keskipakokytkimellä

Keskipakokytkin, known in English as a centrifugal clutch, is a type of automatic clutch that disengages or engages automatically based on the rotational speed of the input shaft. Its primary function is to connect or disconnect a power source, such as an engine, from a driven component, like a transmission or a propeller, without requiring manual intervention.

The mechanism typically involves a driving member connected to the engine and a driven member attached to the output shaft. The driving member contains weighted shoes or levers that are held inward by springs when the engine is at idle or low speeds. As the engine speed increases, centrifugal force overcomes the spring tension, causing the shoes to swing outward. These outward-moving shoes then make contact with the inner surface of the driven member, frictionally engaging the two components and transferring power.

When the engine speed drops, the centrifugal force lessens, and the springs pull the shoes back, disengaging the clutch. This automatic engagement and disengagement is particularly useful in applications where frequent starting and stopping or varying engine speeds are common, such as in go-karts, scooters, chainsaws, and some types of industrial machinery. The centrifugal clutch simplifies operation by eliminating the need for a clutch pedal or lever, allowing for a smoother transition between powered and unpowered states.