TA22-42E

TORQUE CONVERTER
(FUNCTIONS OF ELEMENTS)
This TRAINING AID is intended to furnish the functional information on a torque
converter. Readers' thorough understanding of this TRAINING AID ,will aid them in
gaining confidence in its operation, servicing, trouble-shooting, etc. as well as in giving full
explanation of the functions of torque converter to users.
If water is poured into a rubber hose laid on floor with its one end curved, the hose
will be straightened. The reason is such that, since the direction of water flow in the hose is
changed at the curve·and the reacting force in change of the direction of flow causes the
hose to be straightened.

The force is required to change the direction or velocity of water or oil flow. For
example, when the oil is made to flow in such a bent pipe as shown below, the flow
velocity will vary at the entrance and exit as indicated by . The force proportional to
the balance between the flow velocities at the entrance and exit will act on the oil and its
reacting force will cause the pipe to be pushed in the opposite direction. The forces acting
on the oil and pipe will increase in proportion to the flow rate. The more the flow rate, the
larger the forces will be.

Acl:ini foroe on oil

Reacl:ini force on pipe

Flow velocity at entrance

* In addition to the balance between the flow velocities, the effect of pressures at the
entrance and exit must be considered for the mo~e accurate description. However, only
the flow velocity is considered herein for simple explanation and easy understanding.
The flow velocity has speed and direction. Herein, the flow velocity is indicated by an
arrow, speed by the length of arrow and direction by the direction of arrow, respectively.
The balance between flow velocities can be obtained in the same manner as in the balance
between forces. (Refer to the TRAINING AID NO. TA10-13E, COMPOSITION AND
DECOMPOSITION OF FORCE.)

- 1-

-------------------------------------------KOMATSU LTD ------------------------------------------

 PUMP
The pump and turbine of a torque converter have many sections partitioned with
blades, and each section can be compared to a twisted pipe through which oil flows.

If the pump is rotated, the oil therein will be rotated together, flowing from the inlet to
the outlet ports by the centrifugal force. In a sketch below (Fig. 4), the flow velocities at
the inlet and outlet ports are indicated by••· and the directions of flow are along the
directions of blades at the ports. The actual flow velocities, however, are the sums of the
above flow velocities and the pump speed o¢. These actual velocities are indicated by
• • . The flow velocity varies at the inlet and outlet ports in this manner.

What changes the flow velocity of oil in the pump is the force acting on the oil in the
pump. The engine torque is used to give the force acting on the oil, and this torque is
called the "absorption torque of pump. The magnitude of this torque is in proportion to
the balance between the values to be obtained by maltiplying the •circumferential flow
speeds at the outlet and inlet ports of pump with the diameters of these ports. The torque
is also proportional to the flow rate.

R.adius of outlet port

* The circumferential flow velocity implies the circumferential component speed of the
flow velocity.

-2 -
 Now, if the pump is rotated faster, the flow rate will increase and simultaneously, the
absorption torque of pump will increase sharply. If the speed ratio is kept constant, the
absorption torque will be proportional to the square of revolutions (speed) as indicated in
Fig. 6. The engine runs so that the pump absorption torque is equilibrium with the engine
torque. That is, the engine runs at a speed where the curves of the pump absorption torque
and the engine torque intersect with each other. For this reason, if the engine speed is
lowered by moving the fuel control lev·e r, the engine will be operated at a point of low
torque (as indicated by a dotted line in a graph below), reducing the tractive force of a
machine.

100

Torque
50

( kgm )

0 1000 2000
Encine speed (rpm)
Absorption of engine torque by the pump means the absorption of engine horsepower
by the pump, and the absorption horsepower of pump is proportional to the cubic of
engine revolutions.
Fig. 7 is a graph given in the unit of horsepower to replace the graph in Fig. 6. In Fig.
7, the engine is operated with the horsepower at a point where the curves of pump
absorption horsepower and the engine horsepower intersect each other.
In this connection, it can be understood that, if the engine is operated at a low speed,
the pump will be operated at low horse power, resulting in the low operating efficiency of
engine.
200

0 1000 2000
Encine speed (rpm)
The larger the torque converter in capacity, the higher the absorption horsepower of
pump will be. If a large or small torque converter as compared with the engine
performance is used, the engine will be operated at low horsepower, making it impossible
for the engine to give its performance to the full. Then, a torque converter to be used
should be of a size or capacity corresponding to the engine performance.
Absorption horsepower of
Absorption honeponr a torque coDYerter of a size
of a luJ:e torque or capacity correspondq to
CODYerter that of enaine
Absorption horsepower of
a small torque coDYerter

( ps )

0 2000

- 3-
 In a dozer shovel, the hydraulic pump in the dozer system is operated directly by the
engine and the remaining engine power is transmitted to the torque converter. Therefore,
unless a torque converter suited for the engine performance curve where the hydraulic
pump operating horsepower is deducted from the engine power is used, the *engine
performance will be left unutilized to the full. For such a reason, a dozer shovel is higher in
engine horsepower or has a smalle:- torque converter than in a bulldozer.
Refer to the preceding description.

200

Hor.epower

100
(ps)

If oil in the converter case increases too much due to the defective seal-rings,
scavenging pump, etc., the oil will be agitated by the drive case, etc. , which will, in turn,
expend the engine horsepower, reducing the horsepower to be absorbed by the pump.
In effect, the capacity of a torque converter is high as compared with the horsepower
to be transmitted to the converter. The horsepower to be absorbed by the pump will be
decreased much more than that to be reduced by stirring up the oil. At this time, if the
converter is brought to a stall, the engine speed will be lowered more than that at stall
before seal rings, scavenging pump; etc. are defective. Such a horsepower reduction will
also occur, only if the engine is out of order.
Horsepower reduced
in consequence of
the stirred · E,.me honepow~
200

(ps)

speed reduced by this

ranaeofrpm
0 1000
EJliine speed (rpm)
If the speed ratio of turbine varies, the absorption horsepower of pump will also vary
as indicated in Fig. 11. In consequence, the engine speed will also vary more or less.
However, the engine speed change of this extent is not easily aware of, unlike in a
direct-drive machine. Conversely speaking, in a machine equipped with a torque converter,
attention must be paid to the change in machine speed rather than to the change in engine
speed to avoid the waste of engine horsepower.
at speed ratio of 0.5

200

Horsepow~

100

(ps)

0 1000 2000
Encine speed (rpm)

- 4-
TURBINE

m.
The oil discharged from the pump flows at the same velocity into the turbine and out
through the outlet port. At this time, if the turbine is rotated by the reacting force
changing the oil flow, the actual flow velocity at the outlet port will be the sum of
the flow velocity . . . o f oil toward the turbine and the turbine's own speed o¢ .
For this reason, if the turbine speed varies, the flow velocity at the outlet port will also
vary as shown below.

The value of turbine torque, however, is proportional to the balance between the
values to be obtained by multiplying the circumferential flow velocities at the outlet and
inlet ports by the radii of these outlet and inlet ports, respectively, in the same manner as
in the pump. The turbine torque is also proportional to the flow rate. Then, if only the
turbine speed is changed, the flow velocity at the outlet port will vary with the flow
velocity at the inlet port remaining unchanged. And, the lower the turbine speed, the
higher the torque will be.

The absorption torque of pump remains almost constant so long as the pump speed
does not vary. Conversely speaking, the lower the turbine speed ratio to engine, the higher
the torque ratio. Therefore, a torque converter is called the hydraulic transmission. The
above relationship is shown in Fig. 14, which remains unchanged at varied pump speeds.

.sl
....
~ 2

r
.... 1

0 0 .5
speed ratio

-5-
 STATOR
The oil flowing out of the turbine is subject to change in the direction of flow in the
stator and then, flows into the pump.

The purpose of the stator is to change the direction of oil flow. If the converter should
have no stator, the direction of flow would not be changed, keeping the flow velocities at
the outlet and inlet ports of turbine equal to each other.
On the other hand, the flow velocities at the outlet and inlet ports of pump are
inherently equal to each other at all times. The only difference with respect to the oil flow
in the pump and turbine is the directions of flow, which are opposing to each other in the
pump and turbine. For this reason, the absorption torque of pump will be equal in
magnitude to the turbine torque at all times, which disables the torque converter to
perform its primary function.

A hydraulic transmission unit where the turbine torque is equal to the pump torque at
all times is called the fluid coupling and its *efficiency can be valued by the speed ratio. As
the speed ratio approaches 1, the efficiency also approaches 100%.
*Efficiency: Percentage of the engine power to be transmitted to the turbine can be
estimated by the following formula.
Effidency = speed ratio x torque ratio
100
I
>-
..
v
c
·;:;
c;::
jij50 (Refer to the TRAINING AID
No. TA22-41E.)
(%)

0 0.5
Speed ratio

- 6-
 Since the stator has such a function as described above, it cannot be dispensed with as
one of torque converter elements.
If the turbine speed ratio reaches 1, the direction of oil flowing into the stator will be
changed, causing the oil to impinge on the backs of blades. Under such conditions, the oil
flow will be disordered, resulting in the sharply decreasing converter efficiency.

However, the converter efficiency will continue lowering, even if the converter comes
near to a stall, giving its efficiency curve having one hill as shown below.
Such a torque converter as giving an efficiency curve having one hill is called the
"single-phase" type.

100

0 0.5
Speed ratio

In case of the stator with the free-wheel; if the oil flow impinges on the backs of
blades, the stator will be rotated, losing its inherent function as if the converter had no
stator. For this reason, the turbine torque will be equal to the pump torque and prevented
from lowering any more. Such a torque converter is called the 2-phase type, because it
performs its primary function as long as the speed ratio is small and begins working as a
fluid coupling as the speed ratio reaches 1.
The transition point where a torque converter begins performing as a fluid coupling,
losing its primary function, is called the clutch point.

0 0.5
Speed ratio

- 7 -
 In a 2-phase torque converter; if the stator is rotated with the turbine speed ratio
approaching 1, the converter will become a fluid coupling, causing the efficiency to rise
. .
agam Performing as a torque converter
100 Performing as a fluid coupling

>-
.,"v
...<=·u
r:LI50

{%)

I
0 0. 5
Speed ratio
In a 3-phase torque converter (which has two stators with free wheel); if the efficiency
begins lowering with the turbine speed ratio appraching 1, the Hrst stator will be rotated,
changing the converter itself into a fluid coupling, which will, in turn, cause the efficiency
to rise. Further, if the efficiency begins lowering again with the speed ratio approaching 1,
the second stator will also be rotated, changing the converter into a fluid coupling, which
will, in turn, cause the efficiency to rise again.

T?!'\ue comerter wbei'c the

effideDCy is chansed with only
the first stator rotated
Performina as a fluid coupllna with second
stator also rotated

(% )

0 0.5
Speed ratio
The pump absorption torque at the converter stall is larger in a fluid coupling than in a
converter. If the stator is rotated due to a trouble of the free-wheel, the engine speed at the
converter stall will be lowerer than that before the free-wheel gets out of order.
Pump absorption tocque at the
com~ stall where ihe con-
verter performs as a fluid coupline
clue to a trouble of freewheel

.,__._ \()t(lue' / Pump absorption torque at

,......- the converter stall
.. /

! '

(kgm)
50

I
0 1000 2000
Eflline speed (rpm)
-8 -

Printed in Japan
06-84(06)02003