Transaxle : Cross-Sectional View

1. Converter housing 2. Driven sprocket
3. Chain
4. Reverse brake
5. Oil pump
6. Forward clutch
7. Planetary carrier
8. Primary pulley
9. Sun gear
10. Steel belt
11. Side cover
12. Internal gear
13. Parking gear
14. Secondary pulley
15. Final gear
16. Differential case
17. Idler gear
18. Reduction gear
19. Taper roller bearing 20. Output gear
21. Drive sprocket
22. Input shaft
23. Torque converter

Transaxle : Operation Status

Transaxle : Transaxle Mechanism

BELT & PULLEY

Mechanism
It is composed of a pair of pulleys (the groove width is changed freely in the axial direction) and the steel belt (the steel plates are placed continuously and the belt is guided with the multilayer steel rings on both sides).

The groove width changes according to wrapping radius of steel belt and pulley from low status to overdrive status continuously with non-step. It is controlled with the oil pressures of primary pulley and secondary pulley.

Steel belt
It is composed of multiple steel plates (A) and two steel rings (B) stacked to a several number. The feature of this steel belt transmits power with compression of the steel plate in contrast with transmission of power in pulling with a rubber belt. Friction force is required with the pulley slope to transmit power from the steel plate. The force is generated with the following mechanism: Oil pressure applies to the secondary pulley to nip the plate. ⇒The plate is pushed and extended outward. ⇒The steel ring shows withstands.

⇒Pulling force is generated on the steel ring. ⇒The plate of the primary pulley is nipped between the pulley. ⇒Friction force is generated between the steel belt and the pulley.

Therefore, responsibilities are divided by the steel plate that transmits the power with compression and the steel ring that maintains necessary friction force. In this way, the tension of the steel ring is distributed on the entire surface and stress variation is limited, resulting in good durability.

Pulley
The primary pulley (input shaft side) and the secondary pulley (output shaft side) have the shaft with slope (fixed cone surface), movable sheave (movable cone surface that can move in the axial direction) and oil pressure chamber at the back of the movable sheave.

Pulley gear shifting operation • Pulley gear shifting operation The movable sheave slides on the shaft to change the groove width of the pulley. Input signals of engine load (accelerator pedal opening), engine revolution and gear ratio (vehicle speed) change the operation pressures of the primary pulley and the secondary pulley, and controls the pulley groove width. Along with change of the pulley groove width, the belt contact radius is changed. This allows continuous and stepless gear shifting from low to overdrive. “The contact radius ratio of each pulley in contact with the belt x auxiliary gearbox gear ratio” is the gear ratio.

AUXILIARY GEARBOX MECHANISM

1st, 2nd and reverse gears are changed with the planetary gear mechanism.

Transaxle : Oil Pressure System

Oil pressure required for operation of the transaxle transmission mechanism is generated by oil pump, oil pressure control valve, solenoid valve, etc.

Transaxle : Component Description