Spicer's clutches
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BOTH SIZE and weight is minimised with Spicer's new family of mid-range Angle Ring clutches.
Designated 310 and 350, the clutches, with disc sizes of 310mm (12.25in) and 356mm (14in), have been designed to provide increased torque capacities to match current engine development without incurring an increase in mass or weight.
The two units, of advanced design with push-type release mechanism based on the Belleville spring, have nominal torque capacities of 542 and 678 Nm (400 and 500 lbft) required by nine to 24-ton gvw vehicles.
Pedal effort is comparatively low, needing only 15kgf (32 lbsf) to operate the release mechanism via a standard 10:1 linkage ratio avoiding any need for servo — or power — assistance, even for urban cycle operation.
Competitive units are said to require about 29kgf (65 lbsf) to operate.
Spicer Angle Ring units are claimed to hold constant clamping loads throughout the life of the frictional material while achieving 30 per cent more torque capacity than any other 330mm (13in) clutch on the market.
Spicer has standardised on ceramic friction material for both units providing an increase in life expectancy of 75 per cent over similar organic faced units.
Additional low profile steel pressings allow either clutch to be interchanged with any 330mm (13in) flat flywheel installation.
Both units are now in production and are to be offered with a wide range of SAE and DIN standard splines with an off the shelf availability said to match almost any transmission input shaft.