On Mon, 17 Aug 1998, Tony Duell wrote:
> >
> > >>Don't forget the most important thing, you can REALLY control the spark
> > >>curve :)
> > >
> > > Yes and the transmission shift points in some cars.
> >
> > What?!? Took me a couple of minutes to work out what you're even
> > talking about, there.
>
> :-)..
>
> >
> > These (mostly non-electronic) analogue computers were quite popular in
> > larger cars (in the UK, anything with more than 2.5 litres - 150 cu. in.
> > - of engine) in the early 'seventies, but they were inefficient and
> > unreliable and I never use them if I can avoid it...
>
> Actually, if correctly maintained, automatic transmissions can be very
> reliable. I still don't like the idea of automatic control of _anything_
> that can be manual, though...
>
> Renault made an electromechanical automatic transmission. It used an
> electromagnetic clutch and a conventional gearbox with a motor/solenoid
> assembly to move the selector rails (3 speed + reverse). There was a
> relay box to operate that with inputs from a push-button assembly near
> the driver, a mechanical speed sensor (worked like the spinning-magnet +
> Al disk speedometer, but with contacts on it), etc. The relay unit also
> operated a flap on the inlet manifold to drop the engine speed when
> appropriate.
Don't forget the Mechamatic, designed and built by one of your countrymen
- whose name escapes me at the moment - which was an all mechanical
automatic transmission without fluid coupling or torque converter, IIRC.
- don
> Alas the shop manual I have for it doesn't give any internal details of
> the relay box or the actuator assembly, so figuring out how it works
> (without owning the car!) is impossible.
>
> >
> > I refer of course to automatic gearboxes. If you want control over the
> > transmission shift points, get a manual gearbox with electric overdrive.
> > Every time!
>
> What about Roverdrive, then. For those (everyone on this list!) who've
> not come across this transmission-designed-by-a-committee, it consisted
> of a torque convertor (like on an automatic), a conventional dry clutch,
> a 2-speed+reverse synchromesh gearbox, and an electric overdriver. The
> last could be automatically controlled, but the rest was entirely manual.
>
> -tony
>
>
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Received on Mon Aug 17 1998 - 19:43:03 BST