Dog clutch

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dog clutch used to drive the platter in a microwave oven.
Dog clutch used to drive the platter in a microwave oven.

A dog clutch is a type of clutch that couples two rotating shafts or other rotating components not by friction but by interference. The two parts of the clutch are designed such that one will push the other, causing both to rotate at the same speed and will never slip.

Dog clutches are used where slip is undesirable and/or the clutch is not used to control torque. Without slippage, dog clutches are not affected by wear in the same way that friction clutches are.