+Pretermit What a profound statement, which i could not have agreed with more. For a seemingly simple assembly, the dynamics are pretty freaking complicated. Those impeller blades have to be at the exact right angle to meet the torque requirement and displacement. A lot of mind bending mathematical formaulae going on here
+jlerro1981 Engineering refinement too as these have to be built in mass production at cost effective prices for economy cars and built to be reliable. It is truly amazing how they took a complex piece of design into common use for the masses.
The stator assembly never seems to be explained adequately, so I will explain it now: The stator redirects fluid flow exiting the input turbine, so the fluid impacts the output turbine more forcefully. This allows the fluid to transfer its kinetic energy to the output turbine more effectively. However, the stator also creates a lot of turbulence in the fluid, and therefore wastes some amount of energy in the process. To minimize this effect, the stator is mounted on a one-way bearing that allows it to spin freely in one direction, so it stops interfering with fluid flow when the torque converter is spinning at high speed. This "unlocking" occurs once the entire torque converter is spinning fast enough that the forward rotation of the torque converter overwhelms the force of the fluid trying to spin the stator backwards. Since the force trying to spin the stator backwards depends on the total amount of force being transmitted through the torque converter, that means the exact moment when the stator unlocks and starts spinning depends on how hard the vehicle is accelerating. In layman terms, the stator is always locked when the car first starts accelerating, and it unlocks when you finish accelerating and start cruising at your intended speed. You can re-lock the stator by stomping on the gas pedal, and you can unlock the stator again by easing off the gas pedal or coasting. There's no reason for you to do this on purpose, though, because locking the stator is only useful during hard acceleration, and the extra efficiency from unlocking the stator only matters at high speeds. Just let the stator do its job and drive the car normally.
I should clarify: I used the terms "locking" and "unlocking" to refer to the stator's two modes of operation, but these terms are more often used to refer to the clutch at the front of the torque converter. The purpose of this clutch is to completely bypass the torque converter when cruising at high speed, locking the engine to the transmission exactly like a foot-operated clutch in a manual transmission. The clutch and the stator are two separate devices with different purposes, and the fact that both of them can "lock" and "unlock" should not be interpreted to mean they do the same job.
Can you expound further on what makes the Koenigsegg torque converter unique or novel? Is it the case that in a conventional automatic transmission, the job done by gears in a manual transmission is done by changing the angle of the blades in the stator, starting at an angle that generates max torque when the car is at rest, etc? Does this happen in the stator or where? In the Koenigsegg, as I understand it, the electric motor spins up the torque converter, but from there I am lost. Thanks.
+Dux +Unum: My profile picture is not the Rising Sun, it's a parody of the Rising Sun. Click on it to see a larger version. Also, the Chinese seem to be very easily offended by anything foreigners do that they dislike, so I'm not inclined to care if they dislike my funny profile pic.
In short, my car is moving due to the kinetic force of a liquid. It's amazing how much force is applied to a liquid which can move tons of metal up a hill.
Ah! He said the magic words. "Because the fluid flows back more slowly". I just watched over an hour of videos on torque converters and kept failing to realize the relationship between the stator, when the clutch engages and its purpose, and how the torque is physically multiplied. But now it makes sense. Since the pump is constantly spinning at engine speed and there's pressure being built up at the stator, adding more "leverage", if you will to the pump. And when this leverage is no longer needed at high speed the clutch is engaged essential making it 1 synchronized mechanism.
And than you do obvious thing, instead static you use variable blades for stator. Bam, you have variable torque multiplication convertor! From 1948. Buick Dynaflow never stopped fascinate me. How simple and beautiful.
Just discovered these videos and as an engineering student I think you're doing an incredible job man! It's interesting how little people know about a vehicle that they use on a daily basis and by explaining components with exploded views and your steady voice it is extremely helpful it providing people with valuable information that will let them understand their pride and joy (cars) better. Great job, man. Keep it up! :)
Amazing ! I never comment on videos but I am mechanical engineer who design engines and I was fascinated. This is how you create videos / presentations !! Kudos Sir !
I am impressed with this video. What I am even more-so impressed with is the majority of intelligent UA-camrs responding to this video. Seriously, I could spend all day reading the observation and responses and complimenting on many. Some real bright individuals who simply "get it". Now if only I could surround myself with people like this in my real life. My colleagues here at work are a joke.
Brilliantly presented and explained! A much more complicated an invention than say, the wheel; yet demonstrated with such clarity that even a Sumerian might understand. Thank you, Thomas Schwenke!
It’s amazing that a team of mechanical engineers and physicists came up with this genius device. To just sit there and brainstorm this is amazing to me
It's really amazing that vehicles are as responsive as they are considering their weight and the fact that it's all transferred through fluid. This system works as good as if it was all connected directly through gears. Crazy.
Whoever discovered that a simple fluid can transmit that much torque is an absolute genius. The middle piece that creates the unbalance in flow is also very impressive. I didn't realize that was possible at all.
Thanks buddy for bringing up these videos. I'm from Samoa and I'm graduated with an APTC automotive mechanic certificate. my dream was to become a specialist in automotive and I wanted to go overseas for that after my graduation at APTC. But too bad for me. I can't due to some very important reasons but these videos helps me to understand more. hope I'll be able to watch more very important videos from u. thanks:)
This video is a wonderful tool. I’m old. I learned this stuff from a book, it was not something I read once and understood, and even after gaining a theoretical understanding, and taking a number of slush boxes apart, I still had trouble visualizing the process as clearly as this video presents it. Thanks, it’s like learning something all over again, what was Old seems new. Liked and subscribed.
This is a fantastic explanation! Many thanks for producing this. I've always wondered how a torque convert works and what's inside. This is a brilliant contraption.
Thanks for this explanation. I have a faulty torque converter and now I know what it does. Very clear explanation, wonderful animation, and concise commentary.
this animation was really good for explaining this to me. I don't know how whoever created that did it but whoever it was did a great job and I thank you very much for publishing this.
I saw your website and I really like it. So much to learn. I have a never ending thirst for knowledge of auto mechanics so this great. No to mention all the reputable auto schools are near or more 100s of miles from my county
+Thomas Schwenke I have a question. While the torque multiplication is being used, what's doing the stator? Does it spin or it is stopped? Because this part has a bearing to have free movement. The oil can go through the stator in two different ways, over the blade or under it; that's why it has to move or be still.
+Thomas Schwenke I definitely regard this as an excellent video with great visuals. The animation itself is so good, it alone explains how torque converters are working. Incredible job on these videos. I (and I'm sure countless others) have greatly benefited from the videos you have provided. We are indebted to people like you who freely provide knowledge. I hope the following can be seen as constructive criticism. This is just my opinion (which can be wrong) but I would have explained things differently. It may just be a matter of differences in opinion and teaching style. So...to clarify what I meant by my original comment: I feel the explanation in the video explains the process itself (very well), but doesn't explain from the "big picture" or theory down to it's application. Or in other words, how the principle at work is being applied. If you're intending to follow the animation of the video, then this makes sense. To me it just seems like the details are being discussed without explaining how everything is fitting together. So again, this is why the video appears to me to "explain what happens in a torque converter rather than explaining how it works".
wow. Just wow. This is the best educational video on the 'Tube that I personally have found. Excellent demographic and detail in explanation. All my years in playing 'round with cars and I finally have a good understanding of what goes on behind the scenes. Next stop....how a Diesel works
Great explanation of how fluid under pressure acts as a manual transmissions pressure plate and throw out bearing to apply the clutch, and lock up the torque converter with the output shaft to provide torque and kinetic energy to move the components of the Automatic transmission. Next please explain to the people how the fluid pressure acts to engage the clutch pacts inside of the Automatic transmission to shift through the gears.
My main problem was understanding WHY torque multiplication happens. The explanation in the video seems inaccurate, stating at 2:22 "the result is a multiplication in torque, because the fluid flows back more slowly". While in fact the explanation (found out from other sources) has to do with vortex flow and how the speed of fluid keeps on adding up. That being said, nice videos! :)
megadriver6 Really? Why is it a great design. All I saw was an impeller using fluid to spin a turbine. Directly welding the impeller to the turbine would spin it even better, and at 100% (not 90%). I don't think the video explained at all what's the purpose of doing that. Just saying "it multiplies the torque" didn't help me. Too dumb?
Alien Or Sutin Sure it is a simplified explanation, but most people will understand it better. Cause me and other petrolheads, we know whats happening in our cars in detail, but the standard motorist doesn't. Also, don't you think that the automatic transmission is a clever piece of machinery?
Alien Or Sutin Best advice I can give you is to go to a mechanic who is working on an automatic transmission and ask him questions. Best to do so if you are friends with said mechanic. A friend of mine who works in a Benz dealership showed me how the 4G tronic works in detail. They had one for an overhaul and I spent half a day there examining parts XD
Alien Or Sutin Well what would happen if you come to a stop if the impeller and turbine are connected? Engine stall. And that's exactly why this thing is in an automatic transmission. Since there is no clutch paddle, the whole process of "slowly releasing the clutch" has to be done by something. That something is a torque converter.
+Sigma Octantis lol, how much, like 5%. I have hydrodynamic transmittion and its awesome in every way. It isnt the quickest, but who the f*ck cares - in 99,9999 % of driving situations u just dont give a shit that the gearing isnt hyper fast. I have 170 Kw diesel and i cannot be happier.
Like I commented in another of your animated illustration of how 4 strokes engine works, the voice is not human voice, but text reader. I like your works.
Thomas Schwenke I'm going to assume then that english isn't your first language. You miss pronounced some words or didn't enunciate them correctly. for instance it's stay-tor. just a heads up for you.
Torque converter is The best thing ever. In army we have trucks that have one. Manual transmission, that works like automatic thanks to converter. After you put biggest gear you don't have to touch clutch again, you can even stop without problems
The stator changes the angle of the fluid returning to driven pump side. The change in angle actually assist the driving side of the torque converter . This almost double the torque (Turning Force) . This effect really only works well at pull away when the relative speed of the two turbines are very different, The stator locks in position with a sprag clutch in this condition, once the speeds of the two turbines are relatively the same the stator rotates with the units and the torque multiplication is lost. A stall test (done for a limited time or damage will occur) checks if the torque converter is functioning correctly. Natural fluid slippage cost in gas miles on old school torque converters, now lock up clutches lock the unit solid when speeds are relatively the same input from engine to output to gearbox. .
hey Thomas, I was just watching the this vid in ur german channel and wondering why u don't go international. Just found out u have already! I just wanted to say tausend Dank man! you're helping a lot of people. great english skills btw ;)
I very much enjoyed this animation for studying for my transmission test. However the only thing i wish you added was that the stator must hold during phase 1/2 acceleration and then freewheel once coupled or else vortex flow remains in the converter, excess heat generated etc. still a very good animation. thank you!
I don't agree with some things, hope we can clarify. The torque multiplication means the input shaft rotates faster than the output shaft but the output shaft has higher torque. The impeller propels the fluid on the outer side, that's all. The fluid speed builds up because it returns from the turbine at higher speeds. You can adjust torque multiplication by modifying (not necessarily while running, "adjust" can refer to the development phase) the turbine blades angle, that is very important. The fluid is now directed through the middle section and before getting back to the impeller, it needs to spin in the same direction as the impeller otherwise it will create a negative torque to the impeller. Therefor the stator must not spin (relative to the vehicle, if you observe if from outside the vehicle you will see it stationary) in order to change the direction of spin of the fluid. The angle of the stator blades also is important so it can give you better efficiency. In a few words the impeller pushes the fluid, it transfers power to the turbine then it comes back through the middle, the stator gives it the right spin, and the kinetic energy of the fluid is recovered. Torque multiplication is given by the turbine blades angle and design but also the impeller and stator design matters. Modifying the impeller design results in higher or lower speed of the fluid, and modifying the stator also can alter the speed and prevents negative torque transmitted. Negative (in the opposite direction) torque is stopped by the stator and you get some slight power losses through heat dissipation. Torque multiplication is not genuinely because of fluid coming back through the middle. That is power recovery. But since power comes back fluid speed is now higher and the torque increases. Here is an example: we have a car and we fit a turbine(not a turbocharger or supercharger) on the exhaust. The turbine could recover some power from the exhaust now. It will be like 1kW or less otherwise it will reduce the engine normal output. We can use that power to push the car. It will be minimal in this case it might even make things worse in reality but suppose we get a lot of power back because through the exhaust theoretically air has kinetic energy that may be recovered. Does it mean the turbine multiplies torque ? I see it 'more like a power recuperator. Since you recover power you will end up with more torque as well.
That is the same question from me which is not shown/explained in this video. I guess there is a fluid pump which is connected directly to the torque converter hub using "flats". As the torque converter shell is bolted and rotates with the engine's crankshaft, the torque converter drives the fluid pump. This arrangement also ensures that the fluid pump only spins when the engine works.
excellent! nice to see very well explained videos, it's good to see that people take time to teach several things so that others can be less ignorant, nice work keep it up, subscribed!
"Invented in 1905 in Stettin, Ger many, by Dr. Hermann Föttinger of the Vulcan Ship Yards, the torque converter was originally a steam turbine drive for a ship propeller. It gradually found its way into the mainstream auto motive industry over the following 25 years."
Wow..... your videos are AMAZING. It sounds as though English is not your first language, so I am grateful that you took the time to produce these in English. Your clear explanations and beautiful 3d illustrations make concepts that otherwise may be difficult to grasp, easily understood in just a few short minutes. Thank you for this. Subscribed.
Great video! Good job on the animation. Couple of things on the English though. 1) At 1:23 you say "Because, for example, torque conversion and energy ...." This should read "Because torque conversion and energy ..." The "for example" is distracting because you are setting the listener up to receive an example, but instead they get a statement. 2) At 4:02 you say "The torque multiplication has ceased." In this case 'c' is said with it's 's' sound. So instead of saying "key-ssed" it is said 'sea-ssed'. In technical writing and speaking try to avoid common street talk. For example: "You could say..." is not a phrase you want to use when making declarative statements about how a device operates. Hope this helps and thanks again for sharing this knowledge and your excellent animation skills.
This is an awesome device. I don't see any non negligible power losses other than by heat dissipation, I estimate 1-2 kW or less possibly but my radiator doesn't seem to have trouble cooling down the engine and transmision.
Richard parnell I still want to know how it works, this video didn't help me, did it help you? I expected to hear the word "gear" at least once. Lots of talk about some spinning impellers and turbines but nothing about why it's important for an impeller to spin a turbine. What's the advantage of that. What does the multiplication of torque that was mentioned do for us? Still lost.
Alien Or Sutin I got the basic idea, I wanted to know how a automatic could sit in drive without staling out, its because the fluid being pushed from the first impeller to the second will pass trough the second impeller and still put pressure on that second impeller, thus being able to make the car crawl when you let off the break or sit still when you are at a stop.that's also how the rpm's don't have to match the transmission speed off the line, that's where the power loss comes from with an automatic. hope this helps if not shoot me your e mail address the rest of it im still learning like the lock up when both impellers are going around the same speed and it becomes a direct lock from engine to transmission, I was looking at one of those windmills and wondered if they work on the same principle?
Alien Or Sutin Apparently, as the title states, it's about torque converters. There are videos on how automatic transmissions regarding gears work as well. This clearly isn't about that, though.
Alien Or Sutin As Going Hard said, this video is about the Torque Converter. It's the equivalent of a clutch for a manual transmission. Note: Not all manuals use clutches and not all automatics use Torque Converters. Some newer automatics are switching to a wet clutch. With the extra gears, they don't need the torque multiplication a Torque Converter does and provide better performance and efficiency. As for an automatic transmission, they use planetary gearsets and clutch pack/band to control the flow. A 3 speed automatic uses 2 planetaries to give 3 speeds and reverse by controlling which part of the gearset is lock to the housing and which part has power applied to it. Planetaries are called such as they resemble our solar system. A central "Sun" gear surrounded by 3-4 planetaries with a ring gear wrapped around the outside. Clutch packs work in the same way as a clutch for a manual. the only difference is pressure is applied by hydraulic pressure to a piston. When a automatic transmission fails, it's usually caused by burnt out clutch from lack of fluid pressure. This is why checking transmission fluid level is very important. Even a quart low can blow out your transmission as pressure drops. BTW, if you ever saw someone on a hill that wasn't using their brakes and wonder how they weren't rolling back down the hill? They raised engine rpm just enough to hold the car/truck in place.
Hey Thomas, your videos are amazing, thank you for taking time too make these. I would go on but I already commented on your video about diesel engines.
+ComandanteJ I agree with you. I always had manual and for the first time bought an automatic booom torque converter over heated and failed. never ever gonna buy automatic ever again
+mohye27 So just because you got bad luck one time, you'll just assume all auto transmissions are bad? Have you considered it was probably your fault that the transmission broke?
The genius behind this is so undervalued. Imagine having to come up with this on your own where would you start?
+Pretermit Well, normally, it happens (a) after a long time of trial and error and (b) with a lot of luck :)
+Thomas Schwenke and (c) a lot of creativity in linking various fields/pieces of knowledge together. Quality explanation, you have another sub.
+Pretermit What a profound statement, which i could not have agreed with more. For a seemingly simple assembly, the dynamics are pretty freaking complicated. Those impeller blades have to be at the exact right angle to meet the torque requirement and displacement. A lot of mind bending mathematical formaulae going on here
+Pretermit I could not agree more.
+jlerro1981 Engineering refinement too as these have to be built in mass production at cost effective prices for economy cars and built to be reliable. It is truly amazing how they took a complex piece of design into common use for the masses.
The stator assembly never seems to be explained adequately, so I will explain it now:
The stator redirects fluid flow exiting the input turbine, so the fluid impacts the output turbine more forcefully. This allows the fluid to transfer its kinetic energy to the output turbine more effectively. However, the stator also creates a lot of turbulence in the fluid, and therefore wastes some amount of energy in the process.
To minimize this effect, the stator is mounted on a one-way bearing that allows it to spin freely in one direction, so it stops interfering with fluid flow when the torque converter is spinning at high speed. This "unlocking" occurs once the entire torque converter is spinning fast enough that the forward rotation of the torque converter overwhelms the force of the fluid trying to spin the stator backwards.
Since the force trying to spin the stator backwards depends on the total amount of force being transmitted through the torque converter, that means the exact moment when the stator unlocks and starts spinning depends on how hard the vehicle is accelerating.
In layman terms, the stator is always locked when the car first starts accelerating, and it unlocks when you finish accelerating and start cruising at your intended speed. You can re-lock the stator by stomping on the gas pedal, and you can unlock the stator again by easing off the gas pedal or coasting. There's no reason for you to do this on purpose, though, because locking the stator is only useful during hard acceleration, and the extra efficiency from unlocking the stator only matters at high speeds. Just let the stator do its job and drive the car normally.
I should clarify: I used the terms "locking" and "unlocking" to refer to the stator's two modes of operation, but these terms are more often used to refer to the clutch at the front of the torque converter. The purpose of this clutch is to completely bypass the torque converter when cruising at high speed, locking the engine to the transmission exactly like a foot-operated clutch in a manual transmission. The clutch and the stator are two separate devices with different purposes, and the fact that both of them can "lock" and "unlock" should not be interpreted to mean they do the same job.
Very well explained.
+Dux +Unum, I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
Can you expound further on what makes the Koenigsegg torque converter unique or novel? Is it the case that in a conventional automatic transmission, the job done by gears in a manual transmission is done by changing the angle of the blades in the stator, starting at an angle that generates max torque when the car is at rest, etc? Does this happen in the stator or where? In the Koenigsegg, as I understand it, the electric motor spins up the torque converter, but from there I am lost. Thanks.
+Dux +Unum: My profile picture is not the Rising Sun, it's a parody of the Rising Sun. Click on it to see a larger version. Also, the Chinese seem to be very easily offended by anything foreigners do that they dislike, so I'm not inclined to care if they dislike my funny profile pic.
In short, my car is moving due to the kinetic force of a liquid. It's amazing how much force is applied to a liquid which can move tons of metal up a hill.
+Bassotronics Excellent relation and use of analogy.
Not so amazing when you consider liquid is merely a state of matter.
Faisal7HTX Then consider that little amount of matter doing all that work. Still amazing. :)
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I really would think with all the pressure, heat and speed that's in a torque converter, the oil would vaporize. Especially under huge stress.
Ah! He said the magic words. "Because the fluid flows back more slowly". I just watched over an hour of videos on torque converters and kept failing to realize the relationship between the stator, when the clutch engages and its purpose, and how the torque is physically multiplied. But now it makes sense. Since the pump is constantly spinning at engine speed and there's pressure being built up at the stator, adding more "leverage", if you will to the pump. And when this leverage is no longer needed at high speed the clutch is engaged essential making it 1 synchronized mechanism.
And than you do obvious thing, instead static you use variable blades for stator. Bam, you have variable torque multiplication convertor! From 1948. Buick Dynaflow never stopped fascinate me. How simple and beautiful.
This might be the best video on the subject on youtube. Perfect animation on the principle in place. - Norwegian mechanical engineer
it is the simplest explanation that worked for me anyways!- Canadian weekend mechanic
this is by far the best explaination of torque converter in youtube
Ah UA-cam, 139,865,329 cat videos...
But for every 1000 cat videos, there is one really useful video like this one. Great job!!
I like cat videos, but I am also an auto mechanic and found this very interesting. Automatic trans are something I never worked on other than R&R.
outstanding, precise, sufficient detail and concise, many others could learn technical presentation from you.
john graham Thanks alot :)
john graham I agree!
Wow i totally agree that made very good sense torque converters have def come a long way since the seventies
Just discovered these videos and as an engineering student I think you're doing an incredible job man! It's interesting how little people know about a vehicle that they use on a daily basis and by explaining components with exploded views and your steady voice it is extremely helpful it providing people with valuable information that will let them understand their pride and joy (cars) better. Great job, man. Keep it up! :)
Can't even being to imagine how long it took someone to figure all of this out... wonderful explanation! Thank you!
Amazing ! I never comment on videos but I am mechanical engineer who design engines and I was fascinated. This is how you create videos / presentations !! Kudos Sir !
+fawkesash Hi, great to hear that. Thx!
This video is excellent, a perfectly clear and understandable explanation of a fairly complex device.
literally the BEST torque converter explanation ive seen on the web thank you!
Why? I found it lol
Best interpretation of a torque converter I've ever seen. I've always pictured in in my head but but you've made my dreams come true!
I am impressed with this video. What I am even more-so impressed with is the majority of intelligent UA-camrs responding to this video. Seriously, I could spend all day reading the observation and responses and complimenting on many. Some real bright individuals who simply "get it". Now if only I could surround myself with people like this in my real life. My colleagues here at work are a joke.
This is one of the most ingenious inventions I've ever seen, despite its outrageous simplicity
Brilliantly presented and explained! A much more complicated an invention than say, the wheel; yet demonstrated with such clarity that even a Sumerian might understand. Thank you, Thomas Schwenke!
I've been looking for a video that would quickly demonstrate the fluid flow of a converter. Well done!
It’s amazing that a team of mechanical engineers and physicists came up with this genius device. To just sit there and brainstorm this is amazing to me
Now , after watching this video , i have a clear idea of the working of torque convertor.
Thanks a lot ,Thomas Schwenke !
It's really amazing that vehicles are as responsive as they are considering their weight and the fact that it's all transferred through fluid. This system works as good as if it was all connected directly through gears. Crazy.
Whoever discovered that a simple fluid can transmit that much torque is an absolute genius. The middle piece that creates the unbalance in flow is also very impressive. I didn't realize that was possible at all.
I could listen to this guy talk all day
I knew liquid is an extremely versatile material but i'am still amazed by what people's coming up with , very nice video indeed .
Very nice explanation and animation. Thank you
Thanks! Feel free to share it with friends and family :)
Apart from the "centrifugal forces" part, awesome explanation. Way better than most other videos out there.
The most excellent video i've seen explaining this complicated mechanism
Thank you very much for your comment!
Thanks buddy for bringing up these videos. I'm from Samoa and I'm graduated with an APTC automotive mechanic certificate. my dream was to become a specialist in automotive and I wanted to go overseas for that after my graduation at APTC. But too bad for me. I can't due to some very important reasons but these videos helps me to understand more. hope I'll be able to watch more very important videos from u. thanks:)
This is the Best animation I have seen for torque converter operation. Great work!
think how amazingly genious the person to first create a torque converter was!
There is no way my dumbass mechanic understands this.
DoomFinger511 lmao
I'm studying for my apprenticeship and just wanted to say thanks for this video!
This video makes waaaaaay more sense than the other one i watched....
great vid. the animations make these topics easier to understand.
blackhawkLprince Thanks alot for your comment! :)
Dude, I've never been so amazed by an explanation video. Very sweet, I liked the way you added the flow of fluid, that was a great visual!
IT MAKES SENSE. IT MAKES FUCKING SENSE!
This video is a wonderful tool. I’m old. I learned this stuff from a book, it was not something I read once and understood, and even after gaining a theoretical understanding, and taking a number of slush boxes apart, I still had trouble visualizing the process as clearly as this video presents it.
Thanks, it’s like learning something all over again, what was Old seems new.
Liked and subscribed.
awesome
This is a fantastic explanation! Many thanks for producing this. I've always wondered how a torque convert works and what's inside. This is a brilliant contraption.
Thanks for this explanation. I have a faulty torque converter and now I know what it does. Very clear explanation, wonderful animation, and concise commentary.
Hello. My I ask what symptoms you vehicle was having that made you come to the conclusion it was the torque converter?
this animation was really good for explaining this to me. I don't know how whoever created that did it but whoever it was did a great job and I thank you very much for publishing this.
I saw your website and I really like it. So much to learn. I have a never ending thirst for knowledge of auto mechanics so this great. No to mention all the reputable auto schools are near or more 100s of miles from my county
I find this video tells you more about what torque converters do than how torque converters work.
+Felix Chien Watch again! You are the first who tells me that :)
+Thomas Schwenke I have a question. While the torque multiplication is being used, what's doing the stator? Does it spin or it is stopped? Because this part has a bearing to have free movement. The oil can go through the stator in two different ways, over the blade or under it; that's why it has to move or be still.
+Thomas Schwenke I definitely regard this as an excellent video with great visuals. The animation itself is so good, it alone explains how torque converters are working. Incredible job on these videos. I (and I'm sure countless others) have greatly benefited from the videos you have provided. We are indebted to people like you who freely provide knowledge.
I hope the following can be seen as constructive criticism. This is just my opinion (which can be wrong) but I would have explained things differently. It may just be a matter of differences in opinion and teaching style. So...to clarify what I meant by my original comment:
I feel the explanation in the video explains the process itself (very well), but doesn't explain from the "big picture" or theory down to it's application. Or in other words, how the principle at work is being applied. If you're intending to follow the animation of the video, then this makes sense. To me it just seems like the details are being discussed without explaining how everything is fitting together. So again, this is why the video appears to me to "explain what happens in a torque converter rather than explaining how it works".
Die Animationen und der Kommentar, das ist ganz tolle Arbeit! Sehr durchdacht und sehr anschaulich erklärt!
wow. Just wow. This is the best educational video on the 'Tube that I personally have found. Excellent demographic and detail in explanation. All my years in playing 'round with cars and I finally have a good understanding of what goes on behind the scenes. Next stop....how a Diesel works
Great explanation of how fluid under pressure acts as a manual transmissions pressure plate and throw out bearing to apply the clutch, and lock up the torque converter with the output shaft to provide torque and kinetic energy to move the components of the Automatic transmission. Next please explain to the people how the fluid pressure acts to engage the clutch pacts inside of the Automatic transmission to shift through the gears.
An incredible piece of engineering. And we take it all for granted.
i have my exams, and guess what this help me a lot, thanks thomas :)
My main problem was understanding WHY torque multiplication happens. The explanation in the video seems inaccurate, stating at 2:22 "the result is a multiplication in torque, because the fluid flows back more slowly". While in fact the explanation (found out from other sources) has to do with vortex flow and how the speed of fluid keeps on adding up.
That being said, nice videos! :)
wow, great. I hope Google or apple hires this guy.
Thank you for this. I just learned in less than 5 minutes what I never know in detail for many years. Nicely done and thank you again.
Great explanation, thank you. Finally makes sense and makes me appreciate my manual transmission so much more!
Excellent animation, explained it very elegantly.
Very clever piece of design - the torque converter.
Also the video was nicely done. Well explained and well presented. Liked!
megadriver6 Really? Why is it a great design. All I saw was an impeller using fluid to spin a turbine. Directly welding the impeller to the turbine would spin it even better, and at 100% (not 90%). I don't think the video explained at all what's the purpose of doing that. Just saying "it multiplies the torque" didn't help me. Too dumb?
Alien Or Sutin
Sure it is a simplified explanation, but most people will understand it better.
Cause me and other petrolheads, we know whats happening in our cars in detail, but the standard motorist doesn't.
Also, don't you think that the automatic transmission is a clever piece of machinery?
The TC is the only part of my car I [still] don't understand.
Alien Or Sutin
Best advice I can give you is to go to a mechanic who is working on an automatic transmission and ask him questions.
Best to do so if you are friends with said mechanic.
A friend of mine who works in a Benz dealership showed me how the 4G tronic works in detail. They had one for an overhaul and I spent half a day there examining parts XD
Alien Or Sutin Well what would happen if you come to a stop if the impeller and turbine are connected? Engine stall. And that's exactly why this thing is in an automatic transmission. Since there is no clutch paddle, the whole process of "slowly releasing the clutch" has to be done by something. That something is a torque converter.
So this acts as the clutch, no wonder autos are so buttery smooth, awesome.
+Detc0re buttery smooth cars aren't very fun to drive...
+InternetzSpaceshipz You my good sir, are exactly right.
+Detc0re and it also saps your power.
Well I don't like CVTs and pure autos, but Tiptronic transmissions and dual clutches are awesome fun. Do you loose power from the torque converter?
+Sigma Octantis lol, how much, like 5%. I have hydrodynamic transmittion and its awesome in every way. It isnt the quickest, but who the f*ck cares - in 99,9999 % of driving situations u just dont give a shit that the gearing isnt hyper fast. I have 170 Kw diesel and i cannot be happier.
Wow this is.. woow .. they need this in every mechanics class
Hey man thanks for this. This was the best video I have seen on the torque converter...............
this is so much better than my profs explanation... maybe i can actually pass my midterm now
A genius engineer( s ) invented this
Dobbie didn't die Harry Potter revived him and now Dobbie has a UA-cam channel. I subbed now.
You the man. Your explanations are awesome. This helps at least half the world that does not have any idea of what there is under a hood! ;-)
Piercarlo Ciacchi
Excellent video.... short, understandable, complete.
Man I've hit the jackpot with this channel great vids!!!
Gcrilla Great to hear that! Visit www.bring-knowledge-to-the-world.com :)
Thorough, brief and informative ! Well done.
Thanks Mr Thomas I finally got to understand how does it work!
Like I commented in another of your animated illustration of how 4 strokes engine works, the voice is not human voice, but text reader. I like your works.
Akinsoji Otuyelu No, it's my voice :)
Thomas Schwenke I'm going to assume then that english isn't your first language. You miss pronounced some words or didn't enunciate them correctly. for instance it's stay-tor. just a heads up for you.
purplexenno hmm, just realised that i should point out in stay-tor, the "t" is hard. as in tree or top.
Torque converter is The best thing ever. In army we have trucks that have one. Manual transmission, that works like automatic thanks to converter. After you put biggest gear you don't have to touch clutch again, you can even stop without problems
The stator changes the angle of the fluid returning to driven pump side. The change in angle actually assist the driving side of the torque converter . This almost double the torque (Turning Force) . This effect really only works well at pull away when the relative speed of the two turbines are very different, The stator locks in position with a sprag clutch in this condition, once the speeds of the two turbines are relatively the same the stator rotates with the units and the torque multiplication is lost. A stall test (done for a limited time or damage will occur) checks if the torque converter is functioning correctly. Natural fluid slippage cost in gas miles on old school torque converters, now lock up clutches lock the unit solid when speeds are relatively the same input from engine to output to gearbox.
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Your animation too nice. very easy to understand.
Very good. I now understand how my auto gearbox works in my beloved Mercedes-Benz!
just give respect to mechanical engineers, they learned the science and applied it. A lot of physics and math and engineering principals involved
Thank you for this video! makes it so much easier to understand my college book.
I'll be sure to recommend your channel to my fellow students :)
Majestic Javelin Great to hear that. Check out my website: www.bring-knowledge-to-the-world.com
First video I've seen that is better than that on EngineeringExplained channel ;) Thank you
Excellent, you have great engineering understanding to explain so simply.
Whoever invented this is a genius.
Really good amination and explanation! Waiting for more videos related to the fluid power!
superb video abd explanation.... kudos to your efforts
hey Thomas, I was just watching the this vid in ur german channel and wondering why u don't go international. Just found out u have already!
I just wanted to say tausend Dank man! you're helping a lot of people. great english skills btw ;)
Thanks :)
I very much enjoyed this animation for studying for my transmission test. However the only thing i wish you added was that the stator must hold during phase 1/2 acceleration and then freewheel once coupled or else vortex flow remains in the converter, excess heat generated etc. still a very good animation. thank you!
Your animations and explanations are fantastic!
this is the greatest explanation I was able to find so far, thank you very much!
***** Great to hear that. Thank you for your comment :)
If you watch these videos muted, you will understand the ideas, but the finer points will pass you by.
You're getting better with your narration. Keep it up man, this channel deserves more recognition!
thanks a lot buddy...you just helped me study for my test
I don't agree with some things, hope we can clarify. The torque multiplication means the input shaft rotates faster than the output shaft but the output shaft has higher torque. The impeller propels the fluid on the outer side, that's all. The fluid speed builds up because it returns from the turbine at higher speeds. You can adjust torque multiplication by modifying (not necessarily while running, "adjust" can refer to the development phase) the turbine blades angle, that is very important. The fluid is now directed through the middle section and before getting back to the impeller, it needs to spin in the same direction as the impeller otherwise it will create a negative torque to the impeller. Therefor the stator must not spin (relative to the vehicle, if you observe if from outside the vehicle you will see it stationary) in order to change the direction of spin of the fluid. The angle of the stator blades also is important so it can give you better efficiency.
In a few words the impeller pushes the fluid, it transfers power to the turbine then it comes back through the middle, the stator gives it the right spin, and the kinetic energy of the fluid is recovered.
Torque multiplication is given by the turbine blades angle and design but also the impeller and stator design matters. Modifying the impeller design results in higher or lower speed of the fluid, and modifying the stator also can alter the speed and prevents negative torque transmitted. Negative (in the opposite direction) torque is stopped by the stator and you get some slight power losses through heat dissipation.
Torque multiplication is not genuinely because of fluid coming back through the middle. That is power recovery. But since power comes back fluid speed is now higher and the torque increases. Here is an example: we have a car and we fit a turbine(not a turbocharger or supercharger) on the exhaust. The turbine could recover some power from the exhaust now. It will be like 1kW or less otherwise it will reduce the engine normal output. We can use that power to push the car. It will be minimal in this case it might even make things worse in reality but suppose we get a lot of power back because through the exhaust theoretically air has kinetic energy that may be recovered. Does it mean the turbine multiplies torque ? I see it 'more like a power recuperator. Since you recover power you will end up with more torque as well.
how does the fluid get to the impeller?
That is the same question from me which is not shown/explained in this video.
I guess there is a fluid pump which is connected directly to the torque converter hub using "flats". As the torque converter shell is bolted and rotates with the engine's crankshaft, the torque converter drives the fluid pump. This arrangement also ensures that the fluid pump only spins when the engine works.
excellent! nice to see very well explained videos, it's good to see that people take time to teach several things so that others can be less ignorant, nice work keep it up, subscribed!
"Invented in 1905 in Stettin, Ger many, by Dr. Hermann Föttinger of the Vulcan Ship Yards, the torque converter was originally a steam turbine drive for a ship propeller. It gradually found its way into the mainstream auto motive industry over the following 25 years."
Wow..... your videos are AMAZING. It sounds as though English is not your first language, so I am grateful that you took the time to produce these in English.
Your clear explanations and beautiful 3d illustrations make concepts that otherwise may be difficult to grasp, easily understood in just a few short minutes.
Thank you for this. Subscribed.
superb animation for description...
Awesome videos and beautiful animations! Helping a physicist learn about engineering :D
Great video! Good job on the animation. Couple of things on the English though.
1) At 1:23 you say "Because, for example, torque conversion and energy ...." This should read "Because torque conversion and energy ..." The "for example" is distracting because you are setting the listener up to receive an example, but instead they get a statement.
2) At 4:02 you say "The torque multiplication has ceased." In this case 'c' is said with it's 's' sound. So instead of saying "key-ssed" it is said 'sea-ssed'.
In technical writing and speaking try to avoid common street talk. For example: "You could say..." is not a phrase you want to use when making declarative statements about how a device operates.
Hope this helps and thanks again for sharing this knowledge and your excellent animation skills.
Thank you for your comment. I'll try to make you happy :)
Really simple and smoothly explained.... !!! thanks
good modelling and animation thank you so much for your work!
Absolutely brilliant design.
This is an awesome device. I don't see any non negligible power losses other than by heat dissipation, I estimate 1-2 kW or less possibly but my radiator doesn't seem to have trouble cooling down the engine and transmision.
cool, always wanted to know how an automatic trans worked. this is cool and good to know.
Richard parnell I still want to know how it works, this video didn't help me, did it help you? I expected to hear the word "gear" at least once. Lots of talk about some spinning impellers and turbines but nothing about why it's important for an impeller to spin a turbine. What's the advantage of that. What does the multiplication of torque that was mentioned do for us? Still lost.
Alien Or Sutin I got the basic idea, I wanted to know how a automatic could sit in drive without staling out, its because the fluid being pushed from the first impeller to the second will pass trough the second impeller and still put pressure on that second impeller, thus being able to make the car crawl when you let off the break or sit still when you are at a stop.that's also how the rpm's don't have to match the transmission speed off the line, that's where the power loss comes from with an automatic. hope this helps if not shoot me your e mail address the rest of it im still learning like the lock up when both impellers are going around the same speed and it becomes a direct lock from engine to transmission, I was looking at one of those windmills and wondered if they work on the same principle?
Alien Or Sutin
Apparently, as the title states, it's about torque converters. There are videos on how automatic transmissions regarding gears work as well. This clearly isn't about that, though.
Alien Or Sutin As Going Hard said, this video is about the Torque Converter. It's the equivalent of a clutch for a manual transmission. Note: Not all manuals use clutches and not all automatics use Torque Converters. Some newer automatics are switching to a wet clutch. With the extra gears, they don't need the torque multiplication a Torque Converter does and provide better performance and efficiency. As for an automatic transmission, they use planetary gearsets and clutch pack/band to control the flow. A 3 speed automatic uses 2 planetaries to give 3 speeds and reverse by controlling which part of the gearset is lock to the housing and which part has power applied to it. Planetaries are called such as they resemble our solar system. A central "Sun" gear surrounded by 3-4 planetaries with a ring gear wrapped around the outside. Clutch packs work in the same way as a clutch for a manual. the only difference is pressure is applied by hydraulic pressure to a piston. When a automatic transmission fails, it's usually caused by burnt out clutch from lack of fluid pressure. This is why checking transmission fluid level is very important. Even a quart low can blow out your transmission as pressure drops. BTW, if you ever saw someone on a hill that wasn't using their brakes and wonder how they weren't rolling back down the hill? They raised engine rpm just enough to hold the car/truck in place.
Much appreciation for your videos. Excellent work. it really helps grasping everything all together!
Hey Thomas, your videos are amazing, thank you for taking time too make these. I would go on but I already commented on your video about diesel engines.
Jonathan sauder Thanks alot :)
Great explanation, now i hate automatic transmissions even MORE than before!
+ComandanteJ Manual or nothing!
+ComandanteJ I agree with you. I always had manual and for the first time bought an automatic booom torque converter over heated and failed. never ever gonna buy automatic ever again
+ComandanteJ It's such a stupid thing to be mad about.
+mohye27 So just because you got bad luck one time, you'll just assume all auto transmissions are bad? Have you considered it was probably your fault that the transmission broke?
my fault? automatic fanboy got butt hurt
Excellent presentation, but it would be even better without the distracting music.