Torque Converters and Their Functionality

When automobiles began making the shift from manual transmission to those that are automatic, a number of parts and assemblies had to be adjusted to accommodate such changes. In manual transmission vehicles, a component known as the clutch is what connects the transmission to the engine. Without it, the vehicle would face an engine kill every time it came to a stop. With automatic transmissions, the clutch is no longer needed as it is replaced with a component known as a torque converter.

If one were to open up their automobile and look over the various assemblies, torque converters are the doughnut-shaped structure that is placed directly between the transmission and engine. Within the interior of the torque converter, a series of blades are placed facing in opposite directions from one another, and the space is often full of transmission fluids. As the engine drives a turbine known as the impeller, transmission fluids are forced into it to transfer power from the engine to the transmission.

Based on the rotation of the vehicle’s crankshaft, a pump will ensure that an optimal amount of fluids is supplied to the torque converter. To guarantee that there is enough force necessary to drive the system, the impeller or pump will fling transmission fluids at the turbine fins as the system rotates. By spinning the turbine with its fins, the torque of the engine is transferred to the transmission. With an engine component known as the stator, fluids can be forced back into the turbine rather than flowing into the pump, causing the efficiency of the apparatus to increase.

As an automatic vehicle begins to reach a stop and enters a state of idling, the flow of transmission fluids into the torque converter is slowed down to minimize the toque being transferred to the transmission. By pressing the pedal down to speed up the automobile after idling, the crankshaft and flywheel will begin to revolve faster as more fluids propelled into the system. As a result, more torque will be achieved and the automobile can speed up as necessary.

Due to the important role that torque converters serve for automatic transmission vehicles and their efficiency, ensuring that they are well maintained and function correctly is critical for the operation of an automobile. Whether you are in need of torque converter parts, gearbox input shafts, impeller components, or other similar items, look no further than ASAP Purchasing. ASAP Purchasing is an online distributor of aircraft parts and other industry components, offering customers access to over 2 billion new, used, and obsolete items. Experience the ASAP difference today when you submit a Request for Quote form through our website and begin the purchasing process.

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