Opel 1900 1973, Service Manual, Page: 401 / 625

40 1973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
ENERGIZING SPRINGS
UTER RACE (CAM)
ROLLER CLUTCH
LOCKS UP
COUNTER CLOCKWISE FORCES ON CAM, LOCK
OVERRUNS
ROLLERS TO INNER RACE
CLOCKWISE FORCES ON CAM CAUSE
ASSEMBLY
ROLLERS TO OVERRUN INNER RACE
Figure Roller Clutch And Assembly
as a fluid coupling, since both the converter pump
and turbine are turning at the same speed, or at a
ratio.
The torque converter and input shaft actually form
a simple transmission in themselves, however, since
the requirements of an automobile transmission are
greater, some means of providing additional torque,
neutral and reverse, are required. For this reason a
gear set is added behind the torque converter.
Planetary Gears
Planetary gears are used in automatic transmissions
as the basic means of multiplying the twisting force
or torque from the engine. They are so named be-
cause of their physical arrangement and are used
because they permit constant mesh operation, cannot
clash, operate in a minimum of space and distribute
the load over several gears. The simplest planetary
gear set consists of a center or sun gear, internal or
ring gear and a planetary gears called planetary pin-
ions. See Figure
The sun gear meshes with the
planetary pinions which rotate freely on their shafts
attached to the planetary carrier. The ring gear
rounds the assembly and meshes with the planetary
pinions. Power flow through the planetary gear set
is accomplished by applying power to one member,
holding another member thus making it a reaction
member and obtaining the transmitted power from
the third member, which can result in any of the
following conditions:
1. Increase torque with a proportional decrease in
output speed.
2. Increase speed with a proportional decrease of
output torque.
3. Reverse direction of rotation.
4. Act as a direct connection for direct drive.
The gear set used in the Opel Three Speed Automatic
transmission is known as a
planetary