Abstract: A method of testing a friction component for a transmission that has first and second parts. The first part of the friction component is attached to a drive shaft and the second part is attached to a grounding element. The first part of the friction component is rotated until the drive shaft and the first part of the friction component rotate at a target sliding speed Vtarget. An actuation force is applied to the friction component at a time t0. Operation of the motor drive is continued to maintain the speed of rotation of the drive shaft at Vtarget until a predetermined level of engagement torque Tth is obtained. The motor torque is then reduced to a predetermined level Tm. The sliding speed of the drive shaft is then decreased and the test is terminated when the sliding speed falls to zero.

Abstract: A band brake drum assembly (50) is provided and includes a brake band member (52), a generally round and/or cylindrical and brake drum (54) which is disposed concentric to band (52), and an input or hub shaft (56 which is fixedly coupled to and rotatably drives drum (54). Drum includes an interior surface having a recessed portion (62) which is effective to retain a certain amount of lubricant or oil within the drum, and several relatively large drainage holes (70) which are effective to quickly drain excess lubricant from drum (54), thereby providing a consistent amount of lubricant wit in drum (54) and improving the overall performance of the brake band assembly.

Abstract: A brake band 12 which consistently provides substantially the same amount of braking force in response to a certain signal under either steady or varying band operating conditions, including varying oil flow rate into the band-drum interface, varying temperature, and varying drum rotational speed. Particularly, the brake band 12 has at least one groove 46 which is deployed upon the engagement surface 22 and an aperture 50 which is disposed upon a very end of 48 of the groove 46.

Abstract: A band brake drum assembly 50 is provided and includes a brake band member 52, a generally round and/or cylindrical band brake drum 54 which is disposed concentric to band 52, and an input or hub shaft 56 which is fixedly coupled to and rotatably drives drum 54. Drum includes an interior surface having a recessed portion 62 which is effective to retain a certain amount of lubricant or oil within the drum, and several relatively large drainage holes 70 which are effective to quickly drain excess lubricant from drum 54, thereby providing a consistent amount of lubricant within drum 54 and improving the overall performance of the brake band assembly.

Abstract: A method for controlling ratio changes in a swap-shift transmission having a first simple planetary gear unit and a second compound planetary gear unit, the two gear units being arranged in series disposition, pressure-operated friction elements for separately braking the reaction member at each of the gear units to establish a change in ratio. The change in ratio consists of a downshift by releasing a reaction friction element for the first gear unit and upshifting the second gear unit by applying a second friction element to anchor a reaction member of the second gear unit in a non-synchronous fashion to achieve a consistent shift quality without precise matching of friction element application and release whereby inertia torque disturbances in the torque output elements of the transmission are avoided.