C H A P T E R 1 3POWER TRAINSCHAPTER LEARNING OBJECTIVESUpon completion of this chapter, you should be able to do the following:lExplain the mechanism of a power train.In chapter 12 we saw how a combination of simplemachines and basic mechanisms was used inconstructing the internal combustion engine. In thischapter we will learn how the power developed by theengine is transmitted to perform the work required of it.We will demonstrate the power train system used inautomobiles and most trucks in our discussion. As westudy the application of power trains, again look for thesimple machines that make up each of the machines ormechanisms.AUTOMOTIVE POWER TRAINSIn a vehicle, the mechanism that transmits the powerof the engine to the wheels or tracks and accessoryequipment is called the power train. In a simplesituation, a set of gears or a chain and sprocket couldperform this task, but automotive and constructionvehicles are not usually designed for such simpleoperating conditions. They are designed to have greatpulling power, to move at high speeds, to travel inreverse as well as forward, and to operate on roughterrain as well as smooth roads. To meet these widelyvarying demands, vehicles require several additionalaccessory units.The power trains of automobiles and light trucksdriven by the two rear wheels consist of a clutch, atransmission, a propeller shaft, a differential, anddriving axles (fig. 13-1).Four- and six-wheel drive trucks have transfer caseswith additional drive shafts and live axles. Tractors,shovels, cranes, and other heavy-duty vehicles thatmove on tracks also have similar power trains. Inaddition to assemblies that drive sprockets to move thetracks, these vehicles also have auxiliary transmissionsFigure 13-1.-Type of power transmission.13-1
Integrated Publishing, Inc. - A (SDVOSB) Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business