Close-ratio transmission
Encyclopedia
A close-ratio transmission is a transmission
in which there is little difference between the gear ratio
s of the gears. Consequently, note that the word close implies "near", not "shut." The gear ratio numbers are in a smaller numeric range, hence closer together.
In the context of close-ratio transmissions, a transmission with large differences between gears is termed "wide-ratio." Close-ratio and wide-ratio are relative terms, with no standardization. Therefore, a transmission that a manufacturer terms close-ratio when paired with a V8 engine with a wide power band
may be termed wide-ratio when paired with a high-revving straight-4
.
Note how the ordinary transmission has a high 5th gear. This is an overdrive
gear, useful for fuel-efficient cruising with relatively low RPMs at freeway speeds. Such a high gear is not necessarily useful in a race situation. In order for the car's transmission to be in that gear and simultaneously for its engine to be in its high-power RPM range, the absolute speed of the vehicle may simply be too great. In other words, the closeness of the ratios of a close-ratio transmission may be obtained by compressing both ends: raising the lower gear ratios, and lowering the higher ones.
s, in which the engine is tuned for maximum power in a narrow range of operating speeds and the driver can be expected to enjoy shifting often to keep the engine in its power band
.
A race is driven at high speed, close to the top speed that is achievable with the car's engine power. The speed has to be reduced for taking turns of various curvatures. Within this range of racing speeds, it may be useful to have many gears to choose from in order to always operate near the maximum engine speed.
Race cars do not have to deal with stop-and-go traffic, intersections, frequent stops, parallel parking
, or climbing steep hills at slow speed. Race cars are also not called upon to perform fuel-efficient cruising at low RPM. Consequently, it makes little sense to have gears that support these driving situations at the expense of insufficient gear ratio variety for the intended use, and for this reason, a conventional 5-speed transmission would effectively offer too few useful gears in the race situation. After being used briefly at the very start of the race, the first two gears would never be used again. Moreover, the highest gear could even be too high to get the car into its top speed on a long, straight section of the course. The highest gear should be such that it allows the top speed of the car to coincide with the engine's peak power RPM, where the engine power is just sufficient to fight air drag and other sources of impedance.
The wide gear ratios may also simply be too far apart for fast acceleration, due to each successive gear dropping the engine RPM too low. Suppose that a given engine's power band
lies between 7000 and 8000 RPM. Shifting up from a 1.20 gear to a 0.9 gear drops the original RPM by 25% (reducing it to 0.75 of the original rate). That is enough of a drop to take the engine out of its power RPM zone. For instance, if the shift is executed at 8000 RPM, the engine falls to about 6200 RPM, where it will generate a lot less power. The climb from 6200 will be a slow, labored acceleration. By contrast, shifting up from a 1.15 gear to a 1.0 gear represents only a 13% drop in engine revolution speed. Executed at 8000 RPM, the shift will achieve nearly 7000 RPM, just at the low end of the example engine's power band, allowing the car to continue accelerating quickly.
Whether a six speed transmission can be legitimately called "close-ratio" depends on whether, compared to a five speed model, it adds an extra high overdrive gear for leisurly freeway cruising, or whether it keeps the top gear about the same as in a comparable 5-speed model, and rather distributes more closely spaced ratios among the lower gears.
To simultaneously capture the advantages of a regular five-speed wide-ratio transmission as well as a five-speed close-ratio transmission, it can be argued that seven gears are required (like current Formula One car
s and BMW M5
). Six are too few, because a low first gear and a tall, smooth-cruising overdrive gear leave only four remaining gears. If truly close ratios are assigned to these, then second gear will be too tall.
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
in which there is little difference between the gear ratio
Gear ratio
The gear ratio of a gear train is the ratio of the angular velocity of the input gear to the angular velocity of the output gear, also known as the speed ratio of the gear train. The gear ratio can be computed directly from the numbers of teeth of the various gears that engage to form the gear...
s of the gears. Consequently, note that the word close implies "near", not "shut." The gear ratio numbers are in a smaller numeric range, hence closer together.
In the context of close-ratio transmissions, a transmission with large differences between gears is termed "wide-ratio." Close-ratio and wide-ratio are relative terms, with no standardization. Therefore, a transmission that a manufacturer terms close-ratio when paired with a V8 engine with a wide power band
Power band
The power band of an engine or electric motor refers to the range of operating speeds under which an the engine or motor is able to operate efficiently...
may be termed wide-ratio when paired with a high-revving straight-4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
.
Comparison with ordinary transmission
This table compares the ratios obtained in a typical five-speed transmission to the ratios in a typical close-ratio transmission for the same vehicle.| Gear | Ratio (stock transmission) | Ratio (close-ratio) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3.25 | 2.60 |
| 2nd | 1.90 | 1.66 |
| 3rd | 1.20 | 1.35 |
| 4th | 1.00 | 1.15 |
| 5th | 0.80 | 1.00 |
Note how the ordinary transmission has a high 5th gear. This is an overdrive
Overdrive (mechanics)
Overdrive is a term used to describe a mechanism that allows an automobile to cruise at sustained speed with reduced engine RPM, leading to better fuel economy, lower noise and lower wear...
gear, useful for fuel-efficient cruising with relatively low RPMs at freeway speeds. Such a high gear is not necessarily useful in a race situation. In order for the car's transmission to be in that gear and simultaneously for its engine to be in its high-power RPM range, the absolute speed of the vehicle may simply be too great. In other words, the closeness of the ratios of a close-ratio transmission may be obtained by compressing both ends: raising the lower gear ratios, and lowering the higher ones.
Application
A close-ratio type of transmission is designed to allow an engine to remain in a relatively narrow operating speed. Alternately, a wide-ratio transmission requires the engine to operate over a greater speed range, but requires less shifting and allows a wider range of output speeds. Close-ratio transmissions are generally offered in sports carSports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
s, in which the engine is tuned for maximum power in a narrow range of operating speeds and the driver can be expected to enjoy shifting often to keep the engine in its power band
Power band
The power band of an engine or electric motor refers to the range of operating speeds under which an the engine or motor is able to operate efficiently...
.
A race is driven at high speed, close to the top speed that is achievable with the car's engine power. The speed has to be reduced for taking turns of various curvatures. Within this range of racing speeds, it may be useful to have many gears to choose from in order to always operate near the maximum engine speed.
Race cars do not have to deal with stop-and-go traffic, intersections, frequent stops, parallel parking
Parallel parking
thumb|250px|right|Parallel-parked cars in [[Washington, D.C.]]thumb|250px|right|A motorist gets assistance parallel-parkingParallel parking is a method of parking a vehicle in line with other parked cars. Cars parked in parallel are in one line, parallel to the curb, with the front bumper of each...
, or climbing steep hills at slow speed. Race cars are also not called upon to perform fuel-efficient cruising at low RPM. Consequently, it makes little sense to have gears that support these driving situations at the expense of insufficient gear ratio variety for the intended use, and for this reason, a conventional 5-speed transmission would effectively offer too few useful gears in the race situation. After being used briefly at the very start of the race, the first two gears would never be used again. Moreover, the highest gear could even be too high to get the car into its top speed on a long, straight section of the course. The highest gear should be such that it allows the top speed of the car to coincide with the engine's peak power RPM, where the engine power is just sufficient to fight air drag and other sources of impedance.
The wide gear ratios may also simply be too far apart for fast acceleration, due to each successive gear dropping the engine RPM too low. Suppose that a given engine's power band
Power band
The power band of an engine or electric motor refers to the range of operating speeds under which an the engine or motor is able to operate efficiently...
lies between 7000 and 8000 RPM. Shifting up from a 1.20 gear to a 0.9 gear drops the original RPM by 25% (reducing it to 0.75 of the original rate). That is enough of a drop to take the engine out of its power RPM zone. For instance, if the shift is executed at 8000 RPM, the engine falls to about 6200 RPM, where it will generate a lot less power. The climb from 6200 will be a slow, labored acceleration. By contrast, shifting up from a 1.15 gear to a 1.0 gear represents only a 13% drop in engine revolution speed. Executed at 8000 RPM, the shift will achieve nearly 7000 RPM, just at the low end of the example engine's power band, allowing the car to continue accelerating quickly.
Pseudo-close-ratio transmissions
One way to obtain some of the benefits of a close-ratio transmission, without the compromises, is simply to cram more gears into the transmission. In fact, some six-speed gearboxes available in consumer vehicles are labelled as "close-ratio".Whether a six speed transmission can be legitimately called "close-ratio" depends on whether, compared to a five speed model, it adds an extra high overdrive gear for leisurly freeway cruising, or whether it keeps the top gear about the same as in a comparable 5-speed model, and rather distributes more closely spaced ratios among the lower gears.
To simultaneously capture the advantages of a regular five-speed wide-ratio transmission as well as a five-speed close-ratio transmission, it can be argued that seven gears are required (like current Formula One car
Formula One car
A modern Formula One car is a single-seat, open cockpit, open wheel racing car with substantial front and rear wings, and an engine positioned behind the driver. The regulations governing the cars are unique to the championship...
s and BMW M5
BMW M5
The first BMW M5, based on the E28 5 Series, made its debut at Amsterdam Motor Show in February 1984. It was the product of demand for an automobile with the carrying capacity of a saloon , but the overall performance of a sports car. It utilized the 535i chassis and an evolution of the engine from...
). Six are too few, because a low first gear and a tall, smooth-cruising overdrive gear leave only four remaining gears. If truly close ratios are assigned to these, then second gear will be too tall.