ME 4805

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology 1
Introduction

• When we want to transfer the rotation energy or

torque of one shaft to another, we have to connect
those two shafts with such a arrangements which
can transfer the power with maximum efficiency
and as per need.
• In above kind of situations, ”The couplings” is used.
• The coupling is device which connects the driving
and driven shaft and also transfer the power.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
 Fluid Coupling

• A Fluid coupling is used for transmitting power or torque

from one to another shaft with the help of oil (fluid).
• Without MECHANICAL connection of two shafts.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
 Construction..
• It consist of two rotating elements as a
radial pump impeller and radial flow
turbine runner.
• The pump impeller is mounted on
driving shaft and turbine runner is
mounted on a driven shaft. Both the
impeller and runner are identical in
shape and they are enclosed in single
housing filled with oil.
• There is no direct contact between the
shafts.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
 How it works…

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
Working
• When the driving shaft with pump impeller is rotated,
the oil starts moving from the inner radius to outer
radius of the pump impeller by centrifugal action.
• Due to centrifugal action and the speed of impeller, the
pressure and kinetic energy of oil at outer radius
increases. The oil then enters the turbine runner at the
outer radias of the runner and flows inwardly to the
inner radios of the runner. It will exert force and make it
run.
• The magnitude of the torque increases with an
increases in the speed of driving shaft.
• And cycle will continue.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
 Department of Mechanical Engineering
Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
Efficiency
• In actual practice, the speed of driven shaft is
always less then the driving shaft by 2% to 4% due
to friction and turbulence loss in the impeller and
runner passage, which is known as SLIP.
• The efficiency of the power transmitted by fluid
coupling is about 98%.
• In fluid coupling the driven shaft is free from engine
vibrations.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
Need… … …
• Industrial
• Rail transportation
– Fluid couplings are found in some Diesel locomotives as part of
the power transmission system. Self-Changing Gears made semi-
automatic transmissions for British Rail.
• Automotive
– semi-automatic transmissions and automatic transmissions. Since
the late 1940s.
• Aviation
– The most prominent use of fluid couplings in aeronautical
applications was in the DB 601, DB 603 and DB 605 engines where
it was used as a barometrically controlled hydraulic clutch for the
centrifugal compressor and the Wright turbo-compound
reciprocating engine

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
Introduction

• The fluid torque convertor is used for transmitting

variable (increased or decreased) torque from one
shaft to another shaft.
• A fluid torque convertor is nothing but a improved
FLUID COUPLING.
• The different torque( +/-) is achieved by adding
third member (reaction member) between pump
impeller and turbine runner.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
The construction

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
How it works
• When oil flowing from the pump impeller to turbine Runner
exerts the torque on the stationary guide vanes which change
the direction of oil. As result of this, the oil reacts upon the
turbine runner and reduces the speed of turbine runner.
• As we know, P NT.
• Hence, if the T at the driven shaft is to be increased, the
corresponding value of the speed at the same shaft should be
decreased.
• The speed of driven shaft is decreased by decreasing the
velocity of oil, which is flow from pump impeller to the
turbine runner and then through the STATOR which change
the direction of oil, therefore the convergent is possible.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
 Department of Mechanical Engineering
Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
Application
• Automatic transmissions on automobiles, such as
cars, buses, and on/off highway trucks.
• Forwarders and other heavy duty vehicles.
• Marine propulsion systems.
• Industrial power transmission such as conveyor
drives, almost all modern forklifts, winches, drilling
rigs, construction equipment, and railway
locomotives.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
 Department of Mechanical Engineering
Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
Advantages

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology 18
Disadvantages

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology 19