Abstract: A pneumatic clutch assembly comprises: a hub having a flange and a cylindrical wall, an inner plurality of longitudinally extending splines which project outwardly from the cylindrical wall, a longitudinally extending passage in the hub for receiving a shaft, and a plurality of driver plates slideably disposed on the splines and biased in a spaced relationship. A driving ring includes a plurality of inwardly extending splines on which a plurality of spaced circular friction plates are slideably disposed and positioned between the driver plates. A holding plate is superposed over the driver plates at the distal end of the hub to capture the driver plates and friction plates and secured to the hub by fasteners. An annular spring is positioned in each recess formed between two driver plates, and between the innermost driver plate and the flange. These springs maintain separation between the driver plates until the holding-plate fasteners are torqued down, compressing the annular springs.