How does the semi automatic transmission work.
Although not a true automatic. Can anyone tell me how the coupling is achieved. I was told it was by wet clutches. I am familiar with torque converters, fluid couplings, electromechanical and mechanical clutches.
My only guess is sintered bronze clutches, similar to the early British Leyland mini and controlled by high frequency solenoid that metered oil pressure, to achieved a slip engagement.
My interest in the subject is purely a need to understanding machines.
Thank you . Phil.
SE semi automatic & SM manual transmission
Here are two posts I put in some time ago. Maybe this will help.
First post:
The SE is not an "automatic" transmission. The transmission is the same as the SM -- a manual transmission with a conventional motorcycle-type multiplate wet clutch. The difference is that BRP designed an automatic clutch control system and shifting system to shift the manual transmission. They also added a centrifugal clutch mechanism to keep the clutch disengaged at idle when not moving. Conventional thinking and experience with "automatic" transmissions does not apply. If you downshift the SE or downshift the SM, you are doing the same thing and with the same results.
Second post:
The clutches for both SM and SE's are essentially the same -- multi-plate wet motorcycle clutches. The centrifugal part of the SE arrangement is a centrifugally actuated mechanism that disengaged the conventional multi-plate clutch when the rev's dropped low such as when you were stopped and the engine is idling. For normal shifting, the clutch operation was not centrifugal but was operated by oil pressure and control solenoids that would quickly disengage the clutch perfectly synchronized with the shifting solenoids to get the next higher or lower gear. The 2014's did away with the centrifugal mechanism for the SE's and use computer programming to gradually engage the clutch from a standstill so you get a smooth start without stalling the engine or without excessive clutch slipping. The same way the automotive "dual clutch" transmissions do.