What is the function of the guide wheel?

[DiJameson]

The guide wheel has a flow guiding effect on the liquid and plays a torque-increasing role at low speeds. The guide wheel is the reaction element of the torque converter, a pulley used to guide the transmission belt through obstacles or change the direction of the transmission belt, located between the turbine and the pump wheel. Flow guiding effect on the liquid: The guide wheel of the torque converter has a flow guiding effect on the liquid, controlling the flow direction of the liquid. When the automatic transmission fluid flows from the turbine into the guide wheel, its direction changes, which enhances the rotational torque of the pump wheel, thereby increasing the output torque. Torque-increasing effect at low speeds: The guide wheel plays a torque-increasing role at low speeds. The principle is that the pump wheel, driven by the engine, causes the fluid to flow, forming a vortex that impacts the turbine to rotate, and then transmits the force to the turbine. Due to the guide vanes on the pump wheel and turbine, the fluid forms a circulating flow, moving cyclically between the pump wheel, turbine, and guide wheel. The force (FB) from the pump wheel fluid impacting the turbine is transmitted to the guide wheel, which cannot reverse or remains fixed, creating a reaction force (FD) acting on the turbine. The force received by the turbine (FT=FB+FD) is the torque-increasing effect of the guide wheel.