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Car Transmission – Mystery Explained!
Car transmission system in a car helps to transmit mechanical power from the car engine to give kinetic energy to the wheels. It is an interconnected system of gears, shafts, and other electrical gadgets that form a bridge to transfer power and energy from the engine to the wheels. The complete set up of the system helps to maintain the cruising speed of the car without any disturbance to the car’s performance. The oldest variant of the transmission system in India is the manual transmission that has undergone various modifications and alterations to form the present day automatic transmission.
Types of Car Transmissions
The two common types of transmissions are manual transmission and automatic transmission. In India, manual transmission is known as the Sequential Manual Transmission. This kind of transmission system is controlled by a driver operated clutch that helps to change gears during acceleration or deceleration. The first manual transmission was introduced in 1909 by a company known as Warner Gear, now called BorgWarner. The first gearbox was available with an H-shaped pattern comprising of fur shift gears. Later on, various innovations and advancements took place, which gradually transformed the pattern and number of gears in the manual system. In modern day cars, manual transmission systems are found with five forward gears and one reverse gear. These gears help the driver to drive with ease and comfort even at high changing speeds.
The first automatic transmission was introduced by the Sturtevant brothers of Boston in 1904. The modern form of transmission provided two forward speeds that work on the action of centrifugal weights. When the speed of the car engine increases, the weight would swing out transmission to engage the gears and when the weight flew apart, the gears would disengage. In India, this modern system of transmission was launched by Kinetic Motors through its most successful running Kinetic Honda bike. In this type of transmission, gears are automatically shifted in the gearbox, relieving the driver from changing gears.
The first automatic transmission was introduced by the Sturtevant brothers of Boston in 1904. The modern form of transmission provided two forward speeds that work on the action of centrifugal weights. When the speed of the car engine increases, the weight would swing out transmission to engage the gears and when the weight flew apart, the gears would disengage. In India, this modern system of transmission was launched by Kinetic Motors through its most successful running Kinetic Honda bike. In this type of transmission, gears are automatically shifted in the gearbox, relieving the driver from changing gears.
Manual Transmission vs. Automatic Transmission
Though advanced technology has given birth to the modern day automatic transmission, manual system scores more. Compiled here is a brief comparison of the advantages offered by both the transmission systems.
Advantages of manual over automatic are as follows:
- One of the biggest advantages of a manual gearbox is to have a greater control over the gear selection. This is because in a manual system, a clutch is used to control speed instead of a torque convertor. Therefore, acceleration of the vehicle, especially during over-taking maneuvers, is at the driver’s own discretion.
- Manual gearshifts are more fuel efficient as compared to their automatic counterpart. Torque convertor used to engage and disengage automatic gears may lose power and reduce acceleration as well as fuel economy.
- Compared to cars with automatic transmissions, cars with manual transmissions are cheaper to run and car maintenance is easy. The parts and equipments required to make an automatic system functional are expensive and highly technical as compared to a manual system.
- It is easier to build a strong manual transmission than an automatic one. This is because a manual system has one clutch to operate, whereas an automatic system has a number of clutch packs that function in harmony with each other.
Advantages of automatic gearshifts over manual gearshifts are as follows:
- Automatic cars are easier to use, especially for the inexperienced car driver. Manual system requires better driving skills, whereas with an automatic, the clever system does it all on its own. This holds a greater advantage for new and inexperienced drivers and also helps during congested traffic situations where it becomes difficult to change gears every second.
- Automatic transmission requires less attention and concentration from the driver because the automatic gears start functioning as soon as the system feels the need of a gear change. For car with manual gear shifts, the driver has to be more alert while driving and better coordinated.
- An automatic transmission system has smoother and quicker shifts as compared to the manual system.
- Automatic cars have better ability to control traction when approaching steep hills or engine braking during descents. Manual gears are difficult to operate on steep climbs.
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