What is the basic working principle of an automatic transmission?
2 Answers
Automatic transmissions are divided into the following four types, and their working principles are as follows: 1. Hydraulic automatic transmission: It achieves automatic shifting through a combination of hydraulic transmission and planetary gears. 2. Mechanical continuously variable transmission (CVT): It transmits engine power via a steel belt and the grooves of two pulleys, from the primary pulley to the secondary pulley, and then through the main reducer to the driving wheels, achieving power transmission. 3. Electronically controlled mechanical automatic transmission: The driver expresses intentions through the accelerator pedal and selector (including gear range, shift pattern, cruise control, etc.), while numerous sensors constantly monitor the vehicle's status. The microcontroller controls the throttle opening, clutch engagement, and gear shifting based on the optimal program stored within (best shift pattern, optimal clutch engagement pattern, and adaptive engine throttle adjustment pattern) to achieve the best match, resulting in excellent driving performance, smooth starting, and rapid shifting capability. 4. Dual-clutch automatic transmission: The gears are arranged on two input shafts connected to two clutches, separated into odd and even gears. The shifting process is completed by alternately switching the clutches, enabling uninterrupted power shifting.
As someone who has worked with cars for a long time, I find the working principle of automatic transmissions quite interesting. It mainly uses a torque converter and planetary gear sets to achieve automatic gear shifting, eliminating the need to step on a clutch. Simply put, when you accelerate, the engine's power is converted into hydraulic pressure by the torque converter, which then drives the planetary gear sets to change the gear ratio, allowing the car to shift up or down smoothly. The vehicle also has a control module that monitors speed and RPM data to adjust automatically. For maintenance, I remind everyone to change the transmission fluid regularly, as dirty fluid can cause delayed or unresponsive shifting. Additionally, most modern models use electronic control systems, which are more precise but also require caution regarding battery-related failures. Overall, it's cleverly designed to reduce driving fatigue, especially in congested traffic conditions.
