190303B Flashcards
Torque Converter Fundamentals and Service
What do torque converters act as?
coupling devices, increase torque received from engine
What is the principle behind hydrodynamic drives?
energy transfer from one component to another through fluid motion
what are other names for hydrodynamic drive?
fluid couplings or fluid clutches
What is the principle behind hydrostatic drives?
use fluid under pressure to achieve drive
Energy transfer in a fluid coupling depends on three things:
Volume, Velocity, Viscosity Rating
What is volume controlled by in an energy transfer?
physical size of impeller (pump) vane size, number of vanes, structure of vanes
What is velocity controlled by in an energy transfer?
physical size of converter, actual size of the vanes and angles of vanes, speed of impeller
What are the two elements that make up a fluid clutch?
impeller and turbine
how does an impeller and turbine work as a coupling device?
transmits torque from an engine to driveline or directly to a tranny through moving fluid (kinetic)
What is kinetic energy?
energy of motion
how is kinetic energy created in a fluid coupler?
from the impeller
what energy conversions does the turbine create?
kinetic to mechanical
Where does the impeller receive torque from>
the engine flywheel, driven by flywheel.
What causes the oil brought into the impeller to be moved outward?
centrifugal force
what energy conversions does the impeller create?
mechanical to hydraulic/fluid energy
Advantages of fluid couplers?
No mechanical connection
Shock absorption (created from sudden engine torque)
Gradual start up of a load
Where is slippage the highest in a fluid coupler?
at low speeds
why does slippage occur?
from the use of oil as a torque transfer medium
Disadvantages of fluid couplers?
Efficiency lost from slippage
Slippage creates heat
Can’t get to a 1:1 ratio bc of slippage
Fluid couplings can transmit torque, but can’t increase or multiply
Why does a fluid coupling unit not transfer 100% of the input torque?
bc both members in a fluid coupling have straight radial blades
All torque converters are fluid couplings, but
all fluid couplings are not torque converters
What is vortex flow?
flow of oil from impeller to turbine, back to impeller. circular movement like a spiral
When does vortex flow happen?
when turbine is turning at a lower speed than the impeller.
characteristics of vortex flow?
high heat, low output speed, high torque
what phase is vortex flow?
converter
What is rotary flow?
oil flows in same direction as the impeller is turning.
When does rotary flow happen?
when impeller and turbine are turning at almost the same speed. when impeller, turbine, and oil move together
characteristics of rotary flow?
low heat, high output speed, low torque
what phase is rotary flow?
coupling
Where is a split guide ring?
in the impeller and turbine, its a half shaped donut in the middle of the unit above the vanes (oil passes beneath it)
Purpose of a split guide ring?
prevent turbulence within the unit (smooths and directs oil flow)- laminar flow
What is a torque converter?
a fluid coupler with a third element: a stator
Can a torque converter multiply torque received by engine?
yes no shit
What are the energy conversions when using a torque converter?
mechanical (engine), into kinetic fluid energy, into mechanical energy (tranny or driveline)
What is a remote torque converter?
a torque converter not mounted directly to the engine, uses a short drive shaft in-between
what is the impeller element often referred to as?
pump element
How is the impeller connected?
to the engine flywheel (input). turns whenever flywheel is turning
purpose of having angled vanes on the impeller?
increases force and accuracy of fluid flow onto vanes in turbine element
how is the turbine connected?
bearing mounted in rear of torque converter housing, drives output shaft. physically sits closer to the flywheel
What’s another name for a stator?
reaction member
purpose of a stator?
change direction of oil flow to assist in torque multiplication
what does increasing torque multiplication do for the torque converter?
increases efficiency
how does the change in direction allow kinetic energy to be used?
if energy isn’t used in first pass of oil, that kinetic energy in oil goes back to impeller and gains even more energy as it’s flung around again to increase the velocity of the oil
what does increasing the velocity of oil do in relation to torque?
increases engine torque by approx 2.00:1 to 3.00:1 ratio
what does the exact amount of torque multiplication depend on in a stator?
angle of the vanes in the elements
What torque condition is happening when the impeller rotates faster than the turbine and the stator is stopped?
torque multiplication
how does torque multiplication happen in a torque converter?
kinetic energy in the fluid leaving the stator gets sent back to the impeller and increases torque. recirculating fluid with kinetic energy
why do you need an overrunning clutch?
to prevent oil from turning the stator in the opposite way of impeller motion, reducing the torque