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| Illustration 1 | g06087897 |
| (1) Torque converter | |
The major components of the torque converter are the rotating housing, impeller, turbine, and stator.
The torque converter is sealed and serviced as a single component.
Rotating housing is connected to the engine flywheel with a flex plate. Impeller and the transmission pump drive hub are connected to the rotating housing.
Turbine is connected to the (internally) splined hub that drives the transmission input shaft.
Stator is held stationary by an (internally) splined hub that mates with the stator support in the torque converter housing.
Oil is supplied the torque converter by the transmission charge pump and is limited in pressure by the torque converter inlet relief valve.
Rotation of the rotating housing throws oil to the outside of the impeller. The oil is thrown around the outside diameter of the converter housing, and against the blades of the turbine. The oil that hits the turbine causes the turbine and output hub to turn. The turning of the output hub drives the transmission input shaft.
After the oil hits the turbine blades, the oil goes to the outside of the turbine. As the oil goes from the turbine, the oil is moving in a direction opposite of the impeller rotation. The stator redirects the oil flow to the direction of impeller rotation.
The force of the oil from the stator can now add to the torque output from the engine to the impeller. The extra force can provide an increase to the torque output of the engine to the turbine. A greater difference between the speed of the impeller and the turbine speed causes and increased force of the oil from the stator.
Load on the transmission changes the speed of the turbine. A higher load causes a larger difference between the speed of the impeller and the turbine speed. The particular load on the transmission controls the amount of torque multiplication that can be added by the force of the oil from the stator.
A constant supply of oil to the torque converter maintains output flow of oil to the oil cooler. The oil returns from the cooler to be used for transmission lubrication.