How Do Pneumatic Clutches Work?
Grab. Spin. Decouple. Repeat. At one level, clutches really are that simple. But pneumatic clutches are just one example of what a few innovative twists can do to complicate (and improve) the process. So let’s start with the basics: All clutches—whether K&L’s mechanical clutches, pneumatic clutches, or hydraulic clutches—work essentially the same way, and provide the same larger function. They work to synchronize two rotating shafts (say a car’s transmission and engine) that are spinning at different speeds. The clutch can connect the two shafts, locking them together to spin simultaneously, or decouple the shafts to spin again at different speeds (when you’d want to stop a car without turning off the engine). All sorts of technical variations exist. But engaging a clutch (releasing the clutch pedal in a car, for example) almost always moves power from an engine to another part of the machine (like a car’s transmission). Disengaging usually stops that power transfer without stopping th
