Gears in Automatic Transmission Cars
Introduction
Gears are an essential part of any transmission system, and automatic transmissions are no exception. In an automatic transmission car, gears are used to change the speed and torque of the vehicle, allowing it to accelerate, decelerate, and cruise at different speeds.
Types of Gears
There are three main types of gears used in automatic transmissions:
- Planetary gears: These gears are arranged in a planetary configuration, with a sun gear in the center and planet gears orbiting around it. The planet gears are connected to a carrier, which is connected to the output shaft.
- Ravigneaux gears: These gears are similar to planetary gears, but they use a different arrangement of gears. Ravigneaux gears are more efficient than planetary gears, but they are also more complex and expensive to manufacture.
- Simple gears: These gears are the simplest type of gear, and they consist of two gears that mesh together. Simple gears are less efficient than planetary gears and Ravigneaux gears, but they are also less complex and less expensive to manufacture.
How Gears Work
Gears work by transferring torque from one shaft to another. When two gears mesh together, the teeth of the gears engage and transfer torque from one gear to the other. The ratio of the number of teeth on the two gears determines the speed ratio of the gears.
For example, if a gear has 20 teeth and another gear has 40 teeth, the speed ratio of the gears is 2:1. This means that the gear with 20 teeth will rotate twice as fast as the gear with 40 teeth.
Gears in Automatic Transmissions
In an automatic transmission car, gears are used to change the speed and torque of the vehicle. The transmission uses a series of gears to change the speed ratio between the engine and the wheels. The gears are shifted automatically by the transmission control unit (TCU), which is a computer that monitors the speed of the engine and the speed of the vehicle.
The TCU uses the information it gathers to determine which gear to shift to. The TCU will shift to a higher gear when the engine speed is low and the vehicle speed is high. The TCU will shift to a lower gear when the engine speed is high and the vehicle speed is low.
Conclusion
Gears are an essential part of any transmission system, and automatic transmissions are no exception. Gears are used in automatic transmissions to change the speed and torque of the vehicle, allowing it to accelerate, decelerate, and cruise at different speeds.