hydraulic questions

[wannabee]

hi guys. I'm working on a clutch system. I have very little travel to work with and the clutch springs are quite stiff. A simple leverage system will introduce to much travel. I've got a few questions:
1. Will a hydraulic system eliminate some of the travel, or will this work like a lever system?
2. If it will not reduce the travel, would i be able to use a vacuum booster to increase force.
3. how small could a vacuum booster be and still be effective?

I realize these questions are a little ambiguous, but basically, i need to reduce the force required to depress the clutch, not increase travel much at all, and the whole system must be as compact as possible.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Brian

 

[MikeMilburn]

As you said, the information is a little vague. One thing that comes to mind for an actuator is a brake chamber from a truck brake system. Depending on the model chamber you get, you could have it air to engage or air to disengage (parking brake chamber 'maxi' brake)which could act as a failsafe if needed. The leverage obtainable from these chambers is quite high so mounting directly to the clutch arm could be possible. These chambers have/are being used to lock tailgates, apply brakes and numerous other non-standard applications. Mind you, non of this is useful if you don't have air available ...Mike

 

[automatic2]

What travel are you referring to?. At the clutch bearing or at the pedal? Hydraulics will mirror the lever formula, but has the advantage of flexibility in design. Passing an increase of pedal travel through the lever formula will come up with a reduction of force at the pedal. Heavy clutches can use servo style hydraulic arrangements where a pump/motor combination does the work.

 

[wannabee]

Thanks for the responses guys.
Let me elaborate a little...

1. it's a motorcycle clutch off of a honda cbr 600.

2. the engine is in a formula car, and we don't really have space, and can't afford the weight of a compressor. We're also using push button shifting, and don't really have much electrical power to spare for an electric motor.

3. I'm trying to mount the clutch lever on the stearing wheel(which is only ~10" in diamater). I want to reduce the amount of force necessary to pull the lever so one can pull it easily with only two fingers.

I'm leaning towards a hydrolic system right now because i could incorporate a vacuum booster. I don't know much about vacuum boosters, however, and while the design and function seems simple, the one in my car is too big, and i'd like to know if they can be made smaller, and still be effective.

well, i'm gonna do some more research. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and suggestions to my dilemma,

Brian.

 

[Mandrake22]

It would add to the electric load, but how about an electric solenoid to operate the clutch. The lever would simply be a switch operator. A low capacity microswitch at the lever could operate a relay to handle the relatively higher amperage required by the solenoid. You would have to get used to "high power and dump the clutch with smoky burnouts" type takeoffs since the solenoid wouldn't allow "feathering" of the clutch. Maybe a combination of mechanical operation for takeoff from rest and electrical control thereafter might be worth thinking about.
Have you posted to the motorcycle engineering forum?