friction clutch

device

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Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

A friction clutch is a device that connects or disconnects two rotating shafts through sliding friction. It is typically placed between a driving motor and a machine's input shaft. This allows for easy starting and stopping of the machine and enables the motor to start without load.12

Friction clutches work by pressing together mating surfaces, which can be conical, disk, or ring-shaped. This pressure is often generated by springs or levers. The connection is made through the friction between these surfaces. This type of clutch is distinct from positive clutches, which use interlocking jaws.2

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clutch
Friction clutches have pairs of conical (see illustration), disk, or ring-shaped mating surfaces and means for pressing the surfaces together. The pressure may be created by a spring or a series of levers locked in position by the wedging action of a conical spool.
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Friction clutches have pairs of conical (see illustration), disk, or ring-shaped mating surfaces and means for pressing the surfaces together. The pressure may be created by a spring or a series of levers locked in position by the wedging action of a conical spool.
Read More