History of Automatic Transmission

The current era is unstoppable, characterized by a global technological environment that directs each area. In this sense, the automotive market has also evolved by presenting a modern automatic transmission.

What is the function of this fundamental part to start a vehicle? Commonly known as an “automatic gearbox”, it allows your car to change gear spokes without using the gear lever or clutch.

And this runs in full motion as you drive, freeing you from the manual task of shifting gears. In this article you will learn the interesting story that managed to transport us with greater performance and comfort.

From manual transmission to automatic transmission

When buying a vehicle, the question always arises: Manual or automatic? To make the right decision, it is important to understand the evolution of this part, performance and driving experience.

The manual transmission has remained in the world for more than a century, being a favorite until the 1940s. At that time, the first automatic gearboxes were popularized in the United States.

The manual model differs from the automatic transmission by its construction and operation.

The cars of the 20th century required control of the three pedals when using these boxes that did not have synchronization, which (synchronization mechanism) was introduced later. The operation consisted of resorting to the double clutch, equalizing the revolutions of the engine and gearbox to make the changes.

When were automatic transmissions invented?

The history of the automatic transmission is based on several studies of great characters such as Fred Lanchester. In 1889, his theories of aerodynamics were key to automotive evolution.

Research into epicycle gears led him to develop and test them on his own car in 1902. In this project he managed to keep his torque transmission moving during the sprocket change.

In this part, the teeth or gears were distributed over several pinions executing a gradual rotation without frictional wear. Its system was introduced and used by Henry Ford in his famous Model T.

The car had two gears and a reverse gear, being a success for the time. History would change forever with the milestone of Canadian engineer Alfred Horner Munro in 1921.

He proposed a manual shift using compressed air, which began to generate some failures. Then in 1937, General Motors offered the first semi-automatic transmission, a satellite gear system called ATS; This acronym corresponds to Automatic Safety Transmission (Safety Transmission System).

The prototype used a hydraulic mechanism that was completed in 1939 by the Hydra Matic division, which did not require a clutch. This is how the first automatic transmission was born.

The first trolley with automatic transmission

After this General Motors milestone, the company launched its first cars equipped with an automatic transmission on the market.

The production was carried out on line models in conjunction with Cadillac, running on Oldsmobile 1941 vehicles.

How does an automatic transmission box work?

The automatic transmission is an exceptional and interesting part due to its technological complexity and high performance. Your vehicle’s engine is connected to the box, which has a torque converter.

The torque is transmitted with the circular motion of the fluid in the automatic transmission.  With the action of the oil generates high pressure resulting in the movement of the turbine.

The automatic transmission is composed of 3 specific elements, which are:

Hydraulics: Uses transmission fluid to control the running and reverse gears.

Hydrodynamic torque converter: The vehicle’s running stops while the engine is still running.

Modulator: Determines travel speed, accelerator and signal for shifting.

Currently, transmissions are controlled by a computer, integrating an efficient, modern and faster system. And we are getting closer to the future, witnessing CVT broadcasts.

These acronyms mean “Continuously Variable Transmission”, which translated into Spanish is “Continuously Variable Transmission”. This type of automatic transmission provides a smoother, more imperceptible and comfortable handling.

Why do we love automatic vans?

There is no doubt that great advances in automotive technology have triggered incredible demand. It is now possible to have a more efficient, faster, “intelligent” and powerful vehicle.

Today’s automatic vehicles have six, seven, even twelve gears, thinking of taking advantage of the peak engine power without much effort. This reduces consumption and CO2 emissions.

On the other hand, the absence of the clutch makes it less likely that damage to the case will occur. In hybrid and electric vehicles, the box is a kind of automatic, since much of the work is done by the electric motor.

Its torque is linear so it doesn’t need gears. In fact, some sports brands are already only offering models with an automatic gearbox as this can be connected to other control systems and allow much safer driving.

But in addition, it predominates the fact of requiring a machine that not only provides simple mobility. Do you want to take your whole family for a walk around the city, explore new territories, have maximum benefits, among others?

Automatic vans give you an advanced, dynamic and comfortable driving experience. Everything you need is before you, an ergonomic cabin, total interconnection, entertainment and information.

Don’t worry about executing changes with precision. Modern automatic vans have all the necessary features.

This is just the beginning, in addition to an automatic transmission you will have a vehicle designed for the safety of your loved ones.

Conclusion

You already know everything about the automatic transmission, which has transformed the way you drive and go further. But do you know where to find the best automatic vans?

At X AutoCare  we offer you a wide range of unique models, designed to travel around the city, get more adventures or heavy work. In addition, we have hybrid vehicles with high technology and power.

This is your time! Make your decision, choose the best truck and rely on the absolute support of the largest multi-brand dealer in USA. We advise you and provide guarantees, resumption of used cars and more.