Torque Converters

Purpose
Allow

the vehicle to come to a complete

stop without stalling the engine
Provide torque multiplication to allow
smooth acceleration from a stop
House a torque converter clutch which will
eliminate torque converter slippage at
highway speeds

Parts of a Torque Converter

Housing

Impeller

Split ring guide

Stator

Split ring guide

Turbine

Hub

Stator one-way clutch

Torque converter clutch

Apply piston

Parts of a Torque Converter

Principles of Operation
A torque

converter is a type of fluid coupling

There is no direct mechanical link between the
input (engine flywheel) and the output
(transmission input shaft)
The impeller (pump of the torque converter)
forces fluid through the turbine, which forces the
turbine to turn
The

turbine is splined to the transmission input shaft

Principles of Operation
Impeller

Turbine

Fluid Coupling Problems

When

there is a large difference in RPM

between the impeller and the turbine in a
fluid coupling, the fluid coming off the
turbine strikes the impeller opposite the
direction of rotation, thus slowing the
impeller down (robbing power)

Fluid Coupling Problems

Fluid Coupling Solutions

By

incorporating a stator into a fluid coupling we

can overcome the problem of turbine discharge
oil slowing down the impeller
Stator

Fluid Coupling Solutions

Split Ring Guide

Guides

the fluid flow during vortex flow

conditions

Phases of Operation
Torque

multiplication

Relatively

low impeller (engine) RPMs

Stator is locked into place by its one-way clutch
Vortex fluid flow within the converter
Coupling
Occurs

phase

at approx. 35-40 MPH under normal driving

conditions
No torque multiplication
Stator is freewheeling
Turbine is spinning at approx 90% of impeller speed
Rotary flow within the converter

Torque Multiplication
Because

the turbine discharge oil is

redirected so that it hits the impeller in
the direction of impeller rotation, it helps
the engine turn the impeller.
This

is what causes torque multiplication

Torque Multiplication

Torque converters can multiply torque at a 2:1 to 3:1 ratio

Exact amount depends on the design of the impeller, stator, and

turbine and impeller RPM
The point at which maximum torque multiplication occurs is near
the stall speed of the converter

During the torque multiplication phase, turbine speed is

significantly lower than impeller speed
A torque converter attached to an engine producing 200
ft/lbs of torque would deliver 500 ft/lbs of torque to the
input shaft of the transmission (with a 2.5:1 torque
multiplication ratio)
Fluid flow is vortex

Vortex Flow
During

vortex flow the fluid is circulating from the

impeller to the stator to the turbine and then back
to the impeller

Cross-Section of
Torque Converter

Vortex Flow

Torque Multiplication

Stator Operation

Coupling Phase
As

turbine (vehicle) speed increases and

approaches the speed of the impeller the turbine
discharge oil is accelerated to the point that it no
longer strikes the front side of the stator blades,
instead it strikes the backside of the stator blade
causing the stator one-way clutch to unlock and
the stator to freewheel
Since

the stator is unlocked, fluid is not redirected and

no torque multiplication occurs
Fluid flow is rotary

Rotary Flow
As

the speed of the turbine approaches the

speed of the impeller fluid flow switches from
vortex to rotary
After the fluid is discharged from the turbine it is
not redirected by the stator, instead it rotates
with torque converter
Front-View of
Torque Converter

Rotary Flow

Stator Operation

Comparison Of Flow Directions

Converter Phase Tradeoffs

Stall Speed
Stall

speed is the engine RPM at which

the torque converter has coupled enough
that with the wheels locked the engine is
not able to increase RPM any further

Stall Speed

Types of stall Speeds

True stall
This is the maximum rpm the engine can attain with the
driveline completely locked
Generally can only be attained with a trans-brake
Brake stall
This is the maximum rpm the engine can attain with the
brakes applied
The brakes generally will not have enough holding
power to allow the engine to reach true stall speed
Flash stall
This is the rpm at which, when you accelerate at full
throttle from a dead stop the engine RPM flashes to
TCIs recommended method of testing stall speed

Stall Tests
CAUTION
Do

not brake stall a converter for

more than 10 seconds at a time.
During a brake stall 100% of the
power developed by the engine is
converted in heat in the torque
converter.
Wait at least 2 minutes between
brake stall tests

Factors Affecting Stall Speed

Vehicle

Weight
Vane/Fin Angle
Horsepower
Impeller to Turbine Clearance
Powerband/Camshaft
Stator Design
Torque Rate
Converter Diameter
Gear Ratio

Vane Design
Depending on the design and pitch of the blades,
the impeller will scoop the most oil at a specific
RPM, thus altering the stall speed

Stator Design
By

altering the stator design, stall speed and

torque multiplication ratios can be altered
Aftermarket

Stock

Stator Design

Selecting the Proper Stall Speed

Converter
For

non-stock engine-vehicle
combinations the stock torque converter
may not be optimal
Work with a torque converter company to
choose the correct torque converter
Remember Torque converter design
involves trade-offs

Torque Converter Design Tradeoffs

Low Stall Speed
Converters

Torque
Multiplication
Efficiency

High Stall Speed

Converters

Low (2.0-2.5)

High (2.5-3.0)

High

Low

Heat Generated

Not as Much

A lot

Best Application

Engines
producing a Lot
of torque at low
RPMs

Engines
producing
power at high
RPMs