Fundamentals of Modern Vehicle Transmissions e-Seminar

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In this e-seminar, Dr. William Mark McVea details the transmission's primary functions - to provide drivability characteristics to the vehicle and adaptive connectivity between the engine and the remainder of the fixed function driveline. The discussion then focuses on the latest transmission systems designed to achieve the most efficient engine operation. Current designs, the components and sub-systems used, their functional modes, how they operate, and the inter-relationships are examined. Automatic control, hydro-mechanic design theory and implementation, mechatronics, toroidal transmission functions, and the future of the automatic transmission are discussed. Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) systems, which represent a fundamental shift in the way power is transmitted from the primary source to the remainder of the driveline, is covered in depth.

Based on the popular classroom seminar, the 14 hour course is divided into nine modules, accompanied by a handbook.

Major topics include:

• Transmission Technology Development[Total Run Time: 1 hour, 58 minutes]
  • Discuss the historical development of transmission technology
  • Clearly articulate the use and time period associated with each component in common transmission designs
  • Explain the functional improvements as transmission technology progressed
• Transmission Speed Ratios and Operation [Total Run Time: 49 minutes]
  • Perform a standard assessment of powertrain requirements
  • Complete a basic analysis of powertrain ratio requirements and performance assessment
  • Correctly compare and contrast the benefits of any of the common transmission technologies
  • Apply the concepts of stepped transmission ratios and ratio selection techniques to any vehicle/prime mover performance requirements
• Manual Transmission Power Flow and Components[Total Run Time: 2 hours, 25 minutes]
  • Correctly identify the major manual stepped transmission components
  • Adequately describe each of their functions
  • Deduce power flow through a manual / geared automotive transmission
  • Explain the phenomenon of shift synchronization and list the common problems that occur in common driving
• Torque Converter [Total Run Time: 2 hours, 24 minutes]
  • Accurately describe the difference between a hydrostatic coupling and a torque converter and why a torque converter is a better application to modern vehicle automatic transmission systems
  • Explain the fluid dynamic properties of energy transfer within a torque converter
  • Explain the principle of torque multiplication through the torque converter
  • Determine the need for use of a one-way clutch under the stator in a torque converter
  • Perform a torque converter match to application based on wheel geometry and performance data synthetic coefficient
  • Compare and contrast application and design considerations of all modern hydraulic charge pumps
• Automatic Transmission Power Flow and Components[Total Run Time: 1 hour, 3 minutes]
  • Knowledgeably discuss the power flow through an epicyclical gear train
  • Explain each component in an epicyclical geartrain
  • Calculate the individual ratios associated with each epicyclical configuration
  • Correlate each holding element with the configuration it supports, as well as how it affects the power-flow through the geartrain
  • Read the holding element chart for any epicyclical geartrain and define that geartrain's power flow
• Holding Members and Hydraulic Control[Total Run Time: 1 hour, 53 minutes]
  • Explain the operation and use of clutch packs and bands in modern transmission systems
  • Correctly calculate the torque holding capacity of a well defined clutch pack or band break
  • Explain the operational principle of spool valves as used in modern transmission control bodies
  • Describe the fluid flow and pressure relationships within a simple hydro-mechanical automatic transmission valve body
  • Outline the step-wise series of events in a simple `one-two' shift in a modern automatic transmission control system
• Continuously Variable Transmission [Total Run Time: 46 minutes]
  • Explain the basic premise of continuously variable transmissions
  • Describe the performance benefits of CVT's over stepped transmission systems
  • List the common CVT layouts and the function of their basic components
  • Calculate the net reduction in accelerative times for a vehicle using a CVT as compared to any stepped transmission design
• Continuously Variable Transmission Technology [Total Run Time: 1 hour, 31 minutes]
  • Describe in laymen's terms the theory of operation of one of multiple types of CVT technologies
  • Explain the concept of `push-belt' technology as it applies to CVT designs
  • Compare and contrast the use of push-belt versus pull-belt technologies
  • Summarize the major components within modern production ready push-belt CVT designs
  • List and describe the required components of one of a number of common push-belt style CVT design
• Technology Review[Total Run Time: 1 hour, 9 minutes]
  • Confidently discuss and understand the results of a literature search regarding CVT technologies
  • Analyze the net benefits of the theoretical application of CVT technology to a current stepped transmission equipped vehicle
  • Comprehend the operation of new conceptual designs providing continuously variable power transmission
  • Clarify the convergence of CVT with Dual-Clutch transmission technologies

About the Instructor: William Mark McVea
Dr. William Mark McVea, P.E., is currently Chief Technology Officer for Torvec, Inc., an industry leader in the design and development of patented powertrain engineering technology used primarily in the automotive industry. He is also President and Principal Engineer of KBE⁺, Inc. where Dr. McVea and his team design and develop complete powertrains for automotive and off-highway vehicles. His prior positions include Professor of Vehicle Dynamics and Powertrain Sciences in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Rochester Institute of Technology and adjunct professor at Purdue University in their Automotive Sciences Department. He was also formerly a manager of the CAE group within a tier-one powertrain supplier to global automotive markets, a consulting engineer in vehicle dynamics with Gear Consultants, Inc., and a project manager of traction systems for off-highway vehicles with Clark-Hurth International.

Dr. McVea has published extensively on the topics of transmission systems, automated design assistant systems, knowledge systems and knowledge based engineering in general. He also holds or is listed as co-inventor on numerous patents related to mechanical power transmissions. Dr. McVea holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology, a Ph.D. in Design Engineering from Purdue University and is a licensed Professional Engineer.

Is this e-Seminar for You?
This e-Seminar is for those who wish to become familiar with the operational theories or functional principles of modern vehicle transmission systems. As the material covered is targeted at a number of design and engineering disciplines, you should have a minimum of two years of design experience in the automotive powertrain field, or preferably a B.S. in engineering or related field.

About e-Seminars
SAE "e-Seminars" are electronically delivered seminars featuring full-motion video illustrated with synchronized presentation slides. e-Seminars are based on some of SAE's most highly attended and rated classroom seminars.

Convenient & Portable Learning
Convenient and portable, SAE e-Seminars offer a new way to receive the same instruction as live classroom learning without the expense of travel and time away from the workplace. Using a laptop or PC with an Internet connection, you can view individual modules at your own pace, at times convenient to you. You can even e-mail your questions to SAE for instructor reply.

• 365 days of access (from date of purchase) to the 14 hour course
• Links to streaming video modules
• Course Handbook (downloadable, .pdf's, subject to DRM)
• Online Pre-test (self-test, immediate results)
• Online Post-test (submit to SAE)
• 1.5 CEUs*/Certificate of Achievement (with satisfactory post-test score)

Equipment Requirements

• Windows 2000, XP, 7 (Not currently supported by Windows Vista)
• Pentium III PC
• Minimum 128 MB RAM; recommended 256 MB RAM
• Internet Explorer6 & above browser (Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Unix/Linus based browsers are not currently supported)
• Adobe Flash Player 8.0 & above
• Broadband-128Kbps and above
• 1024 X 768 Screen Resolution
• Sound Card/Speakers

Available in Single-User packages. Quantity discounts for three or more students and Site License options also are available - complete a Corporate Learning Solutions Request Form for a quote.

For more detail, email CustomerService@sae.org; or call
1-877-606-7323 (U.S. and Canada) or 724-776-4970 (outside US and Canada).