Propeller Shaft

Propeller Shaft

Propeller Shaft:

• Propeller Shaft is the shaft that transmits power from the gearbox to the differential gear in a motor vehicle from the engine to the propeller in a boat or flying machine.
• Propeller shaft, sometimes called a cardan shaft, transmits power from the gearbox to the rear axle. Regularly the shaft has a tubular section and is made in maybe a couple piece construction.
• The two-piece arrangement is supported at the mid point by an elastic mounted bearing. Short drive shafts are incorporated for the transmission of power from the last drive assembly to the road wheels in both front and rear wheel drive layouts.

Types of Propeller Shaft:

1. Single-Piece-Type Propeller Shaft:

• Used in vehicles with a short distance between the engine and axles, and MR based four-wheel-drive vehicles.
• The friction welding adopted at the junction contributes to an improvement in the strength, quality, and durability of the junction.

     2. 2-piece-type/3-piece-type Propeller Shaft:

• Utilized as a part of vehicles with a long distance between the engine and axles, and Front engine front drive base four-wheel-drive vehicles.
• The division of the propeller shaft into two- or three-parts allows the critical number of revolution to lowered preventing vibration issue from occurring, when the overall length of the shaft increased.

Main Components of Propeller Shaft:

1. The propeller shaft transfers engine torque to the rear axle through one or more universal joints.
2. The splines on the ends at the propeller shaft fit perfectly into the splines in the sleeve. This permits a length variation between the driving and the driven unit to vary slightly without damaging the output and input bearings.
3. The main bearing support and guide the propeller shaft.
4. The flanges associate the propeller shaft to the gearbox.

Requirements of Propeller Shaft:

For achieving efficient functions, the following are expected in a propeller shaft

1. High torsional strength: Therefore, they are made of solid or hollow circular cross section
2. Toughened and hardened: Therefore, they are made of superior quality steel and are induction hardened
3. Efficiently jointed: Therefore they are generally welded by submerged are carbon dioxide welding process.
4. Dynamically balanced: Since the phenomenon of whirling may be critical at higher speeds, therefore, propeller shafts are tested on electronic balancing machine.
5. Reduced thrust loads: Since resonance is dangerous for the life of shaft. It also transmits excessive dynamic force to the shaft's end supports, and so its occurrence should be avoided.

NOTE: Since the propeller shaft sleeve end is pulled out from the transmission extension housing with the transmission still mounted, overflow of the transmission oil, damage of oil seal lip or entrance of dust may result if the vehicle is raised higher toward its front end. Use extreme care in removing the propeller shaft.