A Fully Automatic Vehicle Transmission Using a Layshaft Type Gearbox

THE PAPER first discusses the reasons and need for having very efficient fully automatic transmissions for small cars.

The high losses of conventional automatic gearboxes when compared to manual layshaft gearboxes leads to the automation of a manual box using two friction clutches instead of the usual single friction clutch thus giving the benefit's of the high efficiency of a manual box and an ability to make the units on plant already available at most vehicle manufacturers.

Results of initial development work on prototypes are given in the paper and a description of the type of work proposed for the future is outlined.