TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING
THAPATHALI CAMPUS

A report on:
Block Diagram of Automobile Power
Transmission System

Submitted to:
Er.Sunil Adhikari

Submitted by:
Sushil Chapai (071-BME-440)

20th February, 2018

Power Transmission System in an Automobile
The mechanism that transmits the power developed by the engine of an automobile to
the driving wheels is called the power transmission system in an automobile. The
transmission system in an automobile helps to transmit mechanical power derived from
the engine to give out the kinetic energy to the wheels. It is an interconnected chained
system of gears, shafts, and other electrical parts that form a bridge to transfer power and
energy. The complete transmission system set up helps to maintain the cruising speed of
the car without bringing any disturbance to the car’s performance. The oldest type of the
transmission system is the manual transmission which has undergone several
modifications and alterations to form the present day transmission system of automated
nature.
There are different types of transmission systems:
1. Manually operated
2. Fully automatic
3. Semi-automatic
4. Continuously variable
A typical automobile transmission system consists of the following parts:
 Engine
 Flywheel
 Clutch
 The gear box/torque convertors/transmission box
 Propeller shaft
 Universal joints
 Differential gearing system
 Rear axle
 Wheel
 Tyres

Figure 1: Automobile transmission system for rear wheel drive

 Figure 2: Typical block diagram of power transmission system in an automobile

1. Engine
Engine is a fundamental part of power transmission system which is responsible for
generating power either from combustion of air fuel mixture or from electric source.
Generally internal combustion engines are famous in most of the vehicles. In internal
combustion engine the air fuel mixture is burnt inside the cylinder and the repeating cycle
of suction, compression, combustion, expansion and exhaust occurs with four stroke for
every single power cycle.
2. Flywheel
A flywheel used in machines serves as a reservoir, which sores energy during the period
when the supply of energy is more than the requirement, and releases it during the period
when the requirement of energy is more than the supply. It is a rotating disc with heavy
mass according to the power generation and is responsible for continuity of driving of
engine system.
3. Clutch
The clutch allows the driver to disengage or engage the engine and manual transmission.
When the clutch pedal is in a released position, the clutch does locking of the engine
flywheel and the transmission input shaft together. This causes engine power to rotate
the transmission gears and rest parts of the drive train to propel the vehicle. When the
driver presses the clutch pedal, then the clutch disengages the flow of power and the
engine turns the transmission input shaft and gears no longer.
4. Gear box / Torque convertors / Transmission box
The transmission uses various gear combinations to multiply the engine speed and the
torque to accommodate driving conditions. Low gear ratios help to allow the vehicle to
accelerate quickly. High gear ratios also permit lower engine speed, providing good gas
mileage. A manual transmission lets the driver change gear ratios to better accommodate
driving conditions. An automatic transmission does not have to be shifted by the driver
as, unlike manual type. It uses an internal hydraulic system and, in most cases, electronic
controls to shift gears. The input shaft of an automatic transmission is connected to the
engine crankshaft through a torque converter (fluid coupling) instead of a clutch.
Gearbox may be of types: constant mesh, sliding mesh, synchromesh types.
5. Propeller shaft
The propeller shaft or drive shaft transfers power from the transmission to the rear axle
assembly. It is made of a hollow metal tube consisting two or more universal (swivel)
joints. The universal joints allow the rear suspension to move up and down without
damaging the drive shaft.
6. Universal joints
Universal joint is also known as cardan joint and U joint. This joint is the point of
connection in a stiff rod which enables the rod to turn in any desired direction in auto
transmission system. In other words universal joint is a joining link between two shafts
that are in a changing position. These automotive transmission parts are one of the earliest
form of flexible couplings that have two shaft yokes located at 90 degrees angle to each
other and a four point cross that fasten the yokes.
7. Differential gearing system
Differential is a device or an equipment that comprises of gears which are attached to the
drive shaft and allows the wheels to rotate at varied speeds. The main purpose of creating
this mechanism is for driving wheels with alike force thereby allowing them to turn at
different speeds. More specifically, differential balances the power between the left and
right drive wheels at the time of cornering i.e. when inside wheels move more slowly
than the outside wheels
8. Rear axle
The rear axle assembly includes a differential and two axles. The differential is a set of
the gears and the shafts that transmit power from the drive shaft to the axles. The axles
are made of steel shafts which connect the differential and drive wheel. From the
differential, the power is transmitted through the rear axles to the driving wheel (rear
wheel drive).All live axle shafts are split into two parts, each of which is driven by one
of the differential gears through a spline connection. Housing completely encloses the
shafts and gears, protecting them from water, dust and injury, in addition to mounting
their inner bearings and providing a container for the lubrication.
9. Wheel
A wheel is a circular component that is intended to rotate on an axle bearing. The road
wheel must be perfectly round and well balanced, strong and light, and able to absorb
hard knocks yet stiff enough to accept the forces applied to it especially when steering.
The rim is the outer edge of a wheel that holds firmly the tire. It makes up the outer
circular structure of the wheel on which an inside edge of the tire is mounted on vehicles.
10. Tyres/Tires
Tires provide traction for moving the vehicle and to assist the brakes in stopping it. They
assist the suspension in absorbing irregularities in the road surface. They also give a safe
and comfortable ride, while providing a good grip on the road at all speed.
With summary the power transmission system in and automobile occurs as shown in
block diagram mentioned below:

Engine Flywheel Clutch Gear box Propeller shaft

Universal Differential Rear

Wheel Tyres
joints gearing system axel
References:
1. https://www.kullabs.com/classes/subjects/units/lessons/notes/note-detail/4231
2. http://www.automotive-online.com/transmission-system/