ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension: Cams, Clutches, and Mechanical Principles

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers mechanical components including cams, various types of clutches (positive, friction, magnetic, etc.), universal joints, and basic mechanical principles like siphoning and pulley speeds based on the ASVAB review text.

Cam

A specially shaped surface, projection, or groove whose movement drives a part in contact with it in another movement in response.

Cam Follower

The part in contact with a cam that moves in response to the cam's movement.

Clutch

A form of coupling designed to connect or disconnect a driving and a driven member for stopping or starting the driven part.

Positive Clutch

A class of clutches that have teeth that interlock, such as the jaw or claw type.

Jaw or Claw Clutch

The simplest type of positive clutch, which is usable only at low speeds.

Spiral Claw or Ratchet Clutch

A type of positive clutch that cannot be reversed.

Friction Clutch

A clutch designed to connect a rotating member to one that is stationary to bring it up to speed and transmit power with a minimum of slippage.

Cone Clutch

A type of friction clutch, which may be single-cone or double-cone, commonly used in motor trucks.

Disc Clutch

A type of friction clutch used in autos that can be single-disc or have a number of plates (multiple-disc).

Hele-Shaw Clutch

A combined conical-disc clutch with a groove that permits circulation of oil and cooling.

Dry Clutch

A clutch that operates without lubrication, frequently seen in single-disc designs.

Wet Clutch

A clutch, typically a multiple-disc type, that is lubricated or run in oil.

Magnetic Clutch

A clutch in which the friction surfaces are brought together by magnetic force when the electricity is turned on.

Induction Clutch

A clutch that transmits power without contact between driving and driven members.

Universal Joint (Hooke type)

A type of universal joint illustrated as Figure 31 in the mechanical review.

Bendix-Weiss universal joint

A specific type of universal joint illustrated as Figure 33.

Ring and Trunnion universal joint

A specific type of universal joint illustrated as Figure 32.

Siphon

A mechanism for transferring liquid from one container to another that works, in part, because of air pressure on top of the liquid.

Pulley Speed Rule

The smallest pulley in an arrangement is the one that must turn the fastest, making more revolutions per minute.

Cam Lobe

A projection on a cam; a single lobe will cause a contact point to be hit once during one complete revolution.