
14 Fluid couplings and torque converters
14.1 FLUID COUPLINGS
General background
The basis of most forms of semi-automatic and fully
automatic transmission systems used in motor vehicles
is a hydrokinetic drive, so called because it operates by
means of changes in kinetic energy of a circulating
fluid. This type of drive involves the use of either a fluid
coupling or a torque converter. Although quite similar
in construction, the fundamental difference between
the operation of these two hydraulic devices is that the
torque converter is capable of multiplying engine torque
whereas the simpler fluid coupling is not.
It may be of interest to recal ...