Functions and Roles
Where the engine and axles are separated from each other, as on four-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive vehicles, it is the propeller shaft that serves to transmit the drive force generated by the engine to the axles.
For its usage, the optimal shaft is a short, bar-like product. The longer the bar, the more liable it is to sag, and sagging is further promoted when rotation is applied. Sagging causes vibration and results in an increase in noise.
Propeller shaft is designed to suppress vibrations arising from a wide range of causes.
SHOWA's Approach
SHOWA is making every effort to reduce the vibration, noise, weight, and cost of propeller shafts. Some of the means of accomplishing the objectives reside in the structural optimization, reduction in the weight and number of components, and the introduction of the joining of components by friction welding. Friction welding is a technique that is also used in the manufacture of camshafts, cranks, and other internal precision parts of engines, as it allows component parts to be joined with high precision and high strength. Accurately joined propeller shafts offer excellent balance and suppress the production of vibration and noise.
Types of SHOW's Propeller Shafts
Single-piece-type Propeller Shaft
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Vehicle models: This type is used in vehicles with a short distance between the engine and axles, MR base four-wheel-drive vehicles. Characteristics:The friction welding adopted at the junction has contributed to an improvement in the strength, quality, and durability of the junction. A reduction in the number of component parts and in the weight has been achieved. |
Two-piece-type/Three-piece-type Propeller Shaft
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Vehicle models: This type is used in vehicles with a long distance between the engine and axles, Front engine front drive base four-wheel-drive vehicles, and the like. Characteristics: The division of the propeller shaft into two parts has allowed the critical speed to be prevented from falling and the vibration problem from occurring, which would otherwise be the case when the overall length of the shaft is increased. The dynamic damper inserted into the pipe reduces the vibration and noise. A reduction in the number of component parts and in the weight has been achieved. |
