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Design Of Non-Thermo King Clutch Assembly Susceptible To Accelerated Wear, Excessive Noise, And Sticking In Engaged Position
Short service life, high noise levels, and field complaints about the clutch sticking in the engaged position, resulted in a need to investigate this non-Thermo King clutch assembly. Laboratory analysis revealed the problems are related to the inherent design of the non-Thermo King clutch assembly.
Both clutches work off the principle of centrifugal force. As the rpms increase, centrifugal force causes the clutch shoe pads to be forced against the clutch rotor. The design of the non-Thermo King clutch results in metal-to-metal contact of the shoe to the drive ramp, resulting in noise, accelerated wear, and can lead to the clutch sticking in the engaged position. The Thermo King clutch assembly uses rubber isolation drive bushings that result in no-metal-to-metal contact.
KEY POINTS:
Noise
The non-Thermo King clutch assembly generated constant rattling when engaged, caused by the metal-to-metal contact of the shoe pad with the drive ramps of the rotor assembly.
The Thermo King clutch has no metal-to-metal contact points. It employs a pivotal shoe design with isolation bushings, which dampen noise and vibration.
Clutch Sticking In Engaged Position
With continual metal-to-metal contact, the non-Thermo King clutch can create a groove. When it becomes pronounced, it may result in the shoe becoming stuck in the engaged position.
Because the Thermo King clutch delivers more equal pressure across the entire shoe pad, there is no metal-to-metal contact, no scoring problem, and little chance for the shoe pad to get stuck in the engaged position.
Service Life
Noise and accelerated wear of the non-Thermo King clutch assembly often causes them to be replaced. Often times, the replacement occurs long before the shoe pads are worn out. On average, the service life of this clutch assembly is approximately 1,500 hours, compared to 7,000 hours for Thermo King - nearly four times that of the non-Thermo King clutch assembly.
For more information,
contact your local dealer.
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