How does the centrifugal clutch work?
How does the centrifugal clutch work?

How does the centrifugal clutch work?

A lot of construction machines equipped with combustion engines have a centrifugal clutch. This small element plays a great role in the operation of this type of equipment. Its operation is based on simple principles of physics and allows for comfortable operation of the device. For instance, jack hammers, compaction plates and rammers, handheld power cutters and saws can be equipped with the centrifugal clutch. So, how does a centrifugal clutch work and what is it made of?

WHAT IS A CLUTCH FOR?

Clutches, as structural elements of machines – including vehicles, are used to transmit torque from the drive shaft to the driven shaft. To put it simply, thanks to the clutch, it is possible to transfer smoothly the mechanical energy generated by the engine to individual working elements of a specific device.

Car drivers who have experienced the failure of this key element can confirm a high need for applying clutches. Construction equipment operators would face a similar difficulty because working tools such as a chisel or a compactor foot would be started along with the starting of the engine. The clutch also functions as a kind of shock absorber and provides protection against too high torque that could damage the driveline.

CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH – WORKING PRINCIPLE

The centrifugal clutch works in a rather characteristic way. It is activated when a certain rotational speed is exceeded. It means that it does not transmit torque when the engine is idling (in neutral, without load). The engine speed must be increased to start the working tool. Then, the centrifugal force counteracts the force of the springs which pull back the friction elements of the clutch and it leads to the starting of the clutch.

It has a huge advantage. The use of a centrifugal clutch allows, for instance, for the free preheating of the engine and reaching working temperature before using the main working tool (without the need of previous switching). The principle of operation of this type of clutch also affects the operator's safety. Why? Because when the speed is reduced, the drive and the working tool disengage, for example, a chain on a chainsaw stops turning.

THE STRUCTURE OF A CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH

The structure of the centrifugal clutch is quite simple, therefore it is quite a durable element of the drive system. It mainly consists of weights, drivers and springs. Increasing rotational speed causes increasing pressure on faster and faster spinning weights. If the centrifugal force is greater than the force of the springs, the weights will move and contact the friction elements (clutch engages). Similarly, if the engine speed decreases, the springs will start to pull the friction elements until their disconnection (switching off the clutch).

PROPER USE OF THE CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH

Despite the simple and durable structure, this type of clutch is not indestructible. For this reason, it is absolutely necessary to follow the recommendations received from the manufacturer and written in the instruction for use of the given equipment. It is also worth holding to the general rules that apply to all devices with a centrifugal clutch. They will help extend the life of this component and thus reduce service costs.

HOW TO CARE FOR A CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH IN CONSTRUCTION MACHINES?

  • Take care of proper lubrication of the moving parts of the device, so that the resistance and wear of the clutch is reduced. In addition, cold grease, e.g. in the impact mechanism of demolition hammers, can cause the slipping of the centrifugal clutch. Therefore, before starting work with these devices, it is necessary to warm up the engine at low speed.
  • Switch between the idle speed and the working speed of the equipment as quickly as possible. Slow increasing or decreasing revolutions adversely affects the components of the clutch and shortens its life.
  • Depending on the recommendations of the manufacturer of the equipment, a given model of the device should (in operating mode) be used only with full gas – of course, after previous warming up of the engine. Continuous operation at lower revolutions can damage the centrifugal clutch. This recommendation concerns, for instance, selected single direction vibratory plate compactors and vibratory rammers (tampers).
Settings

We respect your privacy. You can change cookie settings or accept them all. You can change your settings at any time.

Necessary cookies are used for the proper functioning of the website and allow you to comfortably use the services we offer.

Cookie files respond to actions taken by you in order to, inter alia, adjusting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling out forms. Thanks to cookies, the website you are using may function without interruption.

More

These types of cookies allow the website to remember the settings you have entered and to personalize specific functionalities or the content presented.

Thanks to these cookies, we can provide you with greater comfort of using the functionality of our website by adjusting it to your individual preferences. Expressing consent to functional and personalization cookies guarantees the availability of more functions on the website.

More

Analytical cookies help us develop and adapt to your needs.

Analytical cookies allow you to obtain information on the use of the website, place and frequency with which our websites are visited. The data allows us to evaluate our websites in terms of their popularity among users. The collected information is processed in an anonymised form. Expressing consent to analytical cookies guarantees the availability of all functionalities.

More

Thanks to advertising cookies, we present you the most interesting information and news on the websites of our partners.

Promotional cookies are used to present our messages to you based on an analysis of your preferences and your browsing habits. Promotional content may appear on the websites of third parties or our partner companies and other service providers. These companies act as intermediaries presenting our content in the form of news, offers, social media messages.

More