History
The first turbo-transmission from 1932 used a relatively simple design. It consisted of a single torque-converter for the start-up phase and a fluid coupling for the travel phase which were both mounted on a common shaft. A key feature of this turbo-transmission was the filling and emptying of the hydrodynamic circuit, a principle which was first used in Föttinger marine transmissions. This offered the advantages of frictionless start-ups, frictionless gear shifting with constant traction, freewheeling through emptying of the hydrodynamic circuit, and more efficient operation of the fluid coupling.
Contrary to Föttinger however, Voith used low viscosity oil in the hydrodynamic circuit of its turbo-transmissions rather than water. In addition, various other improvements were made in the 1930s: The addition of a high-speed gear, a more compact housing, greater compatibility with different motor types, automation gear shifts, as well as cooling via a heat exchanger.
In the 1960s the hydrodynamic retarder was also introduced as a third stage which complemented the torque-converter and fluid coupling. Together, all these engineering improvements had a common goal: To continually increase the transmission's performance rating without compromising its installation complexity or proven reliability.
Read more about this topic: Voith Turbo-Transmissions
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