slip clutch
- noun
- Specialized
:
embrague de deslizamiento
- When the motor's power exceeded the limit, the slip clutch disengaged to protect the equipment.
Examples
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The engineers installed a slip clutch to safeguard the machine from damage during overloads.
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To prevent excessive torque, the new design incorporates a slip clutch that activates under heavy strain.
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The drive assembly slip clutch friction was increased to prevent this.
Academic text (1992)
Synonyms
A device that lets moving parts slide when twisting force is too high to protect machines
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase denotes a clutch that 'slips' — combining 'slip' (to slide/allow movement) with 'clutch' (mechanical coupling) yields the meaning that the device allows controlled slipping to limit torque. This is a straightforward compositional pattern common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the general function even if they lack technical detail.
Etymology
Slip clutch comes from the literal parts of the name: a clutch is a part that joins two moving pieces and to slip means to slide instead of hold. One clear picture is that the clutch will slide when there is too much force so the machine does not break, so a slip clutch is a clutch that 'gives' to 'protect' the machine.
