CHAP 2, SEC I
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION OF
PAR 9
INPUT TRANSFER ASSEMBLY
fold-out 2) supports the turbine assembly
in the converter cover assembly 68.
b . L o c k u p C l u t c h C o m p o n e n t s ( f i g.
3 7 3 , f o l d - o u t 2 ) . T h e l o c k u p c l u t c h i n -
cludes converter cover assembly 68, piston
74, clutch plate 77, reaction plate 78 and
related minor components. Cover assembly
68 serves jointly as the input drive for the
torque converter as well as a cylinder for
lockup piston 74. Clutch plate 77 is faced
on both sides with a friction material. It
has splines on its internal diameter which
engage splines on the hub of turbine 79.
Reaction plate 78 is a steel ring which
includes one clutch friction surface. Its
o u t e r d i a m e t e r i s h e l d b e t w e e n p u mp
a s s e m b l y 8 2 a n d c o v e r a s s e m b l y 6 8 by
bolts 86 and nuts 71.
c. Operation of Torque Converter
and Lockup Clutch
( 1 ) T h e t o r q u e c o n v e r t e r a nd
lockup clutch are combined in a compact
s u b a s s e m b l y w h i c h s e r v e s a s t h e i n p ut
member for the main transmission section.
This combination acts as a torque multi-
plier, a fluid coupling or a direct-drive
coupling depending upon the require-
ment at any particular time.
(2) Engine torque is delivered to
converter cover 69 by transfer gear 67.
Converter cover, lockup clutch piston 74,
reaction plate 78 and converter pump as-
sembly 82 rotate as a unit and constitute
the drive members. Stator assembly 94 is
l o c a t e d b e t w e e n p u m p a s s e m b l y 8 2 a nd
t u r b i n e a s s e m b l y 7 9 . T h e s t a t o r i s t he
r e a c t i o n m e m b e r . T u r b i n e a s s e m b l y 79
and lockup clutch plate 77 rotate as a unit
and with converter turbine shaft 2 (fig.
375, fold-out 4). This group constitutes
the driven members.
(3) The cavity within the assem-
bled components is kept charged with oil
w h i c h c o n t i n u a l l y c i r c u l a t e s f o r c o o l i ng
and lubrication. Rotation of the converter
pump while the vehicle engine is at idle
s p e e d w i l l n o t t r a n s m i t a s i g n i f i c a n t
amount of power hydraulically to the con-
verter turbine. Thus, during engine idle,
the converter acts as a disengaged clutch.
The pressure of the oil in the converter
c a v i t y k e e p s t h e l o c k u p c l u t c h p i s t on
p u s h e d t o i t s r e l e a s e d p o s i t i o n e x c e pt
when a higher pressure is applied to the
opposite side of the piston. This occurs
only at higher speeds.
(4) When the engine is accelera-
t e d , t h e v a n e s o f t h e c o n v e r t e r p u mp
throw oil radially outward and into the
blades of the turbine. The impact of this
oil against the turbine blades causes the
turbine to rotate. Oil leaves the vanes of
the turbine at a point near the turbine hub
but flowing in a direction opposite to con-
verter rotation. This flow in an opposite
d i r e c t i o n i s m o s t p r o n o u n c e d a t l o w e r
turbine speeds. At higher turbine speeds,
the flow changes and is more toward the
direction of rotation.
( 5 ) T o r e t u r n t o t h e c o n v e r t er
pump, the oil must pass between the stator
v a n e s . A t l o w t u r b i n e s p e e d s , t h e o il
strikes the concave sides of the stator
vanes. This tends to drive the stator in a
direction opposite to converter rotation.
The stator locks up, however, and the sta-
tor blades turn the flow of oil and direct
it in the same direction as the converter
pump rotates. The unexpended energy of
the oil is thus added to the movement of
the pump. This is the key to torque mul-
tiplication.
( 6 ) W h e n t u r b i n e s p e e d
preaches pump speed, the direction of oil
flow from turbine to pump changes. The
returning oil strikes the convex sides of
the stator vanes, causing the stator to
f r e e w h e e l . U n d e r t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s , t he
torque converter acts as a fluid coupling.
There is no multiplication of torque.
( 7 ) W h e n t h e c o n v e r t e r r e a c h es
sufficient speed, and there is no further
need for either torque multiplication or
fluid drive, automatic valves direct pres-
sure to the lockup clutch piston. The pis-
ton compresses the lockup clutch plate
against the back plate, locking the con-
verter turbine to the converter cover as-
sembly.
T h e r e f o r e , d u r i n g l o c k u p , t he
converter turbine is driven directly from
the engine. There is no hydraulic action
within the torque converter because the
pump and turbine rotate as a unit. The
stator freewheels to prevent any hydraulic
drag. There is no loss from slippage, which
12
Change 2
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