Eaton Corp. has published a new technical paper on how contemporary mechanical clutches can protect drivetrain components from harmful torsional vibrations in commercial trucks. “The Role of Mechanical Clutches in Dampening Torsional Vibrations” describes how damper technology has evolved to effectively reduce driveline resonance that is created naturally in any internal combustion engine, and how dampers have been adapted for high-torque, low-speed engines, which increase the amount of vibration in the drivetrain.
The Eaton technical paper also includes information on how the correct amount of friction material and the number of springs factor into the design of a heavy-duty clutch. “The damper is the most critical part of a clutch,” said Prashant Kulkarni, engineering manager – Clutch Division, who authored the paper. “If you design the stiffness of the damper appropriately, it will positively impact the entire driveline.”