type of clutch is, therefore,
used in some heavy transport vehicles and
racing cars where high torque is to be
transmitted. Besides, this finds application in
case of scooters and motor cycles, where
space available is limited.
Semi-centrifugal Clutch

For small torque transmission the clutch

springs may be designed so that they have
sufficient strength for applying the required
amount of force and at the same time are not
so stiff as to cause any strain to the driver
while disengaging. However, for high
powered engines, the clutch spring pressures
required may be considerable and thus the
action of disengaging the clutch becomes
fatiguing to the driver.
Semi-centrifugal Clutch
Semi-centrifugal Clutch
To obviate this trouble, the help is taken of the
centrifugal force. The clutch springs are
designed to transmit the torque at normal
speeds, while for higher speeds, centrifugal
force assists in torque transmission. Such
type of clutches are called semi-centrifugal
clutches. In semi-centrifugal clutch. Three
hinged and weighted levers are arranged at
equal intervals.
Semi-centrifugal Clutch
One of these is shown
in Fig on enlarged
scale. This lever is
having fulcrum at A and
is hinged to pressure
plate at B. The upper
end of the lever is
weighted at C. D is the
adjusting screw, by
means of which the
maximum centrifugal
force on the pressure
plate can be adjusted.
Semi-centrifugal Clutch

At moderate speeds the pressure of the

springs is sufficient to transmit the required
torque. However at higher speeds, the weight
C, due to the centrifugal force moves about A
as fulcrum thereby pressing the pressure
plate. The centrifugal force is proportional to
the square of the speed so that adequate
pressure level is attained.
Centrifugal Clutch
Centrifugal Clutch

In the fully
centrifugal type of
clutches, the springs
are eliminated
altogether and only
the centrifugal force
is used to apply the
required pressure
for keeping the
clutch in engaged
position.
Centrifugal Clutch
The advantage of the centrifugal clutch is that
no separate clutch pedal is required. The
clutch is operated automatically depending
upon the engine speed. This means that car
can be stopped in gear without stalling the
engine. Similarly while starting, the driver can
first select the gear, put the car into the gear
and simply press the accelerator pedal. This
makes the driving operation very easy.
Centrifugal Clutch
Fig. shows a schematic
diagram of a centrifugal
clutch. As the speed
increases, the weight A
flies, thereby operating
the bell crank lever B
which presses the plate
C. This force is
transmitted to the plate
D by means of springs
E.
Centrifugal Clutch
The plate D containing
friction lining is thus
pressed against the
flywheel F thereby
engaging the clutch.
Spring G serves to keep
the clutch disengaged
at low speed, say, 500
rpm. The stop H limits
the amount of
centrifugal force.
Function of Transmission
1.The torque or the tractive effort produced by
the engine varies with speed only within
narrow limits. But the practical considerations
for the running of automobile under different
conditions demands a large variation of
torque available at the wheels. The main
purpose of the transmission is to provide
vary torque ratio between the engine and
the road wheels as required.
Function of Transmission
2. The transmission also provides a neutral
position so that the engine and the road
wheels are disconnected even with the clutch
in the engaged position.
3. A means to back the car by reversing the
direction of rotation of the drive is also
provided by the transmission.
SLIDING MESH TYPE OF GEAR
BOX
SLIDING MESH TYPE OF GEAR
BOX
The power comes from the engine to the
clutch shaft and hence to the clutch gear
which is always in mesh with a gear on the
lay shaft. All the gears on the lay shaft are
fixed to it and as such they are all the time
rotating when the engine is running and the
clutch is engaged. Three direct and one
reverse speeds are attained on suitably
moving the gear on the main shaft by means
of selector mechanism. These various
positions are shown in Fig.
SLIDING MESH TYPE OF GEAR
BOX
CONSTANT MESH GEAR BOX
CONSTANT MESH GEAR BOX

In this type of gear box, all the gears are in

constant mesh with the corresponding gears
on the lay shaft. The gears on the main shaft
which is splined, are free. The dog clutches
are provided which are free to slide on the
main shaft. The gears on the lay shaft are,
however, fixed.
CONSTANT MESH GEAR BOX
When the left dog
clutch is slid to the
left by means of the
selector mechanism,
its teeth are
engaged with those
on the clutch gear
and we get the
direct gear.
CONSTANT MESH GEAR BOX

The same dog clutch,

however, when slid to
right makes contact with
the second gear and
second gear is
obtained.
Similarly movement of
the right dog clutch to
the left results in low
gear and towards right
in reverse gear.
Double Declutching

In the constant mesh box, for the smooth

engagement of the dog clutches it is
necessary that the speed of mainshaft gear
and the sliding dog must be equal. Therefore
to obtain lower gear, the speed of the clutch
shaft, layshaft and main shaft gear must be
increased. This is done by double declutching
Procedure for Double
Declutching
The clutch is disengaged and the gear is
brought to neutral. Then the clutch is
engaged & accelerator pedal pressed to
increase the speed of the main shaft gears.
After this the clutch is again disengag
ed & gear moved to the required lower gear &
the clutch is again engaged. As the clutch
disengaged twice in this process, this is
called double declutching.
SYNCHROMESH GEAR BOX
SYNCHROMESH GEAR BOX
To understand the
working of this gear
box, consider Fig which
shows in steps how the
gears are engaged. For
direct gear, member G1
and hence member F1
is slid towards left till
cones M1 and & M2 rub
and friction makes their
speed equal.
SYNCHROMESH GEAR BOX

Further pushing the

member G1 to left
causes it to override the
balls and get engaged
with dogs K1. Now the
drive to the mainshaft is
direct from B via F1 and
the splines.
ASSIGNMENT 3
1. Explain with the help of a neat sketch the
construction of a propeller shaft.
2. Explain the necessity of a differential in an
automobile. Discuss in detail the
construction and operation of the differential.
3. Describe clearly the constructional details
and operation of torque tube drive with neat
and simple sketches.
4. What is an overdrive? Explain its
construction and discuss its working.
ASSIGNMENT 3
5. Discuss the steering linkage for a vehicle
with independent suspension.
6. Sketch the Recirculating ball type steering
gear & explain its working.
7. Explain the necessity of power steering in an
automobile.
8. Explain with the help of diagram the
principle of an automatic transmission.