Driveshaft Industry Information
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Driveshafts
A driveshaft is a steel shaft that transmits power in the form of torque
from the transmission to the wheels on a vehicle. In an automobile, two
driveshafts must be connected by a shaft coupling before power can be
transmitted. Shaft couplings provide secure connections between shafts,
wheels, and rotary equipment. In addition, flexible shaft couplings are
used to prevent misalignment, which can be caused by an unbalanced or
bent shaft.
Driveshafts range in length and diameter and consist of
a shaft with an assembly on either end. They are most commonly used in
automobiles to transfer the power from the transmission to the wheels
either through a differential or directly to the wheels, depending on
whether the car is front wheel drive, all wheel drive, or rear wheel
drive. In a four wheel drive vehicle, two piece driveshafts are often
used and are connected with a universal joint.
Driveshafts are also used in motorcycles as an alternative to chain and
belt drives; their function in motorized boats is to connect the
transmission inside the vessel directly to the propeller. Driveshafts
are also often components in semi-trucks, oil rigs, sewage treatment
facilities, windmills, irrigation systems, paper mills, tractors, and
other industrial and agricultural heavy machinery.
Driveshafts
are usually hollow but large in diameter so that they are strong enough
to bear torsion and shear stress, while avoiding too much additional
weight. Typically, high carbon steel is used in the manufacturing of
driveshafts, although this material is very heavy. Aluminum and steel
alloys are being experimented with because they are a strong and
lightweight alternative. New advancements in composite technology are
developing alternatives to driveshaft materials. The most common
polymer matrix composites are fiberglass, carbon fiber, and carbon
fiberglass hybrids. Composites are preferable over steel because they
can operate at higher rotations per minute than steel of the same
dimensions. However, the strengths of some composites are weaker than
steel, and therefore more research is needed to make composite drive
shafts widely available. The most common construction methods for these
important devices are similar to bellow couplings
and include electroforming, chemical deposition, mechanical forming and
welding. Electroformed drive shafts are made by adding layers of metal
on a mandrel until the desired thickness is reached and the mandrel is
melted away to leave behind the shaft. Chemical deposition is a similar
method except that the materials are added by electrodeposition.
Mechanical forming includes roll-forming or extrusion. Welded drive
shafts are made by welding a series of rings or washers on both the
inside and outside until smooth and seamless.
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Drive Shafts – Elbe & Sohn Inc. |
Drive Shafts – Elbe & Sohn Inc. |
Drive Shafts – Elbe & Sohn Inc. |
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Drive Shafts – Elbe & Sohn Inc. |
Drive Shafts – Elbe & Sohn Inc. |