Low Friction Clutch Using Planetary Gears and Cams Mechanisms (Part I: Idea and Preliminary Design)

Abstract

Research progress in the automotive industry sector is highly motivated by scarcity and rapid depletion of the fossil fuels. Hence, designing automotive components that could support decreasing power losses is critical to efficient use of fuel. Clutches are basic elements in automotive industries for controlling motion transmission. Furthermore, of power related to the spin loss phenomenon in clutches significantly affects the motion transmission efficiency. Therefore, automotive industry developers are looking forward to develop advanced clutches that yield to low losses associated with quick response. The friction in clutches' disks is a main source of power losses. Also, the friction affects the clutches life time which causes sudden troubles. This paper presents a conceptual design of low friction clutch using permanent magnet cylinders, planetary gears and cams mechanisms for reducing of power in order to improve system efficiency. This clutch uses the magnetic forces effect of magnetic cylinders instead of the direct contact effect of the regular clutch's friction disks. Also, this clutch is provided with cams mechanism for assuring that motion is completely stopped. Moreover, planetary gears of this clutch decrease rotation speed and increase torque as an initial reduction gear box. Finally, a prototype of this clutch is presented for testing the conceptual design validity.