Variation analysis of a drive system with an innovative flexible clutch operating under the conditions of constant and cyclically variable load torque of diverse variation waveform

During machinery operation, load is often highly variable, which exerts an impact on how the machinery service life is reduced; hence the need for decreasing the variations in the load torque affecting the driving elements of machines. In order to achieve such reduction, the authors have developed a flexible clutch of innovative design. This paper provides a follow-up to the studies of the dynamic properties of the said clutch in terms of the analysis of the effect attributable to the input function waveform of the applied load on the dynamic response of the system, represented by the value of the accelerations of the drive system vibrations. The load variants analysed, with values of 500±250 Nm and 750±375 Nm (sinusoidal, triangular, and rectangular waveforms). On account of the fact that the flexible clutch was integrated with the drive system subject to the studies, it was found that the averaged maximum root mean square reductions of vibration accelerations in the measurement direction with the highest vibration accelerations (direction y) came as high as to 56.1%.