Torque Converter
In the dictionary of automobiles, a torque converter is used to transfer rotating power from an engine to transmission. It is a varied form of fluid coupling. Well, to know more about its symptoms and problems, scroll down ...
Earnestly, I have never understood how a car's gears change so instantly when you set the car in motion. How does the gear in an auto transmission car really work? What is the mystifying story behind it? Well, first things first, before jumping to raise so many questions, let's define a torque converter and rest of the pieces will fall in its place.
What is a Torque Converter
If you have ever studied a car's manual transmissions, you would know that in an automobile, the vehicle's engine is attached to a transmission by a clutch. This connection is the utmost factor which helps a vehicle come to halt. But in the modern age, cars don't have a manual transmission, rather they are equipped with an automatic transmission. An automatic transmission has no clutch to disconnect the transmission from the engine. In lieu of that, a device named 'torque converter' is used. It is this mechanical device that transmits rotating power from the engine to the transmission; in any vehicle. Thus, in short, it is a device that does the job of a clutch in a car, and allows the engine power to equally distribute it to the wheels.
It is vital to know that there are major differences between a manual and automatic transmission. a: Firstly, there isn't anything called clutch pedal in an automatic transmission car. b: Secondly, there isn't anything called gear shift in an automatic transmission car; only a lever to set the car rolling and stopping it. It is only the transmission which is put into the drive, after which everything goes automatic.
How Does it Work
It's really not rocket science to learn the working. Mechanically, the device possesses three functional parts namely; a turbine, a pump and a stator. In a car the pump is directly connected to the car's engine and spinning of the same takes place at the same speed like the motor. The inner component of the pump has couple of fins. Now, when the pump spins into motion, the hydraulic fluid is directed in the outward fashion to the turbine. That's when the turbine spins in an opposite direction at the same speed of the car's engine and causes transmission to rotate. Which in turn is driven to the wheels of the car. This is the point where, stator; that is located in the center of the device changes by reversing, the fluid's direction. Because the turbine and the pump have started to rotate at the same speed, stator genuinely starts to freewheel at a specific speed which doesn't allow the fluid to change its directions. Moreover, it allows the smooth transferring from a state of stand still to a state of motion.
The device is substantially filled with automatic transmission fluid which is pumped in from the transmission pump. Hence, there is a specific amount of heat that is generated in the interiors of an engine radiator. That's why we see transmission fluid coolers installed in the radiators. Well, apart from all the benefits, let me balance my write-up by mentioning the possible problems also.
Symptoms and Problems
What is a Torque Converter
If you have ever studied a car's manual transmissions, you would know that in an automobile, the vehicle's engine is attached to a transmission by a clutch. This connection is the utmost factor which helps a vehicle come to halt. But in the modern age, cars don't have a manual transmission, rather they are equipped with an automatic transmission. An automatic transmission has no clutch to disconnect the transmission from the engine. In lieu of that, a device named 'torque converter' is used. It is this mechanical device that transmits rotating power from the engine to the transmission; in any vehicle. Thus, in short, it is a device that does the job of a clutch in a car, and allows the engine power to equally distribute it to the wheels.
It is vital to know that there are major differences between a manual and automatic transmission. a: Firstly, there isn't anything called clutch pedal in an automatic transmission car. b: Secondly, there isn't anything called gear shift in an automatic transmission car; only a lever to set the car rolling and stopping it. It is only the transmission which is put into the drive, after which everything goes automatic.
How Does it Work
It's really not rocket science to learn the working. Mechanically, the device possesses three functional parts namely; a turbine, a pump and a stator. In a car the pump is directly connected to the car's engine and spinning of the same takes place at the same speed like the motor. The inner component of the pump has couple of fins. Now, when the pump spins into motion, the hydraulic fluid is directed in the outward fashion to the turbine. That's when the turbine spins in an opposite direction at the same speed of the car's engine and causes transmission to rotate. Which in turn is driven to the wheels of the car. This is the point where, stator; that is located in the center of the device changes by reversing, the fluid's direction. Because the turbine and the pump have started to rotate at the same speed, stator genuinely starts to freewheel at a specific speed which doesn't allow the fluid to change its directions. Moreover, it allows the smooth transferring from a state of stand still to a state of motion.
The device is substantially filled with automatic transmission fluid which is pumped in from the transmission pump. Hence, there is a specific amount of heat that is generated in the interiors of an engine radiator. That's why we see transmission fluid coolers installed in the radiators. Well, apart from all the benefits, let me balance my write-up by mentioning the possible problems also.
Symptoms and Problems
- Limits: It is necessary to know the capabilities and limitations of the torque converter because paying heed to this detail might just save you from a device failure.
- Overheating: If the converter's facing extreme levels of slippage continuously, the converter would be able to dissipate heat instantly. This will literally damage the elastomer seals, those seals which keeps the fluid within the converter.
- Stator Clutch Break: If the converter exhibits a sudden blow of power, a stator clutch can be wedged with a shock leading to a breakage. On the stator breakage the pump begins to rotate in a wrong direction and will cause no power transmission too. Thereby, the vehicle doesn't move as well. (Note: A stator clutch can seize too, wherein the clutches get locked to one-another and the stator stops rotating in the coupling phase.)
- Blade Deformation: Another way of putting up would be fragmentation of blades of the converter. When there is an excessive heating, the turbine and pump blades can get deformed.
- Ballooning: Can you believe it! Yes, but it's true that, when the device is excessively loaded, it results in ballooning. This problem is also caused at an extreme high rpm.
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