What is the principle of a manual transmission?
2 Answers
Manual transmission works by moving the gear lever to engage different combinations of gears of varying sizes with the power output shaft, thereby altering the torque and speed of the drive wheels. Due to the difference in gear sizes, when gears of different sizes are combined, the rotation ratio of one gear is higher than that of the other during operation, resulting in different output speeds when the gear lever is shifted. A typical manual transmission consists of five gears and is mainly composed of the housing, input shaft, output shaft, gears, synchronizer, shift linkage, and shift fork. The transmission has three primary functions: 1. Changing the transmission ratio; 2. Enabling the vehicle to move in reverse; 3. Allowing the use of neutral gear to start the engine or keep it idling.
The principle of a manual transmission is essentially to allow the driver to use their feet and hands to control the gear combinations, thereby altering the speed and power of the engine's output to the wheels. After years of driving, I've discovered it consists of an input shaft, output shaft, and several sets of gears of different sizes. When the clutch pedal is depressed, the clutch plates separate, disengaging the engine's power, allowing the gear lever to be shifted to select a new gear. After shifting, the new gears engage with a different gear ratio: lower gears like 1st have a larger ratio, enabling the engine to deliver more torque, making it effortless to climb steep hills; higher gears like 5th have a smaller ratio, allowing higher speeds but less torque, ideal for cruising on straight highways. This design is old-fashioned but effective because the direct mechanical connection minimizes power loss, providing quick response and better fuel efficiency. Frequent clutch use in city traffic can be tiring, but the smooth and swift gear changes at high speeds create a sense of dialogue between you and the car. Manual transmissions are simple to maintain and less prone to failure, but beginners may struggle with coordinating clutch and throttle timing, which requires practice and experience to master.
