Maximum pull with the clutch

Every drawworks you see will be capable of using massive amounts of power to pull drills and piping thanks to heavy torque. However, all that power and torque causes a great strain on the line, and the design of the clutch will determine whether the line holds together or snaps. Better understanding the drawworks’ function requires learning about some of the types of clutches present in them.

Mechanical

Mechanical clutches have one pressure plate and at least one friction plate. Release springs are used to separate the plates. Drawworks with mechanical clutches require a non-locking cone instead of locking ones to prevent damaging the block and sending the parts flying. A derivative of this model, the mechanical-positive clutch, contains a jaw- or pin-type clutch working alongside a master clutch. However, operators must ensure that only one of them is active at any given time.

Walking on Air

Technology has enabled the development of drawworks clutches where air chambers will be pushed against two plates instead of a pressure group, plus spliunes in the hub, backplates, and the drive ruing. The diaphragm-type air clutch fills up with air fast at 100 pounds per square inch. Tube-type air clutches have the regular air chambers fashioned like a car’s inner tube. The tube-type drum-type friction surface clutch is unique in the sense that it’s basically a cast iron drum with an air tube that has friction shoes.