Arleigh Burke class destroyers

Automatic
Overrunning Clutches
for HIGH OUTPUT applications

Discover SSS Clutch

SSS is the acknowledged expert in automatic overrunning clutches for high power/high speed applications.

Since our inception, more than 70 years ago, SSS has concentrated on the development and production of the Synchro-Self-Shifting Clutch. We haven't tried to expand into other fields, preferring to perfect the SSS Clutch and to increase its use in more and more applications.

About us

  • Energy Transition & Grid Stability

    The Energy Transition is driving decarbonisation of the electrical system with massive investment in renewables at the same time as retiring traditional generating plant. SSS is at the forefront of this innovation, enabling flexible power generation and supporting electrical grid stability and system strength.

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  • Power Generation

    Turbo-machinery for the production of electricity includes some of the most powerful machines ever constructed. SSS provides solutions to meet the modern electricity market's requirements in many different generating plant configurations.

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  • Marine

    SSS Clutches automate engine changeovers in propulsion systems for naval ships, cargo vessels, fast ferries and special pleasure yachts. Our clutches are also used in ship electrical generation systems. SSS is the benchmark for operating flexibility and reliability in the tough conditions of the marine environment.

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  • Process

    SSS Clutches enable fans, pumps, compressors and other industrial systems to be dual driven. The drive can be transferred from one prime mover to the other automatically at any speed. Dual driven systems can provide Energy Recovery, Redundancy, Maintenance during operation, Startup and Helper (boost) drives.

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  • Auxiliary Drive

    SSS Clutches are the key mechanism in auxiliary drives such as gas and steam turbine slow speed turning gears, gas turbine starter drives and accelerator drives to run electrical generators to synchronous speed. More than 40,000 SSS Clutches have been supplied to automatically connect/disconnect auxiliary drives.

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  • >600

    SSS Clutches installed on synchronous condensers since 1960

  • >1000

    SSS Clutches supplied into UPS systems

  • 400 MW

    The highest power SSS Clutch in operation

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SSS Clutch 3D image

Designed for reliability

How the SSS Clutch works
Featured case study

Tennessee Valley

500 MW of flexible generation capacity added by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) using GE LM6000 Aeroderivative Gas Turbines with SSS Clutches integrated into the gearbox.