Abstract
The use of hydraulic couplings in practically all fields of engineering has increased rapidly during the last few years. The paper traces the history of the Vulcan-Sinclair hydraulic coupling, which is of the turbo or hydro-kinetic type, from the days of its inception up to the present time, and gives details of other designs of the displacement or hydro-static type that have been developed, and the principles upon which they operate. The main advantages of the turbo design are enumerated and considerable test data are given, with particular reference to the Vulcan coupling, which, in theory, is the forerunner of the Vulcan-Sinclair designs. Advantage is taken to explain the difference between fluid couplings and torque converters, concerning which a good deal of confusion exists.
The differences between the various types of Vulcan-Sinclair hydraulic couplings and the improvements that have been effected in design during recent years are described in detail. The paper deals comprehensively with numerous applications of the different types of couplings covering both the industrial and automotive fields. The difficulties, and their cures, which have arisen in connexion with a number of applications are given prominence. A section deals with change-speed gearboxes arranged in conjunction with hydraulic couplings for use in Diesel traction.
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