How does a clutch work?
Even if you don’t want to become an expert in mechanics , knowing how a clutch works is useful, because it is an essential element for the transmission of the car’s energy.
Understanding how a clutch works: mechanical operation
To understand how a clutch, one of the main ORGANS of the car, works, you need to know what it is made of.
A car clutch consists, among other things, of two discs, which stick and detach. When the two discs are bonded, this creates a connection to pass the energy generated by the engine to the gearbox and then to the wheels . When the discs are detached, the connection is broken, energy is no longer transmitted.
How a clutch works: the role of the driver
The operation of the car’s clutch is controlled by the driver. It is he who activates the clutch CONTROL, that is to say the clutch pedal. This is the leftmost pedal under the steering wheel.
When the driver activates the clutch pedal, this makes it possible to vary the position of the discs to make them stick or come off and therefore adapt the quantity of energy transmitted to the car.
On vehicles with an automatic gearbox , however, the clutch also operates automatically. It therefore does not require driver intervention.
How to use the clutch in a car
Now that you know how a clutch works, here’s how to use it while driving.
In this case, the two clutch discs are detached, so they are not working and they are not transmitting energy to the wheels of the car. The clutch can be used in this position when stopping, for example.
The skating point
The slip point is the intermediate position of the clutch. When the driver holds the clutch pedal in this position, the discs are in very light contact, the energy transmitted is therefore moderate. The clutch should be used at the slip point to start or perform parking maneuvers at very low speed.
Clutch closed: engaged position
When the clutch pedal is released, we say that we are in the engaged position.
The two clutch discs are then stuck together and transmit energy to the vehicle wheels. Using the clutch in the engaged position therefore allows the car to move forward, if a gear is engaged of course.
The operation of the clutch therefore allows the transmission of energy from the car. Find out how the engine produces this energy. This knowledge will be useful to you, especially if you take your driving test !
A car clutch consists, among other things, of two discs, which stick and detach. When the two discs are bonded, this creates a connection to pass the energy generated by the engine to the gearbox and then to the wheels . When the discs are detached, the connection is broken, energy is no longer transmitted.
The slip point is the intermediate position of the clutch. When the driver holds the clutch pedal in this position, the discs are in very light contact, the energy transmitted is therefore moderate. The clutch should be used at the slip point to start or perform parking maneuvers at very low speed.
