What is Cone Clutch? Working Principles Of Cone Clutch.

CONE CLUTCH

Cone clutch consists of friction surfaces in the conical form on the surface of the male cone. The engine shaft consists of a female cone. The male cone is mounted on the splined clutch shaft. It has friction surfaces on the conical portion. The male cone can move longitudinally on the clutch shaft. 

Engagement And Disengaged

When the clutch is in an engaged position, the friction surfaces of the male cone are in contact with that of the female cone due to the force of spring. When the clutch pedal is operated, the male cone disengaged from the female cone by sliding against the spring force and the clutch is disengaged.
Cone clutch
Cone clutch


Parts Of Cone Clutch:

  1. Male Cone.
  2. Female Cone.
  3. Clutch Spring.
  4. Clutch Pedal.
  5. Shift Lever.
  6. Clutch Shaft.

The Advantage of the Cone clutch

  1. In Cone Clutch is the force acting on the friction surfaces is greater than the axial force, as compared to the single plate clutch in which the normal force acting on the friction surfaces is same as to the axial force.
  2. Due to the high frictional force of contact surface, the cone clutch is capable of higher torque transmission than Single plate clutch.
  3. Because it is of simple design and more effective than other clutches it costs less. It is most likely used in small scale industries.
  4. Due to its good interlocking ability between male and female cones, it also used as a synchronizer unit various transmissions.

Disadvantages of the cone clutch

  1. The cone clutch is practically obsolete due to some disadvantages. If the angle of the cone is made smaller than 20° the male cone tends to bind in the female cone and it becomes difficult to disengage the clutch.
  2. Secondly, a small amount of wear on the cone surfaces results in a considerable amount of the axial movement of the male cone for which it will be difficult to allow.

Working Principles Of Cone Clutch

A cone clutch serves the same purpose as a single plate clutch. However, instead of mating two rotating disks, the cone clutch uses two conical surfaces to transmit torsional force by friction. The cone clutch transfers a higher torque than plate or disk clutches often the same size due to the wedging action and increased surface area. Cone clutches are normally used in low peripheral speed areas, even they were once common in vehicles and other internal combustion engine transmissions.

They are usually now confined to very specialist transmissions used in racing, rallying, or in extreme ott-road vehicles, although they are common in power boats. It is because the clutch does not have to be pressed in all the way and the gears will be changed quickly. Small cone clutches are used as synchronizer mechanisms in manual transmissions and in few limited-slip differentials.
Cone clutch
Cone clutch

You can watch the working animation of Cone clutch from the video below:


Applications Of Cone Clutch

  1. It is used as a synchronizing unit in different vehicles.
  2. The cone clutches are used in some sports cars.
  3. cone clutches are also used in some off-road vehicles.
  4. In 1914 some Mercedes models used cone clutches.
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