Automobiles were created in a modern, mechanically simple, yet complex for their era.
Transmissions have always been the most complicated parts of a car, at least in the beginning. As transmission innovation develops, a new level of complexity and knowledge are added.
If you were wealthy enough to possess a car in 1915, you would either replace your powertrain yourself or have a chauffeur do it since a chauffeur was more than capable of driving at the time. He worked two jobs and was skilled at maintaining and fixing the vehicles he drove. Car transmissions have experienced an enormous alteration since the invention of the automobile in the 1800s. Here is some information about the development of automotive transmission.
Table of contents
- 1. The Beginning, 1894
- 2. Modification Of First Transmission Design, 1898
- 3. Cadillac First Manual Transmission, 1928
- 4. General Motors Invented First Semi-Automatic Transmission,1937
- 5. Hydra-Matic Drives, 1938
- 6. Column Shifters, 1939
- 7. Chrysler Two-Speed Torque Converter, 1940-50
- 8. Overdrive Transmission, 1960s-80s
- 9. CVT, 2000
- 10. Dual Clutch Transmission, 2010
1. The Beginning, 1894
The first manual transmission was invented by Emile Levassor and Louis-Rene Panhard. On their original transmission, Levassor and Panhard used a chain drive. Their invention is still the foundation for modern manual transmissions.
2. Modification Of First Transmission Design, 1898
In order to enhance the performance of the manual transmission, Louis Renault modified Levassor and Panhard’s design by switching out the chain drive for a drive shaft and adding a differential axle for the rear wheels.
3. Cadillac First Manual Transmission, 1928
A non-synchronized manual transmission based on the Panhard/Levassor/Renault system was used to build automobiles in the United States for about 30 years. However, Cadillac debuted a synchronized manual transmission in 1928, which significantly reduced gear grinding and improved shifting.
4. General Motors Invented First Semi-Automatic Transmission,1937
The first semi-automatic transmission, known as the Automatic Safety Transmission, was introduced by General Motors (GM).
5. Hydra-Matic Drives, 1938
The number of gears that needed to be managed determined how complex the manual transmissions were. Even yet, the transmission ended up being the most complicated component of an automobile, despite the fact that cars were supposed to be simple.
Then, it served the same purpose as it does today, which is to transfer engine power to the wheels.
Oldsmobile Hydra-Matic drives, the first series of vehicles that include automated transmissions, hit the market in 1938. As automated transmissions gained popularity, there was a larger need for specialized mechanics who could fix these intricate systems.
6. Column Shifters, 1939
The first column shifter that came as standard equipment was disclosed by Plymouth, who advertised it as the “Perfect Remote Control Shifting” in their sales literature. Ford and Chevrolet both started including column shifters in their vehicles at about the same period.
7. Chrysler Two-Speed Torque Converter, 1940-50
For the following 20 years, automatic transmissions will predominate over manual transmissions, although at the time, the column shift was the most common shifter.
The first three-speed automatic transmission debuted in the early 1950s. Among the first manufacturers of automobiles with three-speed automatic transmissions were Studebaker and Ford. Chrysler unveiled their own two-speed torque converter in 1953.
8. Overdrive Transmission, 1960s-80s
By the 60s changing aesthetic tastes and a desire for high performance brought about an evolutionary change in automobile interior design. No longer were bench seats in the front of automobiles desirable. Bucket seats and center consoles became popular, which spurred the design of floor shifters. By the mid-1980s, column shifters had largely disappeared from passenger cars.
Three-speed automatic gearboxes started to be phased out in favor of vehicles with overdrive and more forward gears in the late 1970s. Nearly all automakers were cranking up the production of their vehicles by the early 1980s. Comparing overdrive transmissions to their three-speed counterparts, efficiency and fuel efficiency were both improved.
9. CVT, 2000
Modern automobiles typically feature electronically controlled automatic transmissions.
Transmission technology has made significant strides, enabling the automation of gears, torques, and power transfer. The goal is to reduce or completely do away with the need for friction to produce torque.
The continuously variable transmission (CVT) has become more well-liked as a result.
The CVT delivers an infinitely changeable set of gears, allowing the engine to run at its best RPM continuously while maintaining fuel efficiency and powerful power output. Additionally, CVTs are lightweight and small, making them an excellent fit for smaller cars.
10. Dual Clutch Transmission, 2010
Dual clutch and semi-automatic transmissions have also advanced technologically and grown in popularity in addition to CVTs.
Modern semi-automatic transmissions resemble manual transmissions with electronic controls. It is lightweight, effective, and allows the driver the choice of keeping complete manual control over the transmission or switching to fully automatic mode.
One clutch disc is used for the even-numbered gears while the other is used for the odd-numbered gears in a dual-clutch transmission. A dual-clutch gearbox has the advantage of being able to engage the next gear as the previous one is being released, resulting in a smooth and quick shift of ratios.
Generally speaking, computers monitor and/or control today’s automobiles. The increasingly common electronic automobiles on the market today run frequently at torque, which means that there isn’t a transmission in the conventional sense. However, modern gas-powered cars are increasingly equipped with more propellant automatic transmissions from the factory.