SHAFT

A rod forming part of a machine such as an engine, that turns in order to pass power on to
the machine or a long, narrow part or section forming the handle of a tool or club, the body
of a spear or arrow, or similar. In the language of machine design, a shaft is a rotating machine
element, usually circular in cross section, which is used to transmit power from one part to
another, or from a machine which produces power to a machine which absorbs power. The
various members such as pulleys and gears are mounted on it.

DRIVING SHAFT
The drive shaft is equipped with universal joints to enable it to move up and down and from
side to side. The driving yoke permits the shaft to move from side to side. The driven yoke
allows it to move up and down.

The drive shaft (also called propeller shaft or prop shaft) is a component of the drive train in
a vehicle, with the purpose of delivering torque from the transmission to the differential,
which then transmits this torque to the wheels in order to move the vehicle. The drive shaft
is primarily used to transfer torque between components that are separated by a distance,
since different components must be in different locations in the vehicle. A front-engine rear-
wheel drive car must have a long drive shaft connecting the rear axle to the transmission since
these parts are on opposite sides of the car.

Drive shafts are used differently in different vehicles, varying greatly in cars with distinct
configurations for front-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, and the previously mentioned front-
engine rear-wheel drive. Other vehicles also use drive shafts, like motorcycles, locomotives,
and marine vessels. Below is the drive shaft configuration for a common front-engine rear-
wheel drive vehicle (some cars have the transmission at the back).

CRANK SHAFT
Combustion of the fuel-air mixture in the engine produces power. This power is transformed
into rotary movement of the crankshaft.

Combustion of the fuel-air mixture in the engine produces power. This power is transformed
into rotary movement of the crankshaft. The linear motion of the pistons is converted by way
of the connecting rod into a Crankshaft torque and is then passed to the flywheel.

The crankshaft has to withstand considerable loads in this process. On the one hand it is
subjected to severe bending and torsional stress. Further loads arise from torsional vibration,
as the rotary movement of the crankshaft is constantly being abruptly accelerated and
decelerated. The bearings are also subject to a high degree of wear.

CRANKSHAFT DESIGN AND COMPONENTS

To be able to withstand wear and the strain of rotary movement, crankshafts need to have a
hard surface and a tough core. For this reason, crankshafts are often forged. Alloyed heat-
treated steel or nitride steel is used as raw material. The crankshaft journals are also surface-
hardened.

A crankshaft comprises the following components:

 Main journals
 Crank pins
 Crank webs
 Counterweights

Main journals run in the main bearings and define the axis of rotation of the shaft. The
connecting rods are connected to the crank pins. Crank webs connect the crank pins to the
main journals. The counterweights provide balancing and are attached to the webs.

The design of the crankshaft is determined by the firing order of the engine, the number of
cylinders, the design of the engine, the size of the stroke and the number of crankshaft
bearings.

Height-adjustable crankshaft mounting – using an eccentrically mounted crankshaft bearing

for example – makes it possible to achieve variable compression. The advantage of variable
compression is that fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 25 per cent in the part load
range.