Centrifugal Clutch

For all you readers who aren't aware of what a centrifugal clutch exactly means, let me brief up the definition for you in short. In many small engine cars, it is an automatic clutch that allows the vehicle's engine to idle without the driver engaging an interaction with the vehicle. Such an action mechanically engages the drive ahead. This is the main concept of a how the clutch functions in a car.

What is a Centrifugal Clutch

Under the subject of discussion of clutches, one type is drum type clutch and the other is the disc type clutch. In the drum type clutch the engine rotates a central hub, which in turn, is connected to a set of clutch pads. As the central hub rotates, the centrifugal force pushes these clutch pads out against a metal drum. That metal drum linking between the chain and the engine in a vehicle is called 'centrifugal clutch'.

Defining it in simpler words, this clutch in a vehicle is secured to an output shaft, wherein, that shaft consists of a pair of fly-weights which is propelled by the engine. The main purpose is to get disengaged whenever the engine is idling consistently, such that the chain doesn't move at all in the process. And later when the engine catches a certain amount of speed, the clutch gets engaged back into action so that the chain can cut through. The input of the clutch is attached to the crankshaft engine and the output is attached to the belt, chain or any other part in the entire layout. The basic function of how an engine's RPM runs and increases gradually, is due to the centrifugal clutch which strokes in the outward direction and forces down the clutch to engage. Thus, when the engine attains a typical RPM, the clutch gets activated. And when there's load on the engine which causes the RPM to drop, that's when the clutch gets disengaged once again. Well, this process of centrifugal clutch getting engaged and disengaged keeps ongoing as long as the engine is tuned properly in a vehicle.

Uses of Centrifugal Clutches

The clutch can be of used to the home gardener's machines like chain saws and lawnmowers to an ideal demand in a youth model snowmobile or go-karts; they have basically been engineered to serve a long service life in any demanding areas of applications.

Chainsaw
Considering a chainsaw for instance, the centrifugal clutch connects the chain and the engine together. The same mechanism of the clutch getting engaged and disengaged follows, meanwhile allowing the chain to stay in place. And just when the throttle triggers off, the engine catches speed and the chainsaw begins cutting the grass.

Yo-Yos
Yo-yos totally remind me of my childhood days, but back then I never figured out how it worked. Today, I learn about it and realize the design is very simple. There's one single shaft which connects the two halves of the toy along with a string that is wrapped neatly around the spindle on the shaft. The one side of the yo-yo is the clutch present which when it doesn't spin, the centrifugal clutch helps to keep the spindle right in its place. But on the contrary, when the toy is spinning at high-speed, the weights are distributed in the clutch, which in turn, releases the spindle so that it can easily spin on the shaft.

Go-Karts
Depending on the speed of the vehicle's engine, centrifugal clutches claim to be fully automatic. In fact, go-karts happen to be the most easiest and common methods to transfer the engine power from the engine to the rear wheels. These clutches are actually engineered to stick up to the driver's abusive demands on the race track and also take the heat and tension from the vehicle.

Besides all of these popular uses, they are also used in vibrating compactors, agricultural grain conveyors, concrete finishing trowels, wood chippers, stand-by-fire pumps, ball mills, irrigation pumps, transport refrigeration, heavy duty crushers and many such applications.

Types of Centrifugal Clutches

The basic type has friction pads (shoes), which happens to connect the extension springs on the center shaft. So, when the shaft spins, the spring stretches out, causing the friction pads (shoes) to engage. Also, the clutches that are present in a go-kart have clutch disks stacked one above another. A similar mechanism is present in a motorcycle wherein, the working is just the same.

A centrifugal clutch is an automatic device and hence precautions must be taken when you are planning to bring a vehicle to halt. It's best that you turn off the engine of the vehicle to reduce the motion of the machine rather than completely relying on the centrifugal clutch mechanism.