Saxomat

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Saxomat was a type of automatic clutch available as an option on Fiat 1800, Saab 93, Volkswagen Beetle, Borgward, DKW, BMW, Opel, NSU and Glas. Opel sold it as Olymat. The system also reappeared in the 1990s as Sentronic.

Cars with a Saxomat clutch did not have a clutch pedal. The Saxomat consisted of two independent systems, the centrifugal clutch and the servo clutch. The centrifugal clutch was engaged above certain engine RPM by centrifugal force, acting on spinning weights inside the clutch, similar to a centrifugal governor. The servo clutch used an electric switch that supplied vacuum via an actuator valve to a reservoir that disengaged the cluch. The clutch is disengaged automatically whenever the accelerator was released or the gear shift lever was touched.