MACHINE ELEMENTS 1

POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN

MOTOR VEHICLES

• Crank
• Clutch
• Gear Box
• Shaft
• Differential
• Axle
• Couplings
Rear-Wheel-Drive
Front-Wheel-Drive
 CRANK (CRANKSHAFT)
The crankshaft or crank is the part of an engine that translates
reciprocating piston motion into rotation. To convert the reciprocating
motion into rotation, the crankshaft has "crank throws" or “crackpins",
additional bearing surfaces whose axis is offset from that of the crank, to
which the "big ends" of the connecting rods from each cylinder attach.

VIDEO
 CLUTCH
Clutch is a device for quickly and easily connecting or disconnecting a
pair of rotatable coaxial shafts. Clutches are usually placed between the
driving motor and the input shaft to a machine and provide a convenient
means for starting and stopping the machine and permitting the driving
motor or engine to be started in an unloaded state (as in an automobile).

VIDEO
 GEAR BOX
Gears are toothed wheel smashed together to transmit motion and force.
The gear unit is housed in a casing and generally forms an assembly
including the clutch bell and the engine. The individual parts are screwed to
each other.

VIDEO
 SHAFT

Shaft is a mechanical component for transmitting torque and

rotation from a motor or an engine to a point or region of
application.

Shaft
 DIFFERENTIAL
When the vehicle goes straight ahead, the driven wheels turn at equal
speed. The differential gears do not rotate but serve only as a coupling
between the rotating differential casing which makes a circular movement,
i.e. they rotate together with the differential casing. When the vehicle goes
through a corner or curve, the differential casing continues to rotate at the
same speed. Since the inner wheel has to travel a shorter distance than
the outer wheel, its speed is reduced as compared to the differential
casing, with the differential gears rotating around their axes rolling on the
bevel gear lagging behind.

VIDEO
 AXLE
An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. An axle that is
driven by the engine is called a drive axle. The drive car axle is a split
axle with a differential and universal joints between the two half axles.
Each half axle is connected to the wheel by using a constant velocity
joint. This allows the wheel assembly to move freely in the vertical
direction as well as to rotate when making turns.

Drive axle Axle

Differential
Whole system video
 COUPLINGS
A coupling is a device used to connect two shafts together
at their ends for the purpose of transmitting power.
The primary purpose of couplings is to join two pieces of
rotating equipment while permitting some degree of
misalignment or end movement or both.
Shaft couplings are used in machinery for several purposes:

•To provide for the connection of different parts of shafts

•To provide for misalignment of shafts or to introduce
mechanical flexibility.
•To reduce the transmission of shock loads from one shaft to
another.
•To introduce protection against overloads.
•To alter the vibration characteristics of rotating units.
•To connect driving and the driven part.
 Main Coupling Types

1. Rigid couplings
2. Sleeve couplings
3. Clamp (split-muff) couplings
4. Flexible couplings
5. Beam couplings
6. Gear couplings
 Rigid Couplings

A rigid coupling is a unit of hardware used to join two shafts

within a motor or mechanical system.
It may also be used to connect two separate systems, such
as a motor and a generator
 Sleeve Couplings
• Sleeve couplings are also known as Box Couplings.
• A sleeve coupling consists of a pipe whose bore is
finished to the required tolerance based on the shaft
size.
 Clamp (split-muff) couplings

A clamp coupling is different from the sleeve coupling in

that the sleeve used in this type is split from one side.
The shafts are entered and keyed to this sleeve and then
split sides are screwed together.
 Flexible Couplings

• Flexible couplings are used to transmit torque from one shaft to

another when the two shafts are slightly misaligned.
• They can tolerate misalignments up to 3°.
• In addition, they can also be used for vibration damping or noise
reduction.

Flexible
points
 Beam Couplings

A beam coupling, also known as helical coupling, is a

flexible coupling for transmitting torque between two shafts
while allowing for angular misalignment, parallel offset and
even axial motion, of one shaft relative to the other.
 Gear Couplings

A gear coupling is a mechanical device for

transmitting torque between two shafts that are not
collinear.