Client Overview:
Chapman Machinery designs and manufactures equipment for the agricultural, equestrian and horticultural sectors. As this is an industry Lancereal specialises in, its team reached out to Chapman Machinery to learn more about their business and the drive system used in its machinery. Chapman Machinery revealed the centrifugal clutch it used was a weak point of the machine and ideally this could be more robust and durable for the heavy duty, high quality machinery it manufactures.
Challenges and Project Scope:
Flail mowers are used in a wide range of terrains such as dense vegetation and overgrown pastures. To improve the reliability of the mowers, Lancereal was tasked with sourcing a higher quality and more durable clutch that could better handle the harsh conditions it operates in.
Chapman Machinery shared data with the Lancereal team to enable them to select a suitable clutch to meet its specific requirements. Key considerations included:
- Engine power
- Running speeds
- Engagement speeds
- Pulley type
- A safety factor to cope with peak torques
Solution:
Lancereal works with its customers, and their CAD drawings, to find a standard or customised solution that will seamlessly integrate in the machinery. In this instance, the solution for Chapman Machinery to trial on its flail mower was the Amsbeck centrifugal clutch.
The clutch designed had the optimal engagement speed, bore size and pulley design and the results showed improvements in comparison to the previous clutch. The Amsbeck clutch has high quality components with cast iron and steel construction to offer long service life under heavy duty applications. The smooth engagement reduces vibration resulting in less wear of machine components. In addition, special clutch linings were used to optimise the torque transmitted - and service kits including springs and linings can be provided for cost effective refurbishment of the clutch. The success of the trial has led to Lancereal supplying its centrifugal clutch to Chapman Machinery’s production line for its flail and rotary mowers, which they have continued to do to date.
Outcomes:
Over the years, the relationship has continued to strengthen with Lancereal becoming a key partner to Chapman Machinery through sharing its technical expertise and solving problems. The companies are working together on new projects as Chapman Machinery looks to enter new markets and bolster its machinery portfolio.
Following the success of the Amsbeck centrifugal clutch in the flail mower, it is also being used in other machinery they manufacture. Lancereal holds stock of clutches and service kits, and ships components regularly to Chapman Machinery whilst offering flexibility on timings and providing aftermarket support through supplying repair kits for the clutches.
