Vehicle Transmission Characteristics

The connection from your engine to the wheels is known as transmission. ‘The transmission of
power’ hence it gets the name. This power transfer involves multiple parts and requires utmost
calculations to be made in order to prevent energy loss.

The transmission characteristics of a vehicle refer to the properties and behavior of its transmission
system, which is responsible for transferring power from the engine to the wheels. Key characteristics
include:

1. Transmission Type
 Manual Transmission (MT): Driver shifts gears manually using a clutch and gear lever.
 Automatic Transmission (AT): Gear changes occur automatically without driver
intervention.
 Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT): Uses a belt or chain for seamless gear ratio
changes.
 Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT): Two clutches for faster and smoother shifts.
 Automated Manual Transmission (AMT): Mechanized manual gearbox with automatic
gear shifting.

2. Gear Ratio & Number of Gears

 Determines how much torque is delivered to the wheels at different speeds.

 More gears improve fuel efficiency and performance.

The gear ratio is the ratio of the rotational speeds of two meshing gears. It determines how much
torque and speed are transmitted from the engine to the wheels.

Formula for Gear Ratio or velocity ratio = Driven Gear Teeth/Driving Gear Teeth

 Driven Gear (Output Gear): The gear that

receives power.
 Driving Gear (Input Gear): The gear that
supplies power.
 Higher Gear Ratio (>1): More torque, lower
speed (used in lower gears for acceleration).
 Lower Gear Ratio (<1): Less torque, higher
speed (used in higher gears for cruising).
3. Torque Converter vs. Clutch

 Torque Converter: Found in automatic transmissions, provides smooth power transfer.

 Clutch: Used in manual transmissions to engage/disengage the engine and transmission.

4. Shift Time & Smoothness

 Affects acceleration, driving comfort, and performance.

 DCTs offer quick shifts, while CVTs provide smooth but sometimes sluggish acceleration.

5. Efficiency & Fuel Consumption

 Manual transmissions are generally more fuel-efficient than conventional automatics.

 CVTs optimize fuel efficiency by maintaining an ideal RPM.

6. Drivability & Performance

 Affects acceleration, top speed, and responsiveness.

 Sports cars favor DCTs for rapid shifting, while off-road vehicles use low-range gearing for
better traction.

7. Durability & Maintenance

 Manuals require less maintenance but need clutch replacements over time.
 Automatics and CVTs may need specialized fluid changes and have higher repair costs.

Manual Transmission (MT)

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPaUJfA1KsY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCu9W9xNwtI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUpeMYTj1O8
1. Introduction

A Manual Transmission (MT) is a type of gearbox that requires the driver to manually engage and
disengage gears using a clutch pedal and a gear lever. It allows better control over the power
delivered to the wheels and is widely used in performance, commercial, and economy vehicles.

2. Components of a Manual Transmission System

1. Clutch Assembly
o Includes clutch pedal, clutch plate, pressure plate, and flywheel.
o Engages and disengages the engine power from the transmission.
2. Flywheel
o A rotating disc attached to the engine crankshaft.
o Provides smooth power transmission by maintaining engine inertia.
3. Gearbox (Transmission Case)
o Houses the gears, shafts, and synchronizers.
o Converts engine torque into suitable wheel speed.
4. Gears & Shafts
o Input Shaft – Receives power from the engine.
o Countershaft (Lay Shaft) – Connects input to output shaft via gears.
o Output Shaft – Transfers power to the wheels.
o Gear Pairs – Provide different speed and torque combinations.
5. Dog Clutch
o Different from the normal clutches, the dog clutches are present on the
output shaft. When a gear is engaged by the driver the job of the dog clutch
is to make that gear ratio move the output shaft. Without a dog clutch
engaged, all the gears rotate freely and the vehicle is in neutral. The dog
clutches can move in and out to engage and disengage when necessary
allowing the gears to only rotate and not move forwards and backwards.
The dog clutches are permanently connected to the output shaft and serve
as a connection between the shaft and the loose gear.
6. Synchronizers
o Help in smooth gear shifting by matching gear speeds.
7. Gear Shift Mechanism
o Allows the driver to select different gears using a shift lever.
8. Bearings & Lubrication System
o Reduce friction and wear inside the gearbox.

3. Working Principle

 When the clutch pedal is pressed, the clutch plate disengages from the flywheel, allowing a
gear change.
 The input shaft drives the gear on the countershafts which are in constant mesh with the
output shaft gears. The input drives the countershaft gear with a gear of its own. The gears on
a countershaft are connected permanently to the countershaft and thus the countershaft always
rotates along with the gears. The gears on the output shaft are loosely connected to the output
shaft thus rotating freely along with the countershaft gears and not moving the output shaft.
When a gear has been engaged, the power from the input shaft first goes to the countershaft
and then to the gears on the output shaft.
 The difference here is that the engaged gear is now connected to the output shaft. As the gears
cannot move forwards and backwards the connection to the shaft is done by the dog clutch (
shown as gear hub sleeve in the above diagram). The dog clutch of the engaged gear attaches
itself to the gear and serves as a connection between the shaft and the gear. Note that the dog
clutches are permanently connected to the shaft and are moved by a fork which is connected
to the gearbox. This makes the shaft rotate at the same speed as the gears ratio.
 Upon releasing the clutch pedal, the engine power is transferred to the selected gear ratio,
moving the vehicle.
4. Gear Shifting Mechanism

 First Gear – High torque, low speed (used for starting).

 Second Gear – Moderate torque, moderate speed.
 Third & Fourth Gears – Used for cruising at higher speeds.
 Fifth or Sixth Gear (Overdrive) – Provides fuel efficiency at high speeds.
 Reverse Gear – Changes rotation direction for backward movement. The reverse gear
working is done in the following way. As the engine cannot rotate in reverse the
transmission has to rotate the shafts in such a way that the movement of the car is
backwards. This is done by using a new gear called an idle gear. The idle gear
comes in between the countershaft gear and the output shaft gear. The idle gear
makes the output shaft gear rotate in the opposite direction thus making the car
move backwards. As the idle gear doesn’t have a dog clutch the car needs to be
stopped completely before the reverse gear can be engaged. And if you are
wondering similar to a lot of people as to what happens when a car is put in
reverse if it’s already driving the answer is it will simply not go in reverse. It will
however clash the teeth and harm the gears. Transmissions are made to ensure
reverse gear cant be engaged while the car is moving forward. It is still really
damaging to the gears so please don’t do it.

5. Types of Manual Transmissions

1. Sliding Mesh Gearbox (outdated)

o Oldest type, gears are manually engaged.
o Noisy operation, difficult shifting.
2. Constant Mesh Gearbox (video link is available)
o Gears are always engaged, but clutch use is required.
o Reduces wear compared to sliding mesh.
3. Synchromesh Gearbox
o Uses synchronizers to match gear speeds.
o Allows smoother and faster shifting.

6. Advantages of Manual Transmission

✔ Better fuel efficiency (compared to traditional automatics).

✔ Lower maintenance cost.
✔ Greater control over acceleration and engine braking.
✔ Lighter weight, improving performance.

7. Disadvantages of Manual Transmission

✖ Requires driver skill to operate.

✖ Can be tiring in stop-and-go traffic.
✖ More difficult to master for new drivers.

****************

More information refer

Reference: https://gomechanic.in/blog/dct-cvt-amt-automatic-car-transmission/