How Does a Torque Converter Work?

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Transmission Basics
Torque converters are sealed units; their innards rarely see the light of day, and when they do,
they're still pretty hard to figure out!
Imagine you have two fans facing each other. Turn one fan on, and it will blow air over the blades
of the second fan, causing it to spin. But if you hold the second fan still, the first fan will keep right
on spinning.
That's exactly how a torque converter works. One "fan," called the impeller, is connected to the
engine (together with the front cover, it forms the outer shell of the converter). The other fan, the
turbine, is connected to the transmission input shaft. Unless the transmission is in neutral or
park, any motion of the turbine will move the vehicle.
Instead of using air, the torque converter uses a liquid medium, which cannot be compressed
oil, otherwise known as transmission fluid. Automatic transmission cars use a torque converter.
This article will discuss why automatic transmission cars need a torque converter and how a
torque converter works.
The torque converter in an automatic transmission serves the
same purpose as the clutch in a manual transmission.
The engine needs to be connected to the rear wheels so the
vehicle will move, and disconnected so the engine can
continue to run when the vehicle is stopped. One way to do
this is to use a device that physically connects and
disconnects the engine and the transmission a clutch.
Another method is to use some type of fluid coupling, such as
a torque converter, which is located between the engine and
the transmission.
There are three components inside the very strong housing
of the torque converter which work together to transmit power to the transmission:
Pump
Turbine
Stator
The pump inside a torque converter is a type of centrifugal pump. As it spins, fluid is flung to the
outside, much as the spin cycle of a washing machine flings water and clothes to the outside of
the wash tub. As fluid is flung to the outside, a vacuum is created that draws more fluid in at the
center.
The fluid then enters the blades of the turbine, which is connected to the transmission (the spline
in the middle is where it connects to the transmission.) The turbine causes the transmission to
spin, which basically moves your car. The blades of the turbine are curved so that the fluid, which
enters the turbine from the outside, has to change direction before it exits the center of the
turbine. It is this directional change that causes the turbine to spin.

As the turbine causes the fluid to change direction, the fluid causes the turbine to spin.
The fluid exits the turbine at the center, moving in a different direction than when it entered. The
fluid exits the turbine moving opposite the direction that the pump (and engine) are turning. If the
fluid were allowed to hit the pump, it would slow the engine down, wasting power. This is why a
torque converter has a stator.
The stator resides in the very center of the torque converter. Its job is to redirect the fluid returning
from the turbine before it hits the pump again. This dramatically increases the efficiency of the
torque converter.
In brief, the torque converter is a type of fluid coupling, which allows the engine to spin somewhat
independently of the transmission. It is responsible for pressurizing automatic transmission fluid,
a pressurization that supplies the force necessary to shift transmission gears.
A worn or dysfunctional torque converter can prevent transmission fluid from being properly
pressurized, which in turn negatively impacts transmission gear function and operation. A
systematic checkup by a professional is the best way to isolate the cause of the operating
problems and recommend the most effective solution.
If properly tuned, this complex device can have a tremendous impact on your vehicle's
performance, economy and durability, and turn your automatic into a powerhouse!

Torque Converters Explained

-Torque converters are fluid-coupling devices that also act as a tq. multiplier during initial acceleration.

1) Impeller Pump The impeller pump is the outside half of the converter on the
transmission side of the weld line. Inside the impeller pump is a series of longitudinal
fins that drive the fluid around the outside diameter into the turbine because this
component is welded to the cover, which is bolted to the flexplate. The size of the
torque converter (and pump) and the number and shape of the fins all affect the
characteristics of the converter. If long torque converter life is an objective, it is
extremely important that the fins of the impeller pump are adequately reinforced
against fatigue and the outside housing does not distort under stress.

2) Stator The stator can be described as the brain of the torque converter,
although it is not the sole determiner of converter function and characteristics. The
stator, which changes fluid flow between the turbine and pump, is what makes a
torque converter a torque converter (multiplier) and not strictly a fluid coupler. With
the stator removed a converter will retain none of its torque multiplying effect.
FOR THE STATOR TO FUNCTION PROPERLY, THE SPRAG MUST WORK
AS DESIGNED:

It must hold the stator perfectly still (locked in place) while the converter is
in stall mode (slow relative turbine speed to the impeller pump speed).
It must allow the stator to spin with the rest of the converter after the
turbine speed approaches the pump speed. This allows for more efficient
and less restrictive fluid flow. The sprag is a one-way mechanical clutch
set between two races that fits inside the stator while the inner race splines
onto the stator support of the transmission.

3) Turbine The turbine rides within the cover and is attached to the drivetrain via a
spline fit to the input shaft of the transmission. When the turbine moves, the car
moves.
4) Cover The cover (also referred to as the front) is the outside half of the housing
toward the engine side from the weld line. The cover serves to attach the converter
to the flexplate (engine) and contains the fluid. While the cover is not actively
involved in the characteristics of performance, it is important that the cover remain
rigid under stress (torsional and thrust stress as well as the tremendous hydraulic
pressure generated by the torque converter internally).