C S S R 0 8’ 0 9 14 - 15 March 2009 C O N F E R E N C E ON S C I E N T I F I C & S O C I A L R E S E A R C H Paper number: 266598 PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF AN INERTIAL FRICTIONLESS TORQUE TRANSFER DEVICE FOR AUTOMOTIVE TRANSMISSION Ramzyzan Ramly 1 , Idris Saad 2 and Valliyapan David Natarajan 3 1,2,3 Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam., Malaysia ramzyramly@yahoo.com ABSTRACT Slip disc or clutch disc is a common type of torque transfer device used in manual transmission of an automobile. In the clutch assembly, the clutch disc utilizes friction as the torque transfer mechanism and therefore susceptible to wear due to friction. Its lifespan depends on the driver’s style of driving and the condition of the road. Clutch disc wear at higher rate on slopes compared to flat road due to the gradient of the former. The rapid wear of clutch discs requires replacement, not only the disc itself but also its auxiliaries, such as the pressure plate set and a double-sided release bearing thus the cost implication of the existing device. In order to increase the lifespan of the torque transfer device without compromising the required performance, a new device that does not use friction as a mean to transfer torque is to be designed and tested. This would entail a single device that eliminates the use of friction and substitute two main components of a conventional power train i.e. clutch and transmission (gearbox) for torque transmission. In the research, it was found that the torque transfer device had performed as expected. It could transfer torque from the input shaft to the output shaft. Other parameters such as output torque vs. input torque, output rpm vs. input rpm, minimum torque required for moving certain loaded output wheel, maximum torque available, and maximum horse power that the device can transfer should be done in the further research. Keywords: Performance Analysis, Inertial Frictionless Torque Transfer Device, Automotive Transmission 1. INTRODUCTION The torque converter being studied in this research is a unit used to possibly improve the automatic and manual transmission as well to make more efficient and reliable for the vehicle use. The original work is developed by Terry Lester [8]. This research tends to study the performance of the original works by conceptualizing a reverse engineering method to design and develop a torque transfer device. The purpose of this research is study a potential device to possibly replace the torque transfer engagement mechanism system known as clutch system. Clutch system is used in the manual transmission system. It operates when the clutch pedal is pushed down and the clutch pressure plate disconnects or disengages from the engine flywheel. When it is disengaged, no engine power can flow to the transmission system. When the diver releases the clutch pedal, the clutch reengages. This operation will allow power from the engine to flow through the clutch system and finally to the transmission system. The transmission will provide the torque needed to move the vehicle under the variety of road and load conditions. The power variance occurs by changing the gear ratio between the engine crankshaft output and the vehicle drive wheels. To improve this complicated manual gearing system, the automatic transmission system was introduced for the convenient of the drivers especially the disabled, elderly, and pregnant women. In fully automatic transmission system, the driver is relieved from the burden to control and compensate the clutch pressure to the engine’s revolution. The basic part in the automatic transmission that replaces the clutch system is the torque converter which consists of a rotational stator vanes and impeller where special oil is used to transfer the torque from the engine and later to the transmission. The basic working principle in