Clutch tasks. The clutch is used to disengage and smoothly engage the engine crankshaft with other drivetrain units when starting the vehicle and when changing gearbox ratios.
Due to the inertia of the vehicle and the limited driving force and the limited adhesion of the wheels to the road surface, it takes some time to reach the speed vr. At this time, the driver engages the clutch, gradually applying this amount of energy to the driven wheels, which is sufficient to propel the vehicle and to equalize the rotational speed of the driving and driven elements. Only then is the engine fully engaged with the wheels.
The clutch is also used to disconnect the engine from the wheels when stopping the vehicle, when the engine speed is reduced to idle speed. An additional important task of the clutch is to protect the drive system mechanisms against excessive loading, Such a load may arise as a result of a sudden change in the rotational speed of the rotating masses of the engine and the masses driven in the drive system. (during a sudden start, emergency braking, etc.), which causes dynamic moments, sometimes significantly exceeding the value of the engine torque.