Planetary Gears
The ZF 4HP 16 automatic transaxle is equipped with the following gears:
- 1 sun gear
- 4 planetary gears
- A planetary carrier
- A ring gear
Each gear is located one directly behind the other and are linked together, so that the front ring gear is permanently linked to the rear planet carrier and the front planetary carrier is linked to the rear ring gear.
The individual gear ratios are obtained by linking together the gear set elements in different ways by means of clutches and brakes.
On the 4HP 16, the power flow is directed into the planetary gear set through the rear planetary carrier or the rear sun gear, or through both simultaneously, depending on the gear. The output is always through the front planetary carrier.