Multi-plate Clutch

A multi-plate clutch has more than one driven plate. Although this type of clutch
has been widely used on cars up to about 1930, the several advantages of the
single-plate clutch, specifically its ability to completely disengage the drive has
caused a very rare use of a multi-plate unit as a main transmission clutch
installed between the engine and gear box. However, a multi-plate type of clutch
finds a use in automatic gearboxes. In these gearboxes, a number of clutches
hold the various gear elements, and as the clutch diameter in these units is
limited, a multi-plate clutch is suitable.
Multi-plate Spring Type Clutch

Figure 24.16 illustrates the layout of a multi-plate spring type clutch, fitted on
early motor cars. A cover, bolted to the flywheel, engages by means of slots with
a series of lugs on the outer plates. These steel plates may be plain or fitted with
cork or friction material inserts and act on inner plates, splined to a hub. Thrust
springs push the plates together to form a drive.

Multi-plate spring type clutch.

For the clutch disengagement, the end plate is withdrawn to compress the
springs and release the other plates. In this arrangement it is difficult to ensure
the disengagement of all plates. To overcome this problem the plates are either
dished or fitted with small springs to push the plates apart.
Generally wet type clutch is used in automatic gearboxes, and is operated by a
piston governed by hydraulic pressure. Sintered bronze plates of partially fusing
powdered bronze or compressed paper are used in many designs. The porous
surface of this plate traps the oil, to provide long life and smooth operation.

Reverse Engineering
Power = 9.5KW @ 9000 rpm and Torque = 11 Nm @ 7000 rpm
Friction materials used are cork and SF001.
Material used is cork on steel = 0.25
R1 and R2 outer and inner radius of friction faces
R1 =53 mm and r2 = 41 mm
n = no of pairs of contact surfaces
n = n1 + n2 1
Wheren1 andn2 are no of disc on driving and driven shaft n1 =
4 and
n2 = 4; n = 7
by considering uniform wear theory which states that, wear
depends upon intensity of pressure P and velocity of rubbing
which further depend on R, thus for uniform rate of wear PR =
constant.
For uniform wear R = (R1+R2)/2
Where R = mean radius of friction material
R = (0.053+0.041)/2 = 0.047m
Torque (T) = W R n
Where, = coefficient of friction and W = Axial load in N
11 = 0.25 x W x 0.047 x 7
W = 133.73 N
Now, from uniform wear theory,
W = 2 x ( Pmaxx R2) x (R1 R2)
Where, Pmax= maximum pressure between the contacting
surfaces
133.73 = 2 x (Pmax x 0.041) x (0.053 0.041)
Pmax= 43259.73 N/m2
Similarly, for another material i.e. SF001 (=0.5) by following
the above procedure the values of W and Pmaxare calculated.
W = 66.86 N
Pmax= 21628.25 N/mm2
Actual image of
Multiplate clutch
Creo report