PROPELLER SHAFT
ER. PEEYUSH CHAUHAN
(DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING)
“Propeller shaft is a circular shaft which is used to transmit the
power or rotational motion from the gear box to the final drive.”
The propeller shaft as the name suggest “ propels the vehicle.”
It also includes the U- joints and slip or slider joint to
adjust the length of a shaft when the vehicle is on bump.
The propeller shaft is inclined at an particular angle for
the length adjustment with the help of U-joints and slip
joint.
The propeller shaft performs the following two
functions:-
1. To receive the power from the gear box output shaft &
without any change in speed transmit to the input shaft
of the differential for onward transmission to the rear
axle & wheels.
2. To cope with the difference in line with the level of the
gear box output shaft & the differential input pinion
shaft.
Front Wheel Drive
Rear Wheel Drive
Four (All)Wheel Drive
❑High torsional strength: Therefore, they are made
of solid or hollow circular cross section
❑Toughened and hardened: Therefore, they are
made of superior quality steel and are induction
hardened
❑Efficiently jointed: Therefore they are generally
welded by submerged are carbon dioxide welding
process.
Requirement of Propeller Shaft
❑Dynamically balanced: Since the phenomenon of
whirling may be critical at higher speeds, therefore,
propeller shafts are tested on electronic balancing
machine.
❑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.
1. Torque Tube type Propeller Shaft
2. Hotchkiss Type Propeller Shaft
1. Torque Tube type Propeller Shaft –
A torque tube is a large diameter tube fastened securely to
the rear axle housing & completely enclosing the propeller
shaft. In torque drive, the propeller shaft is enclosed in a
hollow tube.
The torque tube are fitted into a spherical ball & socket
surrounding one universal joint at transmission end.
TYPES OF PROPELLER SHAFT
Question:- An automobile engine develops 25 KW power
while turning 1500 rev/min & having its bottom gear
ratio of 3. the tubular propeller shaft is of 40 mm outer
diameter & its made of mild steel with safe shearing stress
of 0.5x105 KPa. Calculate the inside diameter of shaft
tubing. Neglecting bending moment of shaft.
Solution:- we know power develop in watt
P=2𝜋NT
25x1000 = 2𝜋(1500/60)T
T= 159.4 Nm
Torque to be transmitted by propeller shaft
T𝑡 = Torque of engine x Gear ratio
=159.4 x 3 = 477.6
Invoking the torsion equation
𝑇𝑡
𝐼 𝑝
=
𝜎𝑠
𝑟0
477.6
π
32
(d0
4−di
4
)
=
0.5X105
0.04/2
(d0
4
−di
4
) =
32X477.2X0.02
0.5𝑋108𝑋𝑝
=1.95x10-6 m4
=1.95x106 mm4
di
4
= 404 − 1.95x106 = 0.61x106 mm4
di =
4
0.61𝑋106 = 27.95mm Answer
2. Hotchkiss Type Propeller Shaft-
In this type of propeller shaft the driving & braking
torque are absorbed through the front half of the rear leaf
spring. Hotchkiss drive are mostly used in all the cars &
trucks now day. Its cheaper & give satisfactory result.
The Hotchkiss drive consists of a leaf spring and a
propeller shaft with two universal joints and one sliding
joint. The front end of the leaf spring is pivoted in pin of
bracket which is bolted to the vehicle frame while rear end
of the leaf spring is supported in swinging shackle with
antifriction bush material.
Propeller shaft
Propeller shaft

Propeller shaft

  • 1.
    PROPELLER SHAFT ER. PEEYUSHCHAUHAN (DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING)
  • 2.
    “Propeller shaft isa circular shaft which is used to transmit the power or rotational motion from the gear box to the final drive.” The propeller shaft as the name suggest “ propels the vehicle.” It also includes the U- joints and slip or slider joint to adjust the length of a shaft when the vehicle is on bump. The propeller shaft is inclined at an particular angle for the length adjustment with the help of U-joints and slip joint.
  • 3.
    The propeller shaftperforms the following two functions:- 1. To receive the power from the gear box output shaft & without any change in speed transmit to the input shaft of the differential for onward transmission to the rear axle & wheels. 2. To cope with the difference in line with the level of the gear box output shaft & the differential input pinion shaft.
  • 6.
  • 7.
  • 8.
  • 9.
    ❑High torsional strength:Therefore, they are made of solid or hollow circular cross section ❑Toughened and hardened: Therefore, they are made of superior quality steel and are induction hardened ❑Efficiently jointed: Therefore they are generally welded by submerged are carbon dioxide welding process. Requirement of Propeller Shaft
  • 10.
    ❑Dynamically balanced: Sincethe phenomenon of whirling may be critical at higher speeds, therefore, propeller shafts are tested on electronic balancing machine. ❑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.
  • 11.
    1. Torque Tubetype Propeller Shaft 2. Hotchkiss Type Propeller Shaft 1. Torque Tube type Propeller Shaft – A torque tube is a large diameter tube fastened securely to the rear axle housing & completely enclosing the propeller shaft. In torque drive, the propeller shaft is enclosed in a hollow tube. The torque tube are fitted into a spherical ball & socket surrounding one universal joint at transmission end. TYPES OF PROPELLER SHAFT
  • 13.
    Question:- An automobileengine develops 25 KW power while turning 1500 rev/min & having its bottom gear ratio of 3. the tubular propeller shaft is of 40 mm outer diameter & its made of mild steel with safe shearing stress of 0.5x105 KPa. Calculate the inside diameter of shaft tubing. Neglecting bending moment of shaft. Solution:- we know power develop in watt P=2𝜋NT 25x1000 = 2𝜋(1500/60)T T= 159.4 Nm Torque to be transmitted by propeller shaft T𝑡 = Torque of engine x Gear ratio =159.4 x 3 = 477.6
  • 14.
    Invoking the torsionequation 𝑇𝑡 𝐼 𝑝 = 𝜎𝑠 𝑟0 477.6 π 32 (d0 4−di 4 ) = 0.5X105 0.04/2 (d0 4 −di 4 ) = 32X477.2X0.02 0.5𝑋108𝑋𝑝 =1.95x10-6 m4 =1.95x106 mm4 di 4 = 404 − 1.95x106 = 0.61x106 mm4 di = 4 0.61𝑋106 = 27.95mm Answer
  • 15.
    2. Hotchkiss TypePropeller Shaft- In this type of propeller shaft the driving & braking torque are absorbed through the front half of the rear leaf spring. Hotchkiss drive are mostly used in all the cars & trucks now day. Its cheaper & give satisfactory result. The Hotchkiss drive consists of a leaf spring and a propeller shaft with two universal joints and one sliding joint. The front end of the leaf spring is pivoted in pin of bracket which is bolted to the vehicle frame while rear end of the leaf spring is supported in swinging shackle with antifriction bush material.