When one is aware of a manual transmission, he/she has an idea that it means the vehicle’s engine is connected to the transmission via a clutch. Without the connection, a vehicle will fail to stop completely unless the engine becomes exhausted. Cranes with an automated transmission don’t have any clutch that cab top the connection of transmission from the engine, instead, they make use of a device known as the Crane Torque Converter.
What is a torque converter?
It is a form of fluid coupling that enables the vehicle’s engine to spin independently of the transmission to a certain level. When the engine functions slowly, especially when the vehicle is idling due to several reasons, the amount of torque that passes via the torque converter is also small. Therefore, the driver has to exert low pressure on the brake pedal.
When the vehicle is stopped, and one exerts pressure on the gas pedal, he/she has to put more pressure on the brake to prevent the car from moving. This is primarily because when one steps on the gas pedal, the engine of the vehicle takes a speed and pumps more fluid into the torque converter. Furthermore, this causes more torque to get transmitted to the wheels of the automobile. Similar to manual transmission vehicles, the automatic transmission ones also need a way to come to stop, and this is where the torque converter comes into play.
Different parts ins a torque converter
A Crane Torque Converter consists of multiple parts. They are mentioned below:
Torque converter pump
The pump is linked to the casing area of the torque converter, which is connected to the flywheel. The pump is responsible for moving the fluid present inside the casing. It is in the opposite direction of the casing rotation.
Torque converter turbine
It is located in front of the torque converter pump, but closer to the flywheel. The turbine is responsible for rendering power to the output shaft. The turbine rotates in an opposite direction to the fluid rotating in the pump. This helps to absorb the torque of the crane or any other vehicle and also brings in movement in the output shaft.
Torque converter stator
The main focus of a torque convertor stator is to assure that the direction of fluid flowing is correct when it comes out of the turbine. In this scenario, the right direction is the fluid must move in the direction of the pump.
The above-mentioned are the three primary parts that help the torque converter function smoothly.
The working mechanism of a torque converter
The presence of a pump
It might be challenging to find the concept behind the working of a Crane Torque Converter where fluid renders the power to bring movement to the vehicle. The presence of the pump enables the vehicle to achieve torque control. This occurs by sensing fluid around the torque converter and it is driven by the crankshaft’s rotation movement. Furthermore, one finds the presence of a turbine that makes a rotation as the fluid in the pump is in contact with the turbine blades. This is helpful to estimate the torque amount that reaches the transmission via the input shafts.
The torque converter casing
The torque converter casing is connected to the flywheel. It spins or rotates at the crankshaft’s same rate within the turbine’s housing location. Furthermore, the centrifugal pump efficiently disposes the vehicle’s transmission fluid into the fins of the turbine. This in return helps to rotate and impart the torque into transmission. The stator is considered as the obstruction that casts away the fluid directly back into the turbine and not into the pump. Such an action is known to enhance the efficiency of the torque converter in a vehicle.
Idling stage of a vehicle
During the idling stage, the transmission of the fluid pumps into the turbine is slow. This means that the torque getting to the vehicle’s engine via the transmission is significantly low. When the crankshaft rotates faster with excess throttle spinning the flywheel, one can find the fluid being prompted faster from the pump to the torque converter turbine. This impels the turbine to spin faster and permits more torque via the transmission.
The intricate functioning or working mechanism of the torque converter is still a mystery for a lot of people. The fundamental mechanics are understandable when one reads about it. But the complex calculations, and the engineering behind its working principle are understood by someone with thorough and deep know-how in fluid mechanics.
Two key benefits of a torque converter
Some of the benefits that make a Crane Torque Converter widely popular are mentioned below:
● It is completely automatic
When one is driving a vehicle with a torque converter, he/she doesn’t have to bother with the start and stop of the vehicle. Thanks to the torque converter that executes the functions, making it is completely automatic.
● Easy and more torque from the stationary position
The automatic transmission car allows one to hold brakes and accelerate simultaneously from the stationary position. Irrespective of the motion of a vehicle, the torque converter can yield more starting torque. This helps the vehicle to move smoothly and also offers faster acceleration.
Torque converter facing issues
Several reasons are possible to make a torque converter in a vehicle malfunction. Such a situation can be hazardous. When there is a decline in vehicle performance, there will be overheating that can damage the elastomer seals, which are responsible for keeping the transmission fluid in the converter. Once there is leakage and fluid starts coming out, the torque converter of the automobile will stop operating.
There is also a probability that the stator clutch seizing to function entirely. When such a situation occurs, the inner and the outer components of the clutch get locked permanently. This leads to inefficiency in fuel usage. Furthermore, when the stator breaks down, it will rotate independently, holding the power of the vehicle. When a high level of pressure is exerted due to the hot fluid moving inside the torque converter, it can result in bursting and inflating.
Conclusion
The torque converter is often ignored. The majority of the owners and drivers never associate themselves with a Crane Torque Converter their entire life. In case the torque converter faces any problems, they must be addressed at the earliest.