Magnetic particle clutch
Encyclopedia
A magnetic particle clutch is a special type of electromagnetic clutch
which does not use friction plates. Instead, it uses a fine powder of magnetically susceptible material (typically stainless steel
) to mechanically link an otherwise free wheeling disc attached to one shaft, to a rotor attached to the other shaft.
When a magnetic field
is applied to the powder, it forms chains connecting the disc and rotor. The strength of the chains depends on the strength of the magnetic field.
Some advantages over a friction plate clutch include:
Electromagnetic clutch
Electromagnetic clutches operate electrically, but transmit torque mechanically. This is why they used to be referred to as electro-mechanical clutches. Over the years, EM became known as electromagnetic versus electro mechanical, referring more about their actuation method versus physical operation...
which does not use friction plates. Instead, it uses a fine powder of magnetically susceptible material (typically stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
) to mechanically link an otherwise free wheeling disc attached to one shaft, to a rotor attached to the other shaft.
When a magnetic field
Magnetic field
A magnetic field is a mathematical description of the magnetic influence of electric currents and magnetic materials. The magnetic field at any given point is specified by both a direction and a magnitude ; as such it is a vector field.Technically, a magnetic field is a pseudo vector;...
is applied to the powder, it forms chains connecting the disc and rotor. The strength of the chains depends on the strength of the magnetic field.
Some advantages over a friction plate clutch include:
- it doesn't exhibit stick-slip phenomenonStick-slip phenomenonThe stick-slip phenomenon, also known as the slip-stick phenomenon or simply stick-slip, is the spontaneous jerking motion that can occur while two objects are sliding over each other.- Cause :...
or stictionStictionStiction is the static friction that needs to be overcome to enable relative motion of stationary objects in contact. The term is a portmanteau of the term "static friction", perhaps also influenced by the verb "stick".... - the torqueTorqueTorque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
may be easily and quickly controlled - it is more resistant to wear
- it may be used for continuous slip applications
- it has a very fast response timeResponse timeIn technology, response time is the time a system or functional unit takes to react to a given input.- Data processing :In data processing, the response time perceived by the end user is the interval between the instant at which an operator at a terminal enters a request for a response from a...