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Dynatect offers a range of mechanical clutches, including bidirectional slip clutches, toothed jaw clutches, and one-way (overrunning) options. Mechanical slip clutches, also known as friction torque limiters, prevent damage by limiting excessive torque in mechanical systems.
These compact devices are made up of pressure plates, friction plates, and springs that work together to control torque transfer. Our experienced engineers can customize solutions to meet your specific needs.
Polyclutch Design Guide
Slip Clutches RFQ PDF
Slip Clutch RFQ Online
What is a Slip Clutch and How Does it Work?
Series 16 Slip Clutches
Polyclutch®
Slipper Slip Clutches
Slip-Ease Slip Clutches
V-Series (Vertical) Slip Clutches
Slip-Aire Pneumatic Slip Clutches
Toothed Jaw Clutches
Any complex machine design includes goals of reliability, predictability, repeatability, and safety. Working against those goals are unexpected external forces from a product jamming or from misuse. Those unexpected forces can cause a mechanical overload that could create a safety hazard or damage any expensive drive train elements including the motor, shafts, couplings, and gearboxes.
An essential aspect of machine design is safeguarding against damage from torque or force beyond its intended limits. Friction torque limiters tackle this challenge by functioning as a clutch to decouple the unexpected force from one or more drive train components.
In a friction slip clutch, the disconnection happens via friction plates which enable the slippage. In the case of overload, a friction slip clutch will slip when the system is jammed and when the specified torque setting is reached. The friction slip clutch will continue to slip until the impediment is removed or load is reduced.
In selecting friction torque limiters, designers must consider critical elements including drive torque, RPM, and duty cycle. They must also consider if the application needs torque control for intermittent, continuous, or overload slip.
Dynatect’s Polyclutch® slip clutches can control torque in all three modes of intermittent, continuous, or overload. The placement of a slip clutch within the drive train varies by machine design. For example, the friction torque limiter can be placed between the output of a gearbox and the driven load, or between the gearbox and the motor.
Polyclutch slip clutches have mounting options for vertical or horizontal applications, in any portion of the drive train, and are available in a wide variety of sizes for torque applications from .02 to 1000 in-lbs.
Adjustable slip clutches control the precise amount of torque to tighten bottle caps without wear or breakage in this capping line application. All the slippage is in the clutch, with no appreciable wear.
Polyclutch slip clutches offer an added level of safety and protection to both the machine and its operators. Pneumatic (Slip-Aire) clutches can have tension adjusted during operation.
In this application, a Polyclutch® Slip-Ease clutch is used as a retention hinge on the mounting platform of a surgical device.
Dynatect’s Polyclutch® Slipper clutch provides precision torque control during the manufacturing of dental implants. In case of jamming, slip clutches will prevent subsequent motor stalling, electrical overload, stripped gears, and component burnout.
Overload protection is essential for many automated retail kiosks. Slip clutches may be used to help protect motor, machinery, and/or operator. As shown in this photo, a Polyclutch® slip clutch is used to protect the sensitive drive mechanisms of these automated machines. The clutch will slip when the mechanism is jammed. Motion will continue when impediment is removed.
Problem: In a spray tanning machine, maintaining a consistent downward travel speed for the spray nozzle is crucial to ensure even application of tanning and skin care products. However, gravity causes the weight of the spray nozzle to overpower the motor on its downward path, leading to uneven application.
Solution: A customized Polyclutch slip clutch with a one-way bearing was incorporated into the spray nozzle drive mechanism. This slip clutch provides controlled resistance, allowing the spray nozzle to move uniformly from top to bottom by adding drag on the way down, while freewheeling on the way up. This ensures even application by stabilizing the nozzle’s speed, delivering a uniform spray every time.
A Polyclutch V-Series slip clutch provides the uniform torque necessary to ensure product quality on a bottle capping operation. Previously, inconsistent torque control on a new machine had left some caps too loose and others too tight. Easy to install and maintain, the slip clutch has been successfully used for more than 30,000 bottles in this capping line. This vertical-oriented slip clutch reliably prevents under-torqued or over-torqued caps.
How it Works
This clutch works by using a friction clutch pack that is pressed against a steel hub. The pressure on the clutch pack is controlled by an adjusting nut, which allows the user to set the desired torque level. When the torque level is reached, the clutch pack will slip, preventing the output shaft from over-torquing. This protects the machine and ensures that the caps are not damaged. The V-Series slip clutch is also equipped with a ball bearing that allows relative motion between the clutch cartridge input and clutch housing. This helps to compensate for thrust loads and ensures smooth operation.
Intended to protect motor, machinery, and/or operator. Clutch will slip when mechanism is jammed. Motion will continue when impediment is removed.
Screw bottle caps, screws, controls, etc., to correct torque setting. Combine with one way clutch to slip at rated torque in one direction and freewheel or positive drive in other direction. Allows repeatable, accurate torque for capping machines, automatic screw driving, valve control, etc.
Maintain constant tension while winding or unwinding wire, paper, film, thread, etc. Slip clutch automatically compensates for changes in speed and diameter. Pneumatic clutch can change tension during operation.
Push product against gate with constant force. Remove gate and move to next position. No damage to product or conveyor – clutch does all the slipping. Also used for overload protection when jammed and for indexing the conveyor.
Hold lid, cover, door, screen, etc., at any position. Fingertip control. Combine with one way clutch for free movement in one direction. Ideal for friction hinges when smooth movement of lids, doors, screens, covers, etc., is required
Hold index wheel with solenoid operated pin. Motor runs continuously with clutch slipping. Pin pulls back to index to next station. Can be single or partial revolution. Can index tables, conveyors, vending machines, controls, etc.
Inertia makes clutch slip when starting and/or stopping. Results in less shock throughout the system. Ideal for slip at the end of stroke.
Automated machines may experience unintentional obstructions, such as rotating parts or small access doors driven by a gear mechanism. Dynatect’s mechanical slip clutches have been added to systems to allow safer interaction.
In one such example, a slip clutch is part of a disabled-access system that automates a door’s opening and closing. The slip clutch allows obstructions to the operation without causing injury or damaging the drive motor.
In another application, a slip clutch was integrated into the driveshaft of a food prep machine’s rotating arm to add mechanical safety for the operator.
Need a replacement Polyvolt™ motor? Dynatect stocks two styles (XGO- & XMO-). Polyvolt motors can be requested using this form.
Learn about the fundamentals of slip clutches, how to select the right one for your application, and their benefits and limitations.
Three key factors in determining the right clutch are the maximum shaft size, torque capacity of the clutch, and wattage capacity. Please consider the limitations listed for each Polyclutch product line.
The clutch capacity is based on continuous operation at 50 RPM for over 25 million cycles. Torque, RPM, duty cycle and life are interdependent. A reduction of any of these will allow an increase in any other. (Running at 25 RPM will allow twice the torque, or running for only 10% of the cycle will allow higher RPM, etc.)
The limit is based on heat buildup measured in watts per:
Watts = Torque (inch pounds) x RPM x Duty Cycle* x 0.011.
*(% of the time the clutch is slipping, expressed as a decimal. For example, 0.5 = 50% of the time the clutch is slipping)
Please contact us to discuss high torque, high RPM, and rapid cycling applications, and other applications outside of these general limitations.
Polyclutch slip clutches have the following advantages:
In general, Polyclutch slip clutches have the following limitations:
Please see our page What is a Slip Clutch and How Does it Work which includes a video