Research on transmission efficiency of high power hydro-viscous clutch

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the influences of the oil film thickness between the friction pairs, the rotational speed of the active and passive friction disks and the inlet pressure of the lubricant on the transmission efficiency.Design/methodology/approachA mathematical model of transmission efficiency was established, and the efficiency of transmission was studied by means of numerical analysis.FindingsThe results demonstrate that the transmission efficiency decreases with the thickness of the oil film increases. When the thickness of oil film d = 0.1 mm, the relationship between transmission efficiency and transmission ratio is linear, that is, with the transmission ratio increases, the transmission efficiency also increases which does not change with the inlet pressure changes. However, when d = 0.1 mm, their relationship is non-linear; the efficiency increases first and then decreases as the transmission ratio increases, but decreases as the inlet pressure increases.Originality/valueThe authors obtained a rule is that increasing the rotational speed and reducing the inlet pressure of the lubricating oil can improve the transmission efficiency. This study can provide a theoretical basis for power transmission designing of hydro-viscous clutch.