Application of electrorheological fluid in a hydrodynamic clutch

Abstract

In this paper, the test results of a prototype hydrodynamic clutch with electrorheological fluid as a working fluid are presented. The hydrodynamic clutch with electrorheological fluid is controlled by flow resistance modulation in the pump and turbine channels created by electrodes connected to a high voltage source. The main aim of the performed study is to investigate practical ranges of the hydrodynamic clutch control by applying an electric field. The test results show that the concept of hydrodynamic clutch control is sound. For the tested clutch both the maximum change of speed and the maximum change of torque during the control are about 80% of the clutch input values.