Automotive Propeller Shaft and Joints

Joints

• Double joints permit diffraction angles of up to 50° but do not allow axial displacement.
• Flexible discs are resilient, maintenance-free, and permit small diffraction angles and linear variations for damping vibrations and noises.
• There are different types of flexible discs, including ball joints and silentbloc joints.

Propeller Shaft

• The propeller shaft connects the gearbox and final drive.
• It has two main functions: transmitting power at a right angle and increasing torque by reducing speed.
• The propeller shaft rotates at high speed, bears heavy torque, and is made of strong steel tube.
• In some vehicles, a solid propeller shaft is used.
• Vehicles with a larger wheel base use two propeller shafts, and centre bearing is used to connect them.

Drives

• There are different types of drives, including Hotchkiss drive and torque tube drive.
• In the Hotchkiss drive, the axle shaft takes the vehicle load as well as the driving thrust, and it has two longitudinal rear leaf springs.
• In the torque tube drive, the propeller shaft is enclosed in a tube that is fastened to the differential housing.

Final Drive (Differential)

• The final drive serves two purposes: transmitting power at a right angle and increasing torque by reducing speed.
• It consists of a pinion, crown wheel, and differential cage, with a spider-cross and planetary gears assembled inside.
• There are different types of differential, including conventional, power or non-slip, and double reduction type.