Mechanical Components

The transverse automatic transmission contains three planetary gear trains complete with brakes, clutches and freewheels. The twin shafts (a primary and secondary shaft), are located side by side. The rear (P1) and front planetary trains (P2) comprise the transmission's primary axle. P1 is a single train, and P2 has compound planetary gear sets - an inner consisting of the long planetary gears and an outer consisting of the short planetary gears. The inner planetary gears, like the sun gear shaft, is common to both P1 and P2. The single planetary train P3 comprises the secondary shaft.

The power flow from the primary to the secondary shaft passes through two intermediate gears (12, 13), and from the secondary shaft to the final drive via a driving (14) and a driven (15) final drive gear. There are a total of four brakes (B1-B4); B4 is a band brake, three clutches (C1-C3) and three freewheels (F1-F3).

A built-in oil pump (16) supplies lubrication for the moving parts of the transmission as well as the required oil pressure for the hydraulics.

The brakes and clutches are activated by shift valves in the hydraulic control system. By applying them in various combinations, four forward gears and one reverse gear can be obtained.

The torque converter has a lock-up clutch. When this clutch is not engaged, some slippage occurs in the torque converter, resulting in torque ratios proportional to the slippage. When lock-up is engaged, a mechanical coupling is achieved between the engine and the transmission. This eliminates slippage and results in good fuel economy. The AW 50-42 is electronically controlled, allowing lock-up to be engaged