Eaton’s Vehicle Group has added to its 430-millimeter diaphragm spring clutch portfolio for heavy-duty trucks. Eaton says the new clutches offer solutions for current and future powertrain technology advancements, including downsized and downsped engines.

To help meet global emissions and fuel economy regulations, many manufacturers are producing downsized and downsped engines. Those newer engines produce peak torque at lower RPMs, which can create increased levels of engine torsional vibration. Eaton’s new 285-millimeter diameter damper clutches are designed to reduce those vibrations and features Eaton’s Soft Stop technology, which increase clutch durability by reducing stress on the damper springs during potential over-torque events, according to Eaton.

The push self-adjust design includes Standard Duty models, primarily designed for on-highway applications such as linehaul and regional delivery. Eaton’s 430-millimeter push self-adjust design with an organic facing provides a clean release, smooth engagements and faster gear shifts, the supplier said. The push self-adjust design also is now available in new 1,950 ft.-lb. and 2,050 ft.-lb. torque rating models and a 254-millimeter damper and 1,850 ft.-lb. torque rating version.

Standard Duty models previously available in a 232-millimeter damper and 1,585 ft.-lb. torque rating also are now available in 254-millimeter damper with a 1,950 ft.-lb. torque rating and a 285-millimeter damper with a 2,050 ft.-lb. torque rating.

In addition, a new push self-adjust Extreme Duty model clutch is available in 254-millimeter and 285-millimeter damper sizes with a 1,950 ft.-lb. torque rating. It features higher thermal capacity alloy components and an optimized pressure plate mass for improved durability and enhanced low-speed maneuverability. Severe-duty vocational applications need to be able to maneuver and drive at high loads, which means a more demanding thermal duty cycle and a higher torque requirement. To meet these needs, the main damper springs have been upgraded for improved NVH characteristics, Eaton says.

Extreme Duty clutches use a new organic facing, more robust pilot bearing, and are designed for more frequent starts and stops found in on/off-highway applications. They offer improved durability, providing 63% more actuations over standard temperature versions, and more uptime, minimizing the number of “clutch abuse” warnings before intervention, which allows for 50% more launches, according to the manufacturer.