Affiliation:
1. DESTEC Department, School of Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
2. Signal Theory and Communications Department, Mechanical Engineering Area, Universidad de Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
Abstract
In this paper, the experimental validation of an innovative clutch based on magnetorheological fluids (MRFs) excited by permanent magnets is described. The device, used in automotive applications to engage and disengage the vacuum pump, is tested using a standardized Worldwide harmonized Light-duty Test Cycle (WLTC). A test bench is built, and the system is observed in its operation for one hour, considering two consecutive WLTCs. The temperature increase slightly impacts the clutch’s behavior; in particular, the on-state performance of the device, mainly determined by the magnetic field-induced torque, remains largely unaffected by the temperature increase. The results showed that the performance of the proposed MRF-based device is only marginally affected by the phenomena that take place during the actual operation (e.g., temperature increase, shaft slip), confirming the effectiveness of the design.
Subject
Control and Optimization,Control and Systems Engineering