Propeller Shafts

Functions and Roles

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. The longer the shaft, the more liable it is to bend, and bending is further promoted when rotation is applied causing vibrations and resulting in an increase in noise. For this reason, the propeller shaft has been designed to suppress vibrations arising from a wide range of causes.

Types of Propeller Shafts

Single-piece-type Propeller Shaft
Single-piece-type Propeller Shaft

Vehicle models
Used in vehicles with a short distance between the engine and axles, and MR based four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Characteristics
The friction welding adopted at the junction contributes 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.
 

2-piece-type / 3-piece-type Propeller Shaft
2-piece-type　Propeller Shaft

3-piece-type　Propeller Shaft

Vehicle models
Used in vehicles with a long distance between the engine and axles, and Front engine front drive base four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Characteristics
The division of the propeller shaft into two- or three-parts allows the critical number of revolution to lowered preventing vibration problem from occurring, when the overall length of the shaft increased. The dynamic damper inserted into the pipe reduces the vibration and noise.


SHOWA'S Approach

SHOWA continues to focus on the reduction of vibrations and noise, as well as the reduction of the cost of propeller shafts. As measures for achieving these objectives, are optimization and weight reductions in the construction of our products, as well as a reduction in the number of parts and the introduction of component junctions through friction welding. The high precision and high strength of component junctions become a possibility through the technology of friction welding used on parts such as camshafts, cranks, etc., for interior parts of engine. Propeller shafts with highly precise junctions control the generation of vibrations and noise, and has extremely exceptional balance.