Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

"President Qin, regarding this automatic transmission aspect you mentioned, we've also conducted some research," Wang Jinman began, "We've completed the hardware research and development, and the software has just been developed to version 1.0. If the leaders would like to see it, we can demonstrate it."

The most suitable type of automatic transmission is the AT transmission, with a hydraulic torque converter, which is very smooth. However, this thing is precisely designed and complex to manufacture, and the current Dongfang company can't produce it. So, we've resorted to a secondary option: an AMT transmission. This involves adding a set of automatic shifting mechanisms to a manual transmission, thus creating an automatic transmission.

Although the smoothness can't compare to an AT transmission, it's at least usable.

At this time, hearing Wang Jinman's words, Qin Yang was also very excited. Now, he only needs to provide design plans, and his subordinates are responsible for specific projects. Moreover, many university students have joined Factory 960, making their technical research and development more professional, and they can develop things very quickly.

This kind of AMT transmission has actually been developed!

"Great, then let's install it and try it out," Qin Yang said.

Everyone nodded: "That's right, install it and try it out!"

So, everyone started disassembling again.

The manual transmission is very simple. Shifting gears is achieved by using shift forks. Taking the current twelve-speed transmission as an example, there are four sets of shift forks inside the main gearbox, three of which control the three forward gears, and one controls reverse. The auxiliary gearbox has a set of shift forks to control high and low-speed switching.

Originally, these shift forks were connected to the shift lever next to the driver through a mechanical structure. Now, just replace it with a pneumatic one.

Mechanical structures are also divided into many types. For example, the imported Steyr uses shift cables, just like the cables of a bicycle brake. Several shift forks correspond to several sets of cables, connected to the bottom of the shift lever. When shifting gears, the corresponding shift fork is directly pulled through the cable to switch gears.

This is relatively smooth, and many cars are also using it. However, it also has shortcomings. For example, the lack of lubrication inside may cause the shifting to become stiff. More importantly, in winter, if moisture enters and freezes, it will be impossible to shift gears.

Therefore, some cars use tie rods. From the gearbox to the bottom of the shift lever, the gear is changed through a tie rod. This tie rod can move back and forth and can also rotate around itself. Many cars are also using it.

However, tie rods also have shortcomings. They will transmit the vibration of the gearbox. In later generations, the FAW J6 is the most obvious. When holding it with your hand, you can even feel it trembling.

There is also a type that doesn't use anything at all and directly fiddles with the inside of the gearbox. This requires a pointed-head heavy truck with the engine in the front. Old Jiefangs and old Dongfengs are like this. The gearbox is right under the floor of the cab, directly connected through a gearbox. This feels the best, but it has a lot to do with the engine layout, and not all cars can use it.

Now, there is another type of shifting mechanism: pneumatic!

"Uncle Zhu, please tell everyone to leave here. Let's go to..." Qin Yang looked around: "Let's go watch from upstairs."

Upstairs?

Uncle Zhu looked at the car in front of him, a little curious: "President Qin, are you afraid of accidents?"

If a manual car has an accident, as long as you step on the clutch, you can cut off the power. However, this automatic transmission is different. If it gets out of control, the consequences will be disastrous.

"President Qin, don't worry, even if the gear shift is wrong, I'll just step on the brake and stomp on the brake. The engine will naturally stall," Wang Jinman said, "There won't be any problems."

"Then everyone should still be careful."

Seeing Qin Yang repeatedly emphasizing safety, Uncle Zhu also took it seriously: "Okay, then let's go watch from the tank next to it."

No matter how powerful this wheeled armored vehicle is, it is not as powerful as a tank. If it really crashes into it, a tank of dozens of tons can still withstand it.

Watching everyone leave, Wang Jinman was a little unhappy. This President Qin is really overly cautious.

"Is everyone ready? I'm going to start it!" Wang Jinman shouted.

"Ready!"

Wang Jinman moved the switch in front of him to the forward position, and then slowly stepped on the accelerator.

The engine speed became higher and higher, from an idle speed of 700 rpm to 1,000 rpm, and then to 1,200 rpm. At this moment, Wang Jinman suddenly felt like he had been kicked in the back.

Whoosh!

Even more violent than when he started just now! What is this? This is the feeling of a first-time driver suddenly releasing the clutch.

But, there's nothing that can be done about it. After all, where is there such a precise pneumatic-controlled clutch that can pause in a semi-engaged state? This is clearly impossible.

Fortunately, the car moved, and it started successfully!

In this era, even the AMT system developed by Mercedes-Benz heavy trucks still retains the clutch, which requires the driver to step on it when starting, after all, the computer cannot control it well.

However, as long as it starts, the following gear changes are all controlled by the computer, and the clutch no longer needs to be used!

What, no need for the clutch?

That's for sure. Even the old drivers who drive manual Steyrs only use the clutch when starting, and then they don't step on it anymore. All upshifts and downshifts rely on accelerator coordination. Only those who can drive to this extent are the real old drivers.

The structure of the gearbox is actually very simple, it is the meshing between different gears. When switching gears, as long as the speeds of the two gears are the same, there will naturally be no gear grinding. People operate like this, and computers operate like this, and even because the computer can determine more accurately, it will do better!

Clunk! Third gear was shifted.