CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCHES

The centrifugal clutch permits the drive motor to start, warm up and accelerate to the operating speed
without load. Then the clutch is automatically engaged and the driven equipment is smoothly brought
up to the operating speed. These clutches are highly useful for heavy loads (large machines) where the
motor cannot be started under that load.
Operating principle of centrifugal clutch
The centrifugal clutch works on the principle of centrifugal force, which increases proportional to the
square of rotational speed. A centrifugal clutch is shown in Fig. 9.9.1.

Guides or spiders are mounted on the driver or motor shaft. They are equally spaced such that if there
are four guides, they are separated by 90. Sliding shoes are placed between the guides and each is
retained by a spring. The outer surface of the sliding shoe is provided with a lining of friction material.
A co-axial drum, which is mounted on the output or driven shaft, encloses the assembly of spider, shoes
and spring.
When the motor is started, the rotational speed of input shaft increases, and hence the centrifugal force
acting on the sliding shoe increases. This causes each shoe to move outward. The shoe continues to
move with increasing speed until they contact the inner surface of drum, overcoming the spring force.
Torque is transmitted due to frictional force between the shoe lining and the inner surface of drum
( Refer animation 9.9.1).
Torque transmission capacity of centrifugal clutch
The forces acting on the shoe are shown in Fig. 9.9.2, with the following notations:

Fig. 9.9.2 Forces acting in centrifugal clutch

The engagement/disengagement and torque transmission capacity of clutch depend on the centrifugal
force generated in the clutch which rely mainly on the motor speed. So, the centrifugal clutch is called

self-activating clutch. The engaging speed depends on the selection of spring constant.
Applications of centrifugal clutches
Centrifugal clutch is widely used in textile machinery such as looms, carding-, knitting-, drawing-, rovingand spinning machines. The spider is fixed on the main motor shaft. The outer surface of drum forms a
pulley which is either crowned or grooved depends on whether a flat or v-belt is used. From this pulley,
drive is transmitted to the pulley on the main shaft. For example, a centrifugal clutch is used in the drive
from motor to cylinder and lickerin on a high speed card. Once the motor attains the required speed, the
centrifugal clutch engages, transmitting the drive to lickerin and cylinder, thus safe guarding the motor
during start-up. Centrifugal clutch is economical and requires less maintenance to any other motor safety
device such coupling.