Improving energy performance of hydraulic torque converters

Abstract

Torque converters are widely used in the transmissions of self-propelled vehicles for various purposes on wheeled and tracked chassis. A significant drawback of torque converters compared to mechanical transmissions is their relatively low efficiency. Therefore, the task of ensuring high efficiency values of torque converters in the entire range of gear ratios has been of importance since the invention of these hydraulic machines. Torque converters have the lowest efficiency values in the torque transformation mode among low and medium gear ratios from 0 to 0.7. In addition, the nature of the change in efficiency for an integrated torque converter in automatic transition to the fluid coupling mode also usually decreases sharply. This article discusses a number of motor and tractor torque converter designs aimed at obtaining high values of efficiency in the range of small or medium gear ratios. The considered technical solutions are associated with a reduction in energy losses when the working fluid enters the pump wheel of the torque converter.