Chapter-4

Drive lines
 Drive line
• It is the group of parts
connecting the transmission with
the driving wheels.
• It consists of the drive shaft
(propeller shaft), universal
joints(constant velocity joints)
and the half shafts.
 Drive Shaft
• Used to transfer the torque from the
engine,through the transmission output shaft,to
the differential in the axle,which in turn transmits
torque to the wheels.
• The driveshaft can be made out of steel or
aluminium and can be either solid or hollow
(tubular).
• A splined slip yoke assembly permits the
driveshaft to move forward and rearward as the
axle moves up and down.This provides smooth
performance during vehicle operation.
DRIVE
SHAFT
 Slip Joint
• Slip joint is attached to the driven yoke in order
to increase or decrease the length of propeller
shaft.
• It has outside splines on the shaft and matching
internal splines in a mating hollow shaft or
yoke.When assembled the splines cause the
shafts to rotate together while they can move
back and forth.This changes the length of
propeller shaft.
 Universal Joint
• It is the joint which enables the drive shaft to
transmit power at different angles.
• They are needed because the rear end of
propeller shaft is constantly rising and falling
due to the flexing of rod spring.
• These joints also allow for the rear axle
assembly to twist due to the drive and brake
torque operation.
 Construction
• It consists of two Y-shaped
yokes,one on the driving
shafts and another on
driven shafts.
• The four arms of
spider,known as
trunions,are assembled
into bearings in the ends
of two shaft yokes.
•The driving shaft and the driven shaft are at angle to
each other,the bearings in the yokes permits the
yokes to swing around on the trunions with each
revolution.

Working
•When the driving shaft is rotating,the drivenshaft
also rotates.At the same time the universal joint
permits angular motion &propeller shaft can rotate at
any angle.
•Thus the power is transmitted from the gear box to
the propeller shaft at any particular angle.
 Constant Velocity Universal Joint
• Constant- velocity joints (CV Joints) allow a
drive shaft to transmit power through a
variable angle,at constant rotational
speed,without an appreciable increase in
friction or play.
• They are mainly used in front wheel drive
vehicles and 4x4 drive vehicles.
• The angle upto 30 degrees.
 Front Wheel Drive
• In this system,power of the engine is
transmitted to front axle which drive front
wheels.
• It is generally used in cars.
Advantages
1)There is no need of propeller shaft as the front
wheels are nearer to the engine.
2)Height of the chassis can be lowered.
3)The engine pulls the vehicle instead of pushing.
4) Simplified linkages are required for clutch
and gear box.

Disadvantages

1) As the front wheels also steer the

vehicle,so the mechanism is somewhat
complicated.
2) As the weight at front end is increased the
steering becomes heavy.
3) It is not preferable while going uphill.
 Advantages
1)Interior space is more.
2)Low cost
3)Lower weight
4)Greater fuel economy
5)More assembly efficiency
6)Better crosswind stability
Disadvantages
1)Torque steer is problem with
higher torque engines.
2)Lack of weight shifting will limit
the acceleration.
3)In low traction conditions
(ice),front wheels loose traction
first.
 Differential
• Differential is the mechanism by means of which
outer wheel faster than the inner wheel while
taking a turn or moving over upheaval rod.
• Differential is a part of the inner axle housing
assembly,which includes the differential,rod
axles,wheels & bearings.
• The differential consists of a system of gears
arranged in such a way that connects the propeller
shafts with the rear axles.
•The purpose of the differential is to
provide the relative movement to the
two rear wheels when the car is taking
a turn.
 Principle
It works on the principle that when two bevel
gears are meshed with a bevel at right
angles,then the two gears will rotate in
opposite direction at same speed.
 Driving Thrust
• Driving torque produced in the engine causes the
thrust to be produced in the road wheels,which is
responsible for the forward motion of the vehicle.
• The driving force from the wheels is transmitted to
the body or chassis by means of leaf springs or
Radius rods(thrust members).
• These members are in longitudinal direction
connecting axle casing and the body.
 Torque Reaction
• If the road wheels are prevented from
rotation,with propeller shaft rotating it is seen
that the bevel pinion tend to roll around the
crown gear of the differential.
• This tendency is also present when the vehicle
is running so that bevel pinion always tends to
climb round the crown wheel.
• Thus there is a force on axle casing to
rotate.This is called torque reaction.
 Side Thrust
• Side thrust comes mainly when the vehicle is
taking a turn or when the vehicle is moving
along an laterally inclined surface.
• The side thrust coming on the axle can be
taken by panhard rod.
 Type of Rear Axle Drives
• Hotchkiss Drive
 Simplest and widely used rear axle drive.
Propeller shaft with two universal joints and a
sliding joint.
The spring is fixed rigidly in the middle onto
the frame.The driving torque is transmitted
through the front half of the springs.
The front end of the leaf suspension is rigidly
fixed onto the frame while the rear is connected
via a shackle.
Two universal joints are used to avoid the
bending of the propeller shaft due to the torque
reaction.
Sliding joint is provided to accommodate for
the variation of the length in the transmission
shaft.
 Advantages
 Torque reaction,driving thrust and side thrust
are taken up by the leaf spring and universal
joints.
 Varying propeller shaft length can be
accomodated without any inclination.
 Provides comfortable ride.
Torque Tube Drive
Torque reaction,braking torque and drive thrust are taken
by torque tube.
The suspension springs take only the side thrust and body
weight.
One end of the torque tube is attached to the axle casing
while the other end is spherical and fits into the cup on the
frame.
The torque tube encloses the propeller shaft.
Torque tube takes the torque reaction and centre line of the
bevel pinion shaft always passes through the centre of the
spherical cup.
Single universal joint is used in the transmission drive
because the universal joint is situated exactly at the centre of
the spherical cup.
No sliding joint is provided since the pinion shaft and the
propeller shaft moves same center(spherical cup).
 Classification of Rear Axle
 According to Design of Axle casing
 According to the method of
Supporting
• Fully Floating Axle
This is used in heavy vehicles.
Axle carries only driving torque.
Vehicle weight and end thrust aren’t
carried by the axle.
Wheels and the axle casing takes
care of the vehicle weight.
Axle is relieved from all strains due to
load of vehicle and end thrust,hence its
duty is only to transmit rotary motion to
the wheels.
Also we can remove the axle shaft
without disturbing the axle hub and
wheel.
 •Semi Floating Axle
 In this type of axle,whole of the load
of the rear portion of the vehicle,the
end thrust and the driving torque is
carried by the axle.
 The vehicle load is transmitted to
each of the half shafts through axle
casing and the bearings.
 The wheel hub is rigidly fixed to the
outer end of the axle shaft.
 For replacement of the axle shaft,the
vehicle is jacked up.The wheel,the
drum and the bearing retainer plate
must be removed in order to remove
the axle shaft.
 Three Quarter Floating Axle
 This design is a compromise between
the fully floating axle and the semi-
floating type.
 The bearing is carried on the axle
casing,the hub is rigidly fixed to the
outer end of the axle shaft.
 The axle shaft is not supporting any
weight but will have to withstand the
end thrusts beside transmitting the
driving torque.
 Due to the reason that three quarter
floating axle has only one bearing at
the outer end,but even then it takes
some bending stresses,it,therefore,is
not resembling the fully floating type.