Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-03
S|MPL|FIED LESSONS IN
CARE OF AUTOMOBILE
Disc and Conc Clutches Arc Equall,
Used by Automobile Manu-
facturcrS.
MUST BE CORRECTLY BUILT
Poorly Designed Part Will Give
Much Trouble. and Expert En-
ginccr Tells How II Can BE
Successful.
ny FREDERIck &. GUEnL1Cn.

IN FREDERICK Z. GtEHLlSH
The number Of makes of cars which
are equipped with the cone clutch and
the number equipped with the disc
clutch are about equal. the two max
ing about 30 per cent of the makes
of cars the market. \ cone clutch
will be found on one of our highest
priced cars and also on some of the
lowest priced; the same being true of
the disc clutch. Thus the question.
often asked. as 70 which is the better
is difficult to answer. and is entirely a
matter of The opinion of engineers.
a good cone clutch VIII give little
trouble, the same being true of disc
clutch. but i: either is poorly designed
or built II Viii give trouble and much
trouble.
We have seen thc design of the cone
clutch; let us nov t,>he up the design
OF the disc clutch.
Like the cone clutch. the disc clutch
depends upon friction for its holding
power. In the cone clutch tho ma
terials used have a very high cu-clli-
cience Of friction or holding power. and
the surface ar" 50 shaped that there is
an inclined plane or wedge action.
which will allow for great pressure
between the surfaces with a compare
lively small spring pressure.
Must Not he TOO strong.
The clutch spring must not hc too
powerful, as drivers of little strength
must be able 10 compress it by puSh-
ing on the foot pedal. and they muSt'
be able to hold IL in the compressed
position for some time without bccom-
ing tired
Thus the designers Of the disc clutch
have the problem of designing the
clutch to give 4 Crea; holding power
with comparatively weak spring.
without having the wedge action OF
the cone which will give a Leverage
to the spring How can this problem
be overcome?
Ii can he overcome by having A
number Of friction surfaces, or in
other words n mum hc- of clutches All
pressed together by the same spring.
Thus. while each surface Will not hoid
enough To pull the car up a steep hill
each each will hold some. and by having
clutch which Will hold sufficiently to
pull the err IN the stccpost grade can
be designed. using IA Comparativcly
weak spring
Having decided TO use a number of
surfaces, lot us proceed to design a
multiple disc clutch We find that one
set OF the discs viii have TO be driven
by the enEine, while the other SO; VIII
nave 10 drive the rear wheels fhrouuL
transmission ctcD so let us fastcn n
drum, TO the Inside Of which are kcvs.
TO the hywhccl. This is shown in Fir.
l. IN which y is the drum and l. the
keys. We C..n then notch the discs in
the outside circumference so as to III on
the KEYS, and be bic to Slide back and
forth in the drum. Figure shows this
notcheu disc, { being the notches OF
keyways.
Can DO Snme Thing.
Practically the same thing can be
done with the driven member and
driven discs Chose attached 10 the
rear wheels through transmission.
eeSco. mus, ny fastening drum on
the shaft which goes to The rear. with
Keys on tho outs l,ie of its circunfer-
ence as shown in Figures and :. in
Whlch y is the shaft. T. the drum and
h1
keEways on the discs. as shown i'm
Figure 4, in which II are the k"yways
III we assemble oar clutch as de
SHOWN IN Figure = Here YOU will
notice thar the discs % viii revolve
WIN the hywhcct. and the discs "a
VIII me driven shaft and drum l..
rms Is al! r!Sht 50 far, hut We have
TO way OF COMPRISING the discs to-
sv,me'' so i"t Us pul a tanrc on the
o sT'a aitaGhed I" the shaft u and
on the Other side of :hc discs 80 that
we VIII get what il shown in Figure i
mere CD Is the one itnGe and tK) the
Our next stop is to supply some
method Of pulling or pushing th"s.
Two hanr'S and Is toward one an
tween the discs 'rhis, we know. mus,
ne done ~ surinS. and SO by mn
.inS 4 SIP me- ON II" driven drum.
I in LIS ,ne' 4'y nS spid"r l.. Figure l.
nlhs pets from the spider 20 Inc
n piisbea Is our rnl.9se WI he accom-
r"shc, Nru'o 10 Right.
s, IN + lEurG YOU VII .ot!cc that the
s,bSping t"la& 70 push the drum T. TO
ne righ!t and spiIer l. 10 Inc Io,t as
Vii Mi, s InTI l. 1 pressed Ia The loft. it
r ha'' f IT's INK 'o,iS W. ana 50 also rull
sp.inS presses the nanc" ! to he right
uw1ycyuw--,-,vr.