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How Does Torque Converter Work

The document discusses how a torque converter works. It consists of three main parts: an impeller connected to the engine, a turbine connected to the transmission, and a stationary reaction member called the stator. When the engine is running, the impeller spins a fluid which spins the turbine, multiplying the torque by 2-3 times before transmitting it to the transmission. At higher speeds, the torque converter functions like a fluid coupling with a 1:1 gear ratio. It allows vehicles to start from rest without stalling and makes driving easier by multiplying torque for acceleration.

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JZM Gulf
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171 views

How Does Torque Converter Work

The document discusses how a torque converter works. It consists of three main parts: an impeller connected to the engine, a turbine connected to the transmission, and a stationary reaction member called the stator. When the engine is running, the impeller spins a fluid which spins the turbine, multiplying the torque by 2-3 times before transmitting it to the transmission. At higher speeds, the torque converter functions like a fluid coupling with a 1:1 gear ratio. It allows vehicles to start from rest without stalling and makes driving easier by multiplying torque for acceleration.

Uploaded by

JZM Gulf
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Torque Converter

How Does Torque Converter Work?


A torque converter is a device that performs a function similar to that of a gearbox, that
is, to increase the torque while reducing the speed. But whereas gearbox provides only
a small number of fixed ratio, the torque converter provides a continuous variation of
ratio from the lowest to the highest.

A torque converter is designed to obtain a mechanical advantage or gear ratio by


hydraulic means in the same manner as gears do by mechanical means. It provides a
maximum gear ratio starting from rest and gradually decreases that ratio as the vehicle
gains speed.

Construction of Torque Converter


The construction of torque converter is similar to that of fluid coupling, the only
difference is that it has an additional stationary member called the reaction member.
Thus, a torque converter consists of three principle member, instead of two, these are:

1. Driving member or impeller or pump, which is connected to the engine.


2. Driving member or rotor or turbine, which is connected to the propeller shaft.
3. Stationary member or reaction member or stator, which is fixed to the frame. It is
a member which makes it possible to obtain a change of torque between input

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and output shafts. The fluid coupling does not have this member and cannot
produce any change of torque.
4. The stator is mounted on a freewheeling one-way clutch so that it can turn in
only one direction. A stationary shaft, called the reaction shaft, extends from the
geared transmission in back of the converter through the pump to support the
stator.

The driven member (turbine) faces the stator and is splined to the input shaft which
rotates inside the reaction shaft and connects curve blades to project most of the oil into
a hollow cylinder parallel to the axis of rotation.

The turbine is driven by the stream of oil sent to it the pump. The oil enters the blade
section near the rim and passes through the blades. The entire assembly is contained
and linked to the engine flywheel.

Read also: 9 Different Types of Clutches

How Torque Converter Work? Its Working Principle


When the engine is running idle, the pump produces a slow of oil, as the engine drives
it. This slow circulation of oil is not sufficient to move the turbine.

When the throttle is opened wide, the engine speed increases and the pump moves
faster projecting the oil toward the turbine. But the oil is still having less force which is
insufficient to turn the turbine. Therefore the oil returns back to the pump. With almost
no loss of velocity, except that due to friction.

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Torque Converter

The net effect of the redirection of flow is to increase pump output. The pump output
under these conditions is the output velocity that it is creating because of the engine
torque, plus the velocity of the redirected oil.

A built-up output velocity of two to three times the output velocity due to the engine
alone is achieved when the turbine to three stationary.

This makes the turning force of the turbine to three times that of the engine. The
increased torque of the turbine enables it to rotate, and thus drives the input shaft,
which in turn transmits the power to a geared section of the transmission.

Whereas the fluid coupling transmits the same torque as given to it by the engine, the
torque converter increases the torque in the ratio of about 2:1 to 3:1. Thus, it serves the
same purpose as that of a gearbox but in a better way.

In a gearbox, the torque variation is only in a finite number of steps, but in a torque
converter, the torque variation is continuous. However, the efficiency of a torque
converter is high only within narrow limits of speed.

Read also: What is Carburetor and Types of Carburetor [Complete Guide]

Torque Converter as a Fluid Coupling

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Torque Converter

Read Also: Which Types of Turbochargers are Best? Pros & Cons [PDF]

The figure shows a simplified diagram of the single-stage three element torque
converter. The three element – impeller, stator and turbine are clearly shown. Other
designs have more element and additional stages to improve efficiency over a wide
range.

A torque converter is a type of fluid coupling that uses a fluid to transmit torque from
one shaft to another. The Converter has a stator, However, at higher speed, the torque
converter works as a fluid coupling, giving the gear ratio 1:1.

When the vehicle speed increases from slow to high, the need for mechanical
advantages, decreases and the gear ratio of the torque converter gradually changes to
that of a fluid coupling. It is so because the turbine speed gradually approaches the
pump speed.

This reduces the vortex flow so that less oil is sent back to the pump by the turbine and
stator. When the turbine speed reaches a point where the oil flow to the stator is no
longer reflected, the stator starts to move with the rotating oil. This is the fluid coupling
stage where the gear ratio becomes 1:1.

This action depends upon the throttle opening and vehicle load. At light throttle and
steady load, the gear ratio may approach 1:1 at low speed. The torque converter
automobile provides the effect of gear ratio as the need arises.

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Torque Converter

Such a condition as hill climbing or rapid acceleration produces the change. In


descending steep grades, the torque converter is as effective as a fluid coupling in
transmitting torque to produce engine braking.

Advantages of Torque Converter


Following are the advantages of Torque Converter:

 It allows your vehicle to complete stop without stalling the engine.


 It makes driving easier.
 Torque converter gives more torque to your car when you accelerate out of the
stop.
 Torque converter removes the clutch and produces the maximum torque as
compared with a vehicle equipped with a clutch.
 Modern torque converters increase the torque of the engine by two or three
times.

Read Also: Differential: 6 Types of Differentials & How They Work?

Conclusion
So now, we hope that we have clear all your doubts about Torque Converter. If you
have still any doubts about the “Torque Converter Working” you can contact us or ask
in the comments.

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