🚀 go-pugleaf

> Why do cars (i.e., motor vehicles) have clutches?  Hint, it's NOT so you
> can shift gears.

Is it not so that you can turn the crank to start them without
getting run over?

-- 

E. Michael Smith  ...!{hplabs,ihnp4,amd,nsc}!amdahl!ems

'If you can dream it, you can do it'  Walt Disney

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not limited to: typos, spelling, diction, logic, and nuclear war)

> Why do cars (i.e., motor vehicles) have clutches?  Hint, it's NOT so you
> can shift gears.

Well, I've always found it convenient to be able to stop the wheels
without stopping the engine as well.

-Ron

> Why do cars (i.e., motor vehicles) have clutches?  Hint, it's NOT so you
> can shift gears.

Outside of the obvious answer that the engine would quit when you stop,
the real reason is that an internal combustion engine produces torque that 
is relatively proprotional to engine rpm (up to a point).  At low rpm (idle) 
the engine is producing very little torque.  You need a "clutch" (the torque 
converter in an automatic transmission) to allow the rpm to increase to 
a point to where the engine is producing enough torque to move the car.

An external combustion engine (ie. steam engine) can produce full torque at
zero rpm, so you don't see clutches on old steam locomotives.  Electric
motors (depending on drive electronics) can also be made to put out enough
torque at zero rpm that a clutch isn't needed to start up an electric car.

-- 

   Pat Vilbrandt
   John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
   Everett, Washington USA
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In article <3173@hplabsb.UUCP> bl@hplabsb.UUCP writes:
>Why do cars (i.e., motor vehicles) have clutches?  Hint, it's NOT so you
>can shift gears.

Granted, you don't NEED a clutch to shift, but it sure makes it
easier/quicker/smoother/less wear and tear.

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    Disclaimer:  What I just said may or may not have anything to do with
                 what I meant to say...

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