The clutch is a very important part in the car, which is directly related to whether the engine power can be effectively output.
Both manual transmission and automatic transmission have a clutch. The main function of the clutch is to control the output and resistance of the engine power. The clutch is equivalent to a switch, the engine is equivalent to a power supply, and the gearbox is equivalent to a light bulb. When the clutch is disconnected, the light bulb will go out , combined with the light bulb to light up.
The clutch is composed of a clutch plate, a pressure plate, a release bearing and a release fork, and the clutch plate is only a part of the clutch. Although the clutch plate is only a thin piece, most of the cars we see every day use a similar structure (as shown in the picture above). With it, it can help us switch power transmission easily!
There are also many friends who are very strange. Family cars basically have more than 100 horsepower. Why can this small clutch plate be able to withstand it?
First of all, the current car clutches are basically made of new materials, not only wear-resistant and high-temperature resistant, but also the power of supercars can withstand it (the clutch of a general family car can withstand 1000Nm), not to mention the general The family car is gone!
In addition, although the horsepower of the car is generally large, the clutch plate does not have such a heavy load. For example, the weight of a truck is very heavy, and it cannot be started completely depending on the torque that the clutch bears. Because there is a gearbox, it plays a role in torque amplification. Just like as long as there is a long enough stick, the earth can be moved.
Usually, the horsepower displayed by a car is generated by the engine, driven by the clutch plate, amplified by the gearbox, and then amplified by the differential. Some trucks have planetary gears that are amplified three times, so the clutch plate does not have such a heavy load. Even so, the clutch plate Chips are still more prone to damage than parts such as engine gearboxes, and they are also intentionally designed to protect other more expensive parts. It is the hub that directly bears the horsepower load, but the hub is obviously much thicker!