Fluid Dynamic Analysis and Experimental Study on Wet Friction Clutch

When the multi-disk clutch is in disengaged operation, friction plates and mating plates may not separate absolutely, in order to avoid the slipping friction and reduce the clutch's overheating, the lubricant pressure between the plates should distribute equably in design. Based on the fluid dynamic theory, the 3-D fluid models of oil way with different diameters of squirt hole are established, with which the fluid field at different velocities and temperatures of lubricant can be analyzed. The distribution of lubricant pressure in the clearance of plates influenced by the diameter of squirt hole, inlet velocity and lubricant temperature can be studied. The result of the study shows that the bigger the squirt hole, the smaller the inlet flow and the lower the temperature is, the more uniform the lubricant pressure distributes.