The drive shaft is a high-speed, less-supporting rotating body, so its dynamic balance is crucial. Generally, the drive shaft is tested for dynamic balance before leaving the factory, and adjusted on the balancer. For front-engine rear-wheel-drive cars, the transmission’s rotation is transmitted to the shaft of the main reducer, which can be several sections, and the joints can be connected by universal joints.
By elasticity Drive shafts can be classified differently according to their important components, the universal joints. If there is obvious elasticity of the universal joint in the torsion direction, it can be divided into a rigid universal joint drive shaft and a flexible universal joint drive shaft. 1. Rigid universal joint: The hinged connection of parts transmits power. 2. Torsion universal joint: It transmits power by elastic parts and has the function of buffering and damping.
By angular rate Rigid universal joints can be further divided into unequal velocity universal joints (such as cross shaft universal joints), quasi constant velocity universal joints (such as double joint universal joints, three pin universal joints) and constant velocity Universal joints (such as ball cage universal joints, ball fork universal joints). Constant speed and unequal speed refer to whether the rotational angular velocity of the driven shaft and the driven shaft are equal when the driven shaft rotates. Of course, the average speeds of the driven shaft and the driven shaft are equal. 1. Constant velocity universal joint: The universal joints whose angular velocities between the master and slave axes change when the angle between the two axes changes are called constant velocity joints or constant angular velocity joints. They are mainly used in wheel transmissions such as steering axles, disconnected axles, etc., and are mainly used for power transmission in cars. 2. Unequal velocity universal joint: The universal joints where the angular velocity of the master and driven shafts are unequal when the angle between the two axes changes are called unequal velocity joints, and are also called cross shaft joints. Cross shaft rigid universal joint drive shafts are the most widely used and have the longest history in automotive powertrains. When the car is driven by rear wheels, a cross-shaft universal joint drive shaft is often used. For some high-end cars, constant speed ball joints are also used; when the car is driven by front wheels, constant speed universal joints are often used-etc. Super universal joints are also a type of drive shaft, but they have different names. The transmission shaft usually refers to a cross-shaft rigid universal joint transmission shaft. Cross shaft rigid universal joints are mainly used to transmit angle changes. Generally, flanged forks, cross shaft needle roller bearing assemblies, universal joint forks or sliding forks, intermediate connecting forks or spline shaft forks, needle bearings Axial fixings. The flange fork is a fork-shaped part with a flange. Generally, forged parts of medium carbon steel or medium carbon alloy steel are used. There are also sand castings made of ductile iron and precision castings of medium carbon steel or medium carbon high-quality alloy steel. The flange fork generally has a flat flange, and there is also a trapezoidal tooth flange with an end face. Cross shaft needle roller bearing assemblies generally include four needle bearings, a cross shaft, and a grease nipple. Needle roller bearings generally consist of several needle rollers, a bearing bowl, and a multi-edge rubber oil seal (some with a skeleton). In some needle roller bearings, there is a circular gasket with an oil groove, either nylon, or copper or other materials. It is mainly used to reduce the axial clearance of the universal joint and improve the dynamic balance quality of the drive shaft. . The universal joint fork is a fork-shaped part, generally using forged parts of medium carbon steel or medium carbon alloy steel, and also precision casting parts using medium carbon steel. The axial fixing parts of needle roller bearings are generally elastic retaining rings (inside and outside card type) for holes (or shafts), or bearing pressure plates, lock plates, bolts, etc.
The drive shaft is an important part of the power transmission in the automobile drive train. Its role is to transmit the power of the engine to the wheels together with the gearbox and drive axle, so that the car generates driving force.
Special-purpose vehicle drive shafts are mainly used in tanker trucks, fuel trucks, sprinkler trucks, sewage suction trucks, manure suction trucks, fire trucks, high-pressure cleaning trucks, road wreckers, aerial work trucks, garbage trucks and other vehicles.