THE LABORATORY has been described as an “indoor” proving ground. However, laboratory investigations are not intended to substitute for proving ground activities, but rather are a necessary counterpart. Interrelation between the two becomes more clear when considering some of the laboratory's inherent advantages:
1.
It permits close investigation of the operation of inaccessible parts.
2.
Small differences in design performance may be evaluated through precise control and measurement of test conditions.
3.
Road conditions, due to inclement weather, are of no concern.
4.
The delay of transmission tests due to failure of other vehicle components is eliminated.
5.
By utilizing automatic shut down features, it allows close inspection and pin-pointing of source of failure.
6.
It allows accelerated testing since measured proving grounds data may be adjusted a given percentage before being put into a fixture.
This paper describes the laboratory testing of automatic transmissions.
