The clutch is located between the engine and the gearbox and is designed to disconnect and connect the flywheel located on the engine crankshaft and the gearbox input shaft.
The clutch consists of a driven (frictional) disc, clutch cover with pressure plate and diaphragm spring, and clutch release mechanism. The friction disc consists of two annular friction linings, which are mounted on the hub through damper springs.
The diaphragm spring mechanism creates a force that combines the work of the flywheel, pressure and driven discs to ensure joint rotation, in this case the clutch is engaged and transmits torque from the engine to the gearbox. The clutch is controlled by the clutch pedal.
The clutch is released as follows. As a result of pressing the clutch pedal, the piston in the master cylinder moves, compressing the fluid, the pressure of which is transmitted through the hose to the clutch slave cylinder, the piston of which, in turn, acts on the clutch release fork. The release fork moves the release bearing, which presses on the center of the diaphragm spring, thereby releasing the engagement force around the perimeter of the spring and moves the pressure plate backwards. This releases the driven disk, after which the motor shaft and gearbox shaft can rotate independently of each other.
Friction linings are fixed on both sides of the driven disk. The leading part of the disc is connected to the hub through the parts of the torsional vibration damper, which provides an elastic connection between them. Vibration damper reduces dynamic loads that cause twisting (unwinding) transmission shafts, which occur when the vehicle speed changes sharply, hits bumps in the road, when the clutch is suddenly engaged, and also due to uneven engine torque. Elastic vibrations of transmission parts lead to the appearance of noise in mechanisms and units, as well as to vibrations, as a result of which damage to parts is possible if the amplitude of elastic vibrations reaches significant values. An absorber serves to absorb the energy of elastic torsional vibrations.