Chap 100

start
Automotive Technology: Principles, Diagnosis, and Service, 3rd Edition

By James D. Halderman
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OBJECTIVES:
After studying Chapter 100, the reader should
be able to:
Prepare for the ASE Automatic

Transmission/Transaxle (A2) certification test
content area A (General
Transmission/Transaxle Diagnosis)
Explain how a torque converter can transmit
and multiply engine torque
Describe how a planetary gear set can be
used for gear reduction and reverse
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OBJECTIVES:
After studying Chapter 100, the reader should
be able to:
Explain how automatic transmission fluid is

circulated through the system and how it is
cooled

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KEY TERMS:
compound planetary gear set coupling phase
flexplate
impeller input member
lapelleties gear set lube oil
output member
pump
ravigneaux gear set reaction member
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KEY TERMS:
simpson gear set stall speed stator
torque converter clutch (TCC) torque multiplication
phase turbine

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Automatic transmissions were first used on a large

scale in the late 1940s, and now about 85% of the
vehicles in North America are so equipped.
Unlike manual transmissions, most automatic
transmissions do not actually shift gears but apply
clutches (or bands) to hold various sections of two or
more planetary gear sets.
The torque converter is attached between the engine
and the transmission/ transaxle and transmits and
multiplies engine torque.
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TORQUE CONVERTERS
Theimpeller,alsoknownasthepump,isthedrivingmemberandrotateswiththeengine.Theimpeller
vanespickupfluidintheconverterhousinganddirectittowardtheturbine.
Fluidflowdrivestheturbine,andwhentheflowbetweentheimpellerandturbineisadequate,the
turbinerotatesandturnsthetransmissioninputshaft.Atorqueconvertercontainsthestator,orreactor,
areactionmembermountedonaonewayclutch.
Thevanesusedineachofthethreeelementsofatorqueconverterarecurvedtoincreasethediversion
angleofthefluid.Thisalsoincreasestheforceexertedbythefluidandimprovesthehydraulic
advantage.SeeFigure1001.
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Figure 1001 A cross-sectional view of a Chrysler Power Flight 2-speed automatic transmission
used in the 1950s. Most of the heat generated in an automatic transmission is created in the
torque converter. This air-cooled unit has a vent to allow hot air to escape.
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Theoutletsideoftheimpellervanesacceleratesthefluidasitleavestheimpellerto
increasetorquetransfertotheturbine.
SeeFigure1002.
Theinletsideoftheturbinevanesabsorbshockandlimitpowerlossthatoccurswhen
flowbetweentheimpellerandturbinesuddenlychanges.Thecurveofthestatorvanesis
oppositetothecurveoftheimpellerandturbinevanes.
SeeFigure1003.
Sincethestatorislocatedbetweentheimpellerandturbine,itaddstotheoriginal
impellerflowandmultipliestheforcedeliveredtotheturbine.SeeFigure1004.
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Figure 1002 Fluid flow within a torque converter. The stator redirects the fluid that is thrown
out by the turbine, thereby improving efficiency.
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Figure 1003 Fluid pumped into

the turbine by the impeller not
only creates rotary fluid flow but
also vortex flow that increases
the efficiency of the torque
converter.
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Figure 1004 The vane curvature of each

element in a torque converter helps maintain
efficient fluid flow
Torqueconvertersaresinglepiece,
weldedassembliesthatcannotbe
disassembledorrepairedeasily.
Althoughtheycanberebuiltusing
specializedequipment,mostshops
simplyreplaceweldedconvertersas
aunitiftheyfail.
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TorqueConverterAttachmentsThetorqueconverternormallyattachestotheengine
throughaflexplatethatmountsonthecrankshaftflangeoftheengine.
Theflexplatereplacestheheavyflywheelusedwithamanualtransmission.Animportant
functionofaflywheelistosmoothoutenginepulsationsanddampenvibrations.
Anautomatictransmissiondoesnotrequireaconventionalflywheelbecausethefluidin
thetorqueconverterprovides
enoughmasstodampenenginevibrations.
SeeFigure1005.
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Figure 1005
The torque converter bolts to the
flexplate, which is attached to the
crankshaft and rotates at engine
speed. The hub of the converter
drives the oil pump directly on
most rear wheel-drive
transmissions.
Anexternalringgear
generallyattachestothe
outerrimoftheflexplate.
Thisringgearengagesthe
startermotorpiniongear
toturntheengineduring
starting.
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NOTE: Onsomeolderapplications,suchastheFordC4andChrysler
Torqueflite,theringgearmaybeweldedtotheoutsideofthetorque
convertercover.
Toensurethepumpwilldeliverfluidtothetransmissionwhenevertheengineturns,an
integralhubislocatedontheconverterhousinganddirectlyengagesthepump.
Oilpumpdriveshaftsgenerallypassthroughtheconverterinside
ahollowinputortransfershaftandinternallyconnecttotheconverterhousingbysplines.
Mostrearwheeldrivetransmissionsuseaninlinemethodtodrivetheconverterand
provideadirectmechanicalconnectionbetweentheturbineandthetransmissioninput
shaft.
SeeFigure1006.

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Figure 1006 The inner oil pump gear is keyed to the hub of the torque converter, which drives
the pump. Notice that the hub does not engage the full depth of the gear. This is the major
reason why the torque converter must be fully installed. Failure to fully engage the oil pump
gear can cause serious damage to both the pump and the torque converter.
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Inatypicaldesign,splinesontheturbineconnectittothetransmission
inputshaftandthestatorhubmountsonaonewayoverrunningclutch.
Theonewayclutchmountsonsplinestoastationaryextension
oftheoilpumpcalledthestatorsupport,orreactionshaft.Theconverter
drivehubattherearofthetorqueconverterhousingpassesoverthe
statorsupportandthroughthefrontoilsealtodrivetheoilpump.
SeeFigure1007.
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Figure 1007
The transmission input shaft
connects directly to the turbine
through splines in most rearwheel-drive transmissions.
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Manytransaxles,andafewrearwheeldrivetransmissions,useanoffsetdrive
arrangementtoconservespace.
Anoffsetdrivedesigngenerallyusesadrivechaintoprovidethemechanical
connectionbetweentheturbineandtheinputshaft.
Theoilpumpmaybedrivendirectlybytheconverterhousingorbyaseparate
driveshaft.
SeeFigure1008.
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Figure 1008 On a transaxle, the turbine drives the input shaft through a drive chain assembly.
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TorqueConverterOperationFluidsenttothetorqueconverter
fromthetransmissionoilpumpispickedupbytherotatingvanesof
theimpellerandtransferredtotheturbinevanesthroughrotaryand
vortexflowpaths.
TorqueMultiplicationPhaseFluidleavingtheturbinevanes
strikestheconcave,orfrontside,ofthestatorvanesduringthe
torquemultiplicationphase.
Theforceofthefluidfromthestatoraddstotheforceofthefluid
flowingfromtheimpellertoincreasetheoveralltorquebeing
transferredfromtheimpellertotheturbine.
Torquemultiplicationoccurswheneverthevortexflowmakesa
fullcyclefromimpellertoturbine,thenthroughthestatorandback
totheimpeller.SeeFigure1009.
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Figure 1009 Torque multiplication occurs when

fluid leaving the turbine strikes the front of the
stator vanes and is redirected back to the impeller.
Atorqueconvertermultiplies
torqueinrelationtospeedratio.
Atlowratios,theimpelleris
turningmuchfasterthanthe
turbine,sovortexflowishigh
andtorquemultiplicationoccurs.
Asthespeedratioapproaches
90%,torquemultiplication
becomesminimalandatorque
converterfunctionslikeafluid
coupling.
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Thestatorredirectsfluidflowbecauseitremainsstationaryduring
thetorquemultiplicationphase.Thestatorhubmountsonaone
wayclutch,freewheelinginaclockwisedirection,butlocking
whendriveninacounterclockwisedirection.
Figure 10010 A stator contains a one-way

roller clutch, which locks it from rotating in
one direction and allows it to rotate freely in
the opposite direction.
Whenfluidfromtheturbinestrikestheconcavefaceofthestator
vanes,ittriestodrivethestatorcounterclockwise.Bylockingthe
statoritcanredirectthefluidbacktotheimpeller.
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CouplingPhaseWhenthespeedratiois90%ormore,fluidflowinthetoqueconverteris
mostlyrotaryflowandtheangleofflowfromturbinetostatorincreases.
Fluideventuallystrikestheconvexside,orbackside,ofthestatorvanesratherthantheconcave.
Astheforceoffluidstrikingthebacksidebecomesgreatenoughtodrivethestatorclockwise,
theonewayclutchoverruns.
Withtheclutchoverrunningtheturbine,impeller,andstator,allrotateinthesamedirectionand
atapproximatelythesamespeed.Thisiscalledthecouplingphase.
Thestatorunlocksandfreewheelsoncetheangleoffluidflowchangesenoughtostrikethe
oppositesideofthestatorvanesandrotatethestatorclockwise.
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Torquemultiplicationdropsasthetorqueconverterapproaches
thecouplingphasebecausethestatornolongerredirectsfluidto
increasetheflowfromimpellertoturbine.
Whenthetorqueconverterreachescouplingspeed,theturbineis
travelingatnearlythesamespeedastheimpeller,rotaryflowis
muchgreaterthanvortexflow,andthetorqueconvertersimply
transmitstorquelikeafluidcoupling.
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StallSpeedDuringconverterstall,theimpellerrotatesbuttheturbinedoesnot.This
occursjustbeforethedrivewheelsofavehiclebegintomove.
Thegreatestamountofstalloccurswhentheenginedrivestheimpelleratthemaximum
speedpossiblewithoutmovingtheturbine.Theenginespeedatwhichthisoccursiscalled
thetorqueconverterstallspeed.Whentheimpellerrotatesbuttheturbinedoesnot,the
speedratioiszero.
Thisisthelowestpossiblespeedratioandthegreatestpossibletorquemultiplication.
Mostmoderntorqueconvertersmultiplytorqueintherangeof2:1to2.5:1atthestall
speed.
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TorqueConverterDiameterTheoutsidediameterofatorqueconverterandtheangleof
itsstatorbladesdeterminesthestallspeedoftheconverter.
Whenbothasmallandlargediameterconvertersharethesamestatorbladeangleandturnat
thesamespeed,thesmallerconvertercreateslesscentrifugalforcetomovethefluidinside.
Asaresult,thesmalldiameterconverterhasahigherstallspeed,multipliestorqueathigher
enginespeeds,andwillnotcoupleuntiltheenginereacheshighspeeds.
Incomparison,thelargediameterconverterhasalowerstallspeed,multipliestorqueat
lowerenginespeeds,andalsocouplesatalowerenginespeed.
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Vehiclemanufacturersselecttorqueconverterstomatchthepowertrainrequirementsand
operatingdemandsofeachapplication.
AvehiclewithalargeenginethatproducesalotoftorqueatlowRPMwilloftenuseatorque
converterthatcouplesatlowspeedsforgreaterfueleconomy.
VehicleswithsmallerenginesthatproducelesstorqueatlowRPMwilluseatorqueconverter
thatallowstheenginetooperatehigherinitstorquecurve,wheremorepowerisavailable.
Highperformancevehicleswithautomatictransmissionsusesmalldiameterconvertersforthe
samereason.
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LockupTorqueConverterEventhemostefficienttorqueconvertersslip3%to6%duringoperation.
Thisisbecausethefluidthattransmitstorqueexhibitsatypeofslippageknownasfluidshear.Fluid
shearcreatesfrictionheat,butperformsnoworkwhenthedifferentlayersoffluidslidepasteachother.
Eliminatingtorqueconverterslippagecanimprovefueleconomyapproximately4%to5%during
freewaycruising.Withincreasedemphasisonfueleconomyforlatemodelvehicles,thisbecame
animportantgoalforautomotiveengineers.
Lockuptorqueconvertersreduceslippagebyusingatorqueconverterclutch(TCC)tolockthe
impellertotheturbine.Similartoaclutchforamanualtransmission,aTCCusesafrictiondisc
operatedbyahydraulicpistontomechanically
coupletheturbinetotheimpeller.SeeFigure10011
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Figure 10011 An expanded view of a typical General Motors torque converter clutch (TCC).
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ConverterClutchControlThefirsthydrauliclockupconverterswerecontrolledentirely
byhydraulicpressureandspoolvalvesinthetransmissionvalvebody.
Somelaterdesignsaddedsimpleelectricswitchesandsolenoidstocontrolpressuretothe
converterclutch.LatemodelhydraulicTCCsuseanelectroniccontrolsystemtoregulatethe
timingandapplicationoftheclutch.
Earlyhydraulicconverterclutcheswillengageonlyinhighgearbecauselockupinthelower
gearsreducesthetorquemultiplicationneededforacceleration.Lockupmayalsobelimited
tospecificvehiclespeedsoroperatingconditions.Formostvehicles,lockupcanoccurat
speedsover25to30mph(40to48km/h)afterthetransmissionupshiftsintohighgear.
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Oncelockupoccurs,theclutchmaydisengageautomaticallyduringcertainoperatingconditions
suchaspartorfullthrottledownshift.Atthesetimes,theincreasedaccelerationrequirements
generallyoverridetheneedforbetterfueleconomy.
Themoresophisticatedelectroniccontrolsystemscanlockandunlockaconverterclutch
hundredsoftimesperminutetomeetthevehicledemandsofthemoment.
Somerecentsystemsalsoallowpartiallockupofthetorqueconverter.Traditionallockuptorque
convertersoperateeitherlockedorunlocked.Partiallockupconvertersallowaregulatedamount
ofslippageattheclutch.
SeeFigure10012.
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Figure 10012 The type of torque converter clutch control determines the type of friction
material that is used on a torque converter clutch. A paper friction material is usually used on
clutches that are turned on or off, whereas Kevlar or carbon fiber friction materials are used
where the clutch is pulse-width modulated.
PAPER
KEVLAR
CARBON FIBER
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Thesummaryoftorqueconverteroperationisasfollows:
Enginespeedislowwiththevehicleingearandstopped.At
lowenginespeeds,automatictransmissionfluiddoesnotexert
enoughforceontopermitthevehicletomoveatacreep.
Enginespeedincreasesandvehiclespeedstartstoincrease
Asmoreenginetorqueisappliedtothetorqueconverter,the
torqueistransmittedthroughthemovementofthefluidtothe
turbine.Thestatorislocked(preventedfrommoving)and
redirectsthefluidflowbackagainsttheturbine.Theredirection
ofthefluidbacktotheturbinecreatesatorqueontheturbine
thatisgreaterthantheenginetorque.
Thisiscalledtorquemultiplication.Mosttorqueconvertersare
capableofdoublingtheappliedenginetorqueduetoredirection
ofthefluidbythestator.
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NOTE: Thatthetorqueconvertercandoubletorquetothetransmissionis
themajoradvantageofusinganautomatictransmission.Aclutchusedina
manualtransmission/transaxlecanonlytransmitenginetorque.
EnginespeedissteadyandvehiclespeedissteadyWhenthespeedofboth
theimpellerandtheturbinereachaboutthesamespeed(85%to90%),theone
wayclutchinthestatorunlocksandthestatorisfreetorotate.Thisiscalledthe
couplingpoint.
VehicleisacceleratedrapidlyDuringperiodsofrapidacceleration,theengine
speedandthereforetheimpellerspeedareagreatdealfasterthantheturbine
speed.Thegreatestamountoftorquemultiplicationoccurswhentheturbineis
stoppedandtheimpelleristurningasfastastheenginewillturnit.Thisspeedis
calledthestallspeed.
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Vehiclespeedisabove35mph(55km/h)andsteady
Toimprovefueleconomy,theimpellerandtheturbinearemechanicallyconnectedbyatorque
converterclutch(TCC),alsoknownasalockuptorqueconverter.
Exceptforrarecases,thetorqueconverterclutchisappliedbythevehiclecomputer.The
computersensesvehiclespeed(VS),engineload(MAP),andthrottleposition(TP)andapplies
thetorqueconverterclutch.
Thislockupcanoccurinsecond,third,orfourth(overdrive)geariftheconditionsareright.
Whenthetorqueconverterclutchengages,theengineRPMusuallydropsby150to250RPM.
SeeFigure10013.
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Figure 10013 A cross-sectional view of a

computer-controlled (modulated) torque
converter clutch. The vehicle computer is
capable of pulsing the solenoid that
controls the fluid flow on and off to apply
the torque converter clutch.
Reductioninenginespeed
andtheeliminationofthe
normalslippageinthetorque
converterimprovesfuel
economy.
Thetorqueconverterclutch
isreleasedduringrapid
accelerationformaximum
torquemultiplicationthrough
thetorqueconverterforbest
acceleration.
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NOTE: Theapplicationofthetorqueconverterclutchfeelslikeanormal
shifttomostdrivers.Therefore,athreespeedautomatictransaxlewillfeel
tomanydriversasshiftingthreetimes(12,23,andTCCengagement).
CAUTION: Usinganonstocktorqueconverterislikelytoincrease
exhaustemissionsanddecreasefueleconomy.

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Use a Smaller Diameter Torque Converter for Improved

Performance
A smaller-than-stock-diameter torque converter will not be capable of
absorbing as much torque as a larger (stock) torque converter. As a result,
the stall speed is increased.
Because an engine develops more torque with increased speed (up to a
point), the smaller torque converter will allow the engine to increase to a
higher speed and create more torque to the transmission than would be
capable with the stock torque converter.
This is especially helpful for modified engines because an engine having a
camshaft with increased lift and duration usually lacks low RPM torque. By
using a smaller torque converter, the stall speed is increased to better
match the engine torque.

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AutomaticTransmissionFluidCoolerThetorqueconvertergeneratesalotofheatduetotheslippageand
torquemultiplicationthatoccursinside.Thegreatestamountisunderaheavyloadwiththetorqueconverter
clutchisdisengaged.
Thetransmissionfluid(ATF)canreachhightemperatures(over250F[120C])veryquickly.Thisisthe
reasonanautomatictransmissionfluidcoolerisused.Mostvehiclesuseasmallsectionoftheengine
radiatortocooltheATF.
TheATFispumpedfromthetorqueconverter(greatestsourceofheat)tothecooler.TheATFflowsthrough
thecoolerandreturnstothetransmission/transaxletopassagesthatlubricatethebearingsandbushingsofthe
unit.Thisreturnedfluidiscalledlubeoil.
SeeFigures10014and10015.
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Figure 10014 Automatic transmission fluid is routed from the torque converter, where most of
the heat in an automatic transmission is generated, to the radiator, where it is cooled. The
cooled fluid then returns to the transmission/transaxle to lubricate the bearings and bushings.
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Figure 10015 A cutaway section of a typical radiator showing the automatic transmission fluid
cooler. The heat from the automatic transmission fluid is released to the engine coolant. The
engine coolant also warms the automatic transmission fluid after a cold start.
CAUTION: BecausethelubeoilusestheATFflowingfromthecooler,
ifthereisablockageinthecooler,thetransmission/transaxlemaynothave
enoughfluidtoproperlycoolorlubricatethebearingsandbushingsinside
theunit,leadingtowearandeventuallyprematurefailure.
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PLANETARY GEAR SETS

Inamanualtransmission,differentgearratiosareobtainedbyslidingthegearsintomesh.
Torqueflowmustbemomentarilyinterrupted(accomplishedbyusingaclutch)beforethe
gearsareshifted.
Withanautomatictransmissionthereisnodriveroperatedclutch,sogearshiftsarenot
madebyslidinggearsintomesh.
Automatictransmissionsuseaplanetarygearsetsystemthatdoesnotrequiremanualgear
shiftingoraninterruptionoftorqueflowtochangegearratios.
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Asimpleplanetarygearsetconsistsofthreeprimarycomponents:
Sungear
Planetcarrierassembly
Ringgear
Asdiscussedinthelastchapter,thesungeargetsitsnamefrom
itspositionatthecenterofthegearset.Theplanetcarrier
assemblyholdsthepiniongears,alsoknownasplanet
gears,whichrevolvearoundthesungear.
Theoutermostmemberofthegearsetistheringgear,which
istheinternaltypewiththeteethinside.Thepiniongearsare
insimultaneousmeshwithboththesunandringgear.
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Thepiniongearsarefreetorotateonpinsthatarepartofthecarrier,andtheentire
assemblyrotatestodirecttorqueflow.
ThesimpleplanetarygearsetasseeninFigure10016hasonlytwoplanetpinions,but
mosttransmissiongearsetsusethreeorfour.
Thepinionsarefullymeshedwithboththesungearandinternalringgearatalltimes.
Theplanetarygearsneverdisengagetochangegearratios;torqueissimplyredirected.
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Allgearsinaplanetarygearset
areinconstantmesh.
Figure 10016 The three members of a simple

planetary gear set are the sun gear, internal
ring gear, and planet carrier assembly.
Thetorqueflowthrougha
planetarygearset,bothinput
andoutput,occursalonga
singleaxis.
Theinternalringgearis
sometimescalledanannulus
gearoraringgear
Theplanetpiniongearsare
oftencalledplanetgearsor
piniongears.
Theplanetcarrierassemblyis
referredtoasthecarrier.
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PlanetaryGearSetTorqueFlowInanyplanetarygearset,eachgearalwaysmesheswithseveralother
gears.
Drivingonegearwilldrivealloftheothergearsaswell.Thisallowsthegearsettoprovidedifferentgear
ratios;dependinguponhowtorqueisdistributedthroughtheassembly.Totransmittorquethrougha
planetarygearset,adrivememberrotateswhileasecondmemberisheld,whichcausesathirdmembertobe
driven.
Eachmemberofaplanetarygearsetcanplayanyoneofthesethreerolestotransmittorque.Thevarious
combinationsofdrive,held,anddrivenmembersresultinthenumberofgearratiosavailable.Certain
combinationsofdrive,hold,anddrivencanchangethedirectionofrotationaswell.
SeeFigure10017.
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Figure 10017 To transmit

torque through a planetary
gear set, one (input) member
drives, another (reaction)
member is held, and the third
(output) member is driven.
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Torqueflowsthroughaplanetarygearsetinseveralstepstogetfromthedrive
actionofthefirstmembertothedrivenactionofthelastmember.
Thetermsdriveanddrivensimplydescribehowanytwogearsworktogether.
Whenthreeormoregearsareinvolved,thesecondgearisadrivengearinrelation
tothefirst,butadrivegearinrelationtothethird.
Forthisreason,thedrivememberofaplanetarygearsetisknownastheinput
member,theheldmemberisthereactionmember,andthedrivenmemberisthe
outputmember.
SeeFigure10018forthepossiblegearratiosandhowtheyare
achieved.
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Figure 10018 Different modes of transferring torque through a planetary gear set.

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SimplePlanetaryGearSetSystemsAsimpleplanetarygearsetsystemconsistsofonesungear,
carrier,andringgear.Asingleplanetarygearsetcanprovideallofthenecessarygearratiosfora
basicautomatictransmission.
Usingasimpleplanetarygearsetalongwithabrakebandandmultiplediscclutchasapply
devices,youcandesignatwospeedautomatictransmission.Thetransmissionprovidesneutraland
reversegearing,andperformslowtodrivegearchanges
withoutanyinputfromthedriver.
Thesimpleplanetarygearsetremainsthefoundationuponwhichthecompoundplanetarygearsets
usedinmoderntransmissionsarebuilt.Asimpleplanetarygearsetisoftenusedtogetherwitha
compoundplanetarygearsettoprovideadditionaloverdrivegearing.
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SIMPSON GEAR SET

Acompoundplanetarygearsetsystemisaconfigurationthatcontainsmorethanjustthethreebasicmembersof
asimpleplanetarysystem.
Compoundplanetarygearsetsarecapableofprovidingvariouscombinationsofgearreduction,directdrive,
neutral,reverse,andoverdrive.
ThemostpopularcompoundplanetarydesignistheSimpsongearset.Namedforitsinventor,theSimpsongear
setconsists
oftwosimpleplanetarygearsetsthatshareacommonsungear.
SeeFigure10019.
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Thiscombinationiscapable
ofprovidingthreeforward
gears,aswellasneutraland
reverse.
Operation,construction,and
methodsofobtaining
variousgearratioswitha
simpleplanetarygearset
alsoapplytotheSimpson
gearset.
Themaindifferenceisthe
numberofgearratios.
Figure 10019 A Simpson planetary gear set is

composed of two ring gears and two planet carrier
assemblies that share a common sun gear.
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RAVIGNEAUX GEAR SET

AnotherpopularcompoundplanetarydesignistheRavigneauxgearset.TheRavigneauxsystemhastwosun
gears;twosets,onelongerthantheother,ofplanetpinionssupportedinonecarrier;andasingleringgear.
Thisdesignprovidesfourforwardgears,twoinreduction,onedirect,andoneoverdrive,aswellasneutraland
reverse.Basicplanetarygearsetoperation,construction,andcontrolmethodsalsoapplytotheRavigneauxgear
set.
Bothofthesecompoundplanetarygearsetdesignshavebeenusedovertheyearsbyimportanddomestic
manufacturers.
SeeFigure10020.
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Figure 10020 A Ravigneaux gear set is composed of two sun gears, one carrier that supports
two sets of pinion gears, and a single ring gear.
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LAPELLETIES GEAR SET

TheLapelleties(pronouncedLapleteay)gearsetwasinventedbyPierreLapelleties,a
retiredengineerwhofiguredoutauniquewaytocreateasimpleandefficientsixspeed
automatictransmissiongearset.
ItwasfirstproducedbyZFin2002.TheLapelletiesgearsetisconstructedbyconnectinga
planetarygearsetinfrontofaRavigneauxgearset.
BesidesZF,GeneralMotorsusestheLapelletiesgearsetinthe6L45,6L50,and6L90rear
wheeldrivetransmissionandFordusesitintheir6R60,6R75,and6R80.
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CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION

Acontinuouslyvariabletransmission(CVT)isusuallyfoundonfrontwheel
drivevehicles,whichuseatransaxle.
Insteadofusingthreeormoregears,acontinuouslyvariabletransmissionusestwo
variablewidthpulleyssometimescalledvariatorstochangethegearratiofrom
about2.5:1toanoverdriveratioof0.5:1.
SeeFigure10021.
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Figure 10021 The belt-and-pulley CVT uses variable-width pulleys and a special steel belt to
provide an infinite number of speed ratios.
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PurposeandFunctionThepurposeandfunctionofacontinuouslyvariable
transmissionistoallowtheengineto
operateinaspeedrangewhereitismostefficient.
Insteadofcausingtheenginespeedtovaryasthetransmissionshiftsgears,the
enginespeedismoreconstantasthepulleyschangetoincreasethespeedofthe
vehicle.
TheresultofusingaCVTisimprovedfueleconomyand
reducedexhaustemissions.
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PartsandOperationMostCVTunitsuseaconventionaltorque
converterwithatorqueconverterclutchexcepttheHondaCivic
CVT.IntheHondaCivicCVT,astartclutchisusedtoapply
enginetorquetothedrivepulley.
Thestartclutchslipsandprovidesasmallamountofcreepuntil
thedriverreleasesthebrakepedal.Atthispoint,thestartclutchis
fullyappliedandtransmitstorquetothedrivepulley.
SeeFigure10022.
NOTE: Somevehiclesequippedwithacontinuouslyvariable
transmission(CVT)haveshifterpaddlesonthesteeringwheeloramanual
shiftmodeonthegearselector.Whenusingthesepaddlestoupshiftor
downshift,thetransmissioncontrolmoduleselectspreprogrammedratios,
whichgivethedriverasensethatitisactivelyshiftinggears.
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Figure 10022 Location of the Honda CVT start clutch.
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CAUTION: WithanyCVTunit,useofthespecifiedfluidiscriticalto
itsproperoperation.Evenalittledirtcancauseweartopulleyssobesure
tocleanaroundthedipstickbeforeremovingittochecktheleveloffluid.
Thetwopulleysaremovedatthe
sametime.Onepulleyismade
smallerinwhileatthesametime
theotherpulleyisenlarged.
Thischangeinpulleywidthallows
thedrivechaintomove,thereby
changingtheratebetweentheinput
andoutputpulleys.
Thechainispushedratherthan
pulledthroughthepulleysandis
madeofhundredsofelements.
Figure 10023 Honda CVT drive belt

construction.
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What Is It Like to Drive a Vehicle Equipped with CVT?

For most, driving a vehicle equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is the same as driving the same vehicle equipped with a conventional automatic
transmission/transaxle.
The vehicle creeps slightly when the brake is released and acceleration when the throttle is opened. Because no shifts occur, the first thing the driver and passenger notice is that it is
very smooth. If the vehicle is equipped with a tachometer, the driver may notice that the engine speed increases when first accelerating and remains higher until speed increases.
During periods of rapid acceleration, the engine speed may be close to its maximum and thereby create noise and vibration often not experienced in a similar vehicle. However, the
fuel economy savings of a CVT compared to a conventional automatic transmission makes the slight difference a reasonable trade-off.

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ServicingContinuouslyVariableTransmissionsRoutineserviceofacontinuously
variabletransmission/transaxleusuallyinvolveschangingthefluidatregularintervals.
Alwaysusetheexactfluidspecifiedbythevehiclemanufacturer.ThepriceofCVTfluid
isseveraltimeshigherthanconventionalautomatictransmissionfluidbutthespecial
additivesneededby
aCVTmakeitcriticalthatthespecifiedfluidbeused.
ExceptforthereplacementofthestartclutchonaHondaCivicCVT,mostcontinuously
variabletransmissionsarereplacedasanassemblyandnotoverhauledorrepaired.

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SUMMARY
1. Thetorqueconverterattachestotheengineandtransmits
enginetorquetotheautomatictransmission/transaxle
assembly.
2. Thetorqueconverterconsistsofthreemajorcomponents:the
impeller(drivingmember),turbine(drivenmember),andthe
stator,whichhelpsthetorqueconverterdoubletheavailable
enginetorqueatstallspeed.
3. Sincetheearly1980s,atorqueconverterclutchhasusually
beenusedonmostautomatictransmissions/transaxlesto
increasefueleconomybylockingtheinputandoutput
membersofthetorqueconvertertogether.
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SUMMARY
(cont.)
4. Atypicalplanetarygearsetincludesasungearinthecenter
surroundedbyplanetpinionsattachedtoaplanetcarrier
assemblyandaringgearontheoutsidewhereinternalteeth
meshwiththeteethoftheplanetpinions.
5. Mostautomatictransmissions/transaxlesuseacompound
planetarygearsettoachievethevariousforwardgearsaswell
asreverse.
6. Automatictransmissions/transaxlesusecompoundplanetary
gearsetscalledSimpsonorRavigneaux.
7. Certainmembersofagearsetmustbeheldtoachievea
particulargearratioanddirection.

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start

Automotive Technology: Principles, Diagnosis, and Service, 3rd Edition

Prepare for the ASE Automatic

Automotive Technology: Principles, Diagnosis, and Service, 3rd Edition

Explain how automatic transmission fluid is

Automotive Technology: Principles, Diagnosis, and Service, 3rd Edition

Automotive Technology: Principles, Diagnosis, and Service, 3rd Edition

Automatic transmissions were first used on a large

Figure 1003 Fluid pumped into

Figure 1004 The vane curvature of each

Automotive Technology: Principles, Diagnosis, and Service, 3rd Edition

Automotive Technology: Principles, Diagnosis, and Service, 3rd Edition

Figure 1009 Torque multiplication occurs when

Figure 10010 A stator contains a one-way

Figure 10013 A cross-sectional view of a

Automotive Technology: Principles, Diagnosis, and Service, 3rd Edition

Use a Smaller Diameter Torque Converter for Improved

Automotive Technology: Principles, Diagnosis, and Service, 3rd Edition

PLANETARY GEAR SETS

Figure 10016 The three members of a simple

Figure 10017 To transmit

Automotive Technology: Principles, Diagnosis, and Service, 3rd Edition

SIMPSON GEAR SET

Figure 10019 A Simpson planetary gear set is

RAVIGNEAUX GEAR SET

LAPELLETIES GEAR SET

CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION

Figure 10022 Location of the Honda CVT start clutch.

Figure 10023 Honda CVT drive belt

What Is It Like to Drive a Vehicle Equipped with CVT?

Automotive Technology: Principles, Diagnosis, and Service, 3rd Edition

Automotive Technology: Principles, Diagnosis, and Service, 3rd Edition

Automotive Technology: Principles, Diagnosis, and Service, 3rd Edition

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