Design and Development of Experimental Test Rig for Fatigue Life Estimation of Freewheel One-Way Clutch Used in Switchgear Applications at High Overrunning Speeds

Year : 2025 | Volume : 13 | Special Issue 03 | Page : 289-299
    By

    Karan Dutt,

  • Shashikant J. Joshi,

  • Dhaval Shah,

  • Shashikant Soni,

  • Shashikant J. Joshi,

  1. Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Technology, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
  2. Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Technology, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
  3. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Technology, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
  4. Retired Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, L D Engineering College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
  5. Managing Director, NMTG Mechtrans Techniques Pvt. Ltd, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Abstract

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Freewheel one-way clutch (OWC) is a critical component used in industrial circuit breakers/switchgear to facilitate quick disengagement of the drive when an electrical circuit trips under overcurrent. The clutch acts as a safety device to endure high overrunning speeds and allows the drive shaft to rotate at normal operating speeds during each tripping cycle. The trip mechanism utilizes the stored potential energy of the helical compression spring, which is the critical design component of the circuit breaker to induce the required amount of torque at the clutch. OWC experiences fatigue during its lifespan while operating under repeated trip cycles. The fatigue testing of the clutch is carried out by developing a test bench specifically designed to simulate the tripping function of the switchgear application. The test bench is designed using the concept of a crank-gear operating mechanism, assembled with gear trains and compression springs to achieve the required transmissible torque under high overrunning speed. The design parameters like the size of gears, spring, and crank-connecting link are evaluated for the required torque capacity and the relevant size of the circuit breaker. Also, the designed torque capacity of the test bench at the clutch end is measured using a rotary torque sensor and theoretically validated. The torque sensor values differed from the theoretical values by 3-5% within the standard acceptable limit of 10%.

Keywords: One-way clutch (OWC), fatigue life, experimental test rig, overrunning speed, switchgear.

[This article belongs to Special Issue under section in Journal of Polymer and Composites (jopc)]

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How to cite this article:
Karan Dutt, Shashikant J. Joshi, Dhaval Shah, Shashikant Soni, Shashikant J. Joshi. Design and Development of Experimental Test Rig for Fatigue Life Estimation of Freewheel One-Way Clutch Used in Switchgear Applications at High Overrunning Speeds. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(03):289-299.
How to cite this URL:
Karan Dutt, Shashikant J. Joshi, Dhaval Shah, Shashikant Soni, Shashikant J. Joshi. Design and Development of Experimental Test Rig for Fatigue Life Estimation of Freewheel One-Way Clutch Used in Switchgear Applications at High Overrunning Speeds. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(03):289-299. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2025/view=0


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Special Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 13
Special Issue 03
Received 12/11/2024
Accepted 12/02/2025
Published 24/04/2025
Publication Time 163 Days
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