Automotive Power Train

Motor Vehicles:
A motor vehicle is a self-propelled road vehicle, commonly wheeled, that does not
operate on rails, such as trains or trams. The vehicle propulsion is provided by an engine or
motor, usually by an internal combustion engine, or an electric motor, or some combination
of the two, such as hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. For legal purposes motor
vehicles are often identified within a number of vehicle classes including cars, buses,
motorcycles, off-road vehicles, light trucks and regular trucks. These classifications vary
according to the legal codes of each country.
Motor vehicles are used for transporting goods and / or passengers or fulfilling
specific functions on land. Motor vehicles are supported by the ground, as contrasted with
aircraft and marine craft that in operation are supported by air or water.

Classification of Automobiles:
Automobiles can be classified into several types based on many criteria. A brief classification
of automobiles is listed below:

1. Based on Purpose :

Passenger vehicles: These vehicles carry passengers. e.g: Buses, Cars, passenger
trains.
Goods vehicles: These vehicles carry goods from one place to another place. e.g:
Goods lorry, Goods carrier.
Special Purpose: These vehicles include Ambulance, Fire engines, Army
Vehicles.

2. Based on Load Capacity:

Light duty vehicle: Small motor vehicles. eg: Car, jeep, Scooter, motor cycle
Heavy duty vehicle: large and bulky motor vehicles. e.g: Bus, Truck, Tractor

3. Based on fuel used:

Petrol engine vehicles : Automobiles powered by petrol engine. e.g: scooters,

cars, motorcycles.
Diesel engine vehicles : Automobiles powered by diesel engine. e.g: Trucks,
Buses, Tractors.

Gas vehicles : Vehicles that use gas turbine as power source. e.g: Turbine
powered cars.
Electric vehicles : Automobiles that use electricity as a power source. e.g:
Electric cars, electric buses.
Steam Engine vehicles : Automobiles powered by steam engine. e.g:
Steamboat, steam locomotive, steam wagon.

4. Based on Drive of the vehicles:

Left Hand drive : Steering wheel fitted on left hand side.

Right Hand drive : Steering wheel fitted on right hand side.

5. Based on number of wheels and axles:

Two wheeler : motor cycles, scooters

Three wheeler : Tempo, auto-rickshaws
Four wheeler : car, Jeep, Bus, truck
Six wheeler : Buses and trucks have six tires out of which four are carried on the
rear wheels for additional reaction.
Six axle wheeler : Dodge(10 tire) vehicle

6. Based on type of transmission:

Automatic transmission vehicles: Automobiles that are capable of changing

gear ratios automatically as they move. e.g: Automatic Transmission Cars.
Manual transmission vehicles: Automobiles whose gear ratios have to be
changed manually.
Semi-automatic transmission vehicles: Vehicles that facilitate manual gear
changing with clutch pedal.

7. Based on Suspension system used:

Convectional Leaf Spring

Independent Coil spring, Torsion bar, Pneumatic.

The basic systems/ Parts of automobiles

Power plant: Engine
Drive train: Clutch, gear Box, Propeller Shaft and Differential
Electrical System: Ignition, Starting, Lighting and battery
Wheels and tires
Suspension System
Steering System
Braking System

Power train
In a motor vehicle, the term power train or power plant describes the main
components that generate power and deliver it to the road surface this includes
the engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, and the final drive.

I C Engine
An internal combustion engine (ICE) is a heat engine where the combustion of a
fuel occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber that is an integral part of
the working fluid flow circuit. In an internal combustion engine the expansion of the hightemperature and high-pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some
component of the engine. The force is applied typically to pistons. This force moves the
component over a distance, transforming chemical energy into useful mechanical energy.

Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device that engages and disengages the power transmission,
especially from driving shaft to driven shaft. Clutches are used whenever the transmission of
power or motion must be controlled either in amount or over time. In the simplest
application, clutches connect and disconnect two rotating shafts (drive shafts or line shafts).
In these devices, one shaft is typically attached to an engine or other power unit (the driving
member) while the other shaft (the driven member) provides output power for work. While
typically the motions involved are rotary.
Automotive clutch is used to connect and disconnect the engine and manual transmission or
transaxle which allows the driver to control power flow between the engine and transmission
or transaxle, clutch operats by Friction principle

Types of clutch
Clutch

Jaw Clutch

Friction
Clutch

Hydraulic
Clutch

Plate
Clutch

Cone
Clutch

Centrifugal
Clutch

Single
Plate clutch
Multi Plate
Clutch

Gear box:
A transmission (gear box) is a machine that consists of a power source and a power
transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Often the term
transmission refers simply to the gearbox that uses gears and gear trains to provide
speed and torque conversions from a rotating power source to another device In motor
vehicles, the transmission generally is connected to the engine crankshaft via a flywheel
and/or clutch and/or fluid coupling, partly because internal combustion engines cannot run
below a particular speed. The output of the transmission is transmitted via the driveshaft to
one or more differentials

Types of Transmission
Manual Transmission
Sliding Mesh Gearbox
Constant Mesh Gearbox
With Dog Clutch
With Synchromesh
Automatic Transmission (AT)
Continuously variable Transmission (CVT)
Infinitely Variable Transmission (IVT)
Manual transmissions come in two basic types:

A simple but rugged sliding-mesh or unsynchronized/non-synchronous system, where

straight-cut spur gear sets spin freely, and must be synchronized by the operator matching
engine revs to road speed, to avoid noisy and damaging clashing of the gears

The now common constant-mesh gearboxes, which can include non-synchronised,

or synchronized/synchromesh systems, where typically diagonal cut helical (or
sometimes either straight-cut, or double-helical) gear sets are constantly "meshed"
together, and a dog clutch is used for changing gears. On synchromesh boxes, friction
cones or "synchro-rings" are used in addition to the dog clutch to closely match the

rotational speeds of the two sides of the (declutched) transmission before making a full
mechanical engagement.

Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission, also called auto, self-shifting transmission, is a type
of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves,
freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually. Like other transmission systems on
vehicles, it allows an internal combustion engine, best suited to run at a relatively
high rotational speed, to provide a range of speed and torque outputs necessary for vehicular
travel. The number of forward gear ratios is often expressed for manual transmissions as well
(e.g.,6-speed

manual).

The

most

popular

form

found

in automobiles is

the hydraulic automatic transmission. Similar but larger devices are also used for heavy-duty
commercial and industrial vehicles and equipment. This system uses a fluid coupling in place
of a friction clutch, and accomplishes gear changes by locking and unlocking a system
of planetary gears

Propeller shaft:
An automobile may use

longitudinal

shaft

to

deliver

power

from

an

engine/transmission to the other end of the vehicle before it goes to the wheels. A pair of
short drive shafts is commonly used to send power from a central differential, transmission,

or transaxle to the wheels. A drive shaft, driveshaft, driving shaft, propeller shaft is a
mechanical component for transmitting torque and rotation, usually used to connect other
components of a drive train that cannot be connected directly because of distance or the need
to allow for relative movement between them. As torque carriers, drive shafts are subject
to torsion and shear stress, equivalent to the difference between the input torque and the load.
They must therefore be strong enough to bear the stress,

Several different types of drive shaft are used in the automotive industry:

One-piece drive shaft

Two-piece drive shaft

Slip-in-tube drive shaft

The slip-in-tube drive shaft is a new type that improves crash safety. It can be compressed to
absorb energy in the event of a crash, so is also known as a collapsible drive shaft.

Differential
A differential is a particular type of simple planetary gear train that has the property
that the angular velocity of its carrier is the average of the angular velocities of its sun and
annular gears. This is accomplished by packaging the gear train so it has a fixed carrier train
ratio, which means the gears corresponding to the sun and annular gears are the same size.
This can be done by engaging the planet gears of two identical and coaxial epicyclic gear
trains to form a spur gear differential. Another approach is to use bevel gears for the sun and
annular gears and a bevel gear as the planet, which is known as a bevel gear differential.

In automobiles, the differential allows the outer drive wheel to rotate faster than the
inner drive wheel during a turn. This is necessary when the vehicle turns, making the wheel
that is travelling around the outside of the turning curve roll farther and faster than the other.
The average of the rotational speed of the two driving wheels equals the input rotational
speed of the drive shaft. An increase in the speed of one wheel is balanced by a decrease in
the speed of the other.
A differential consists of one input, the drive shaft, and two outputs which are the
two drive wheels, however the rotation of the drive wheels are coupled by their connection to
the roadway. Under normal conditions, with small tyre slip, the ratio of the speeds of the two
driving wheels is defined by the ratio of the radii of the paths around which the two wheels
are rolling, which in turn is determined by the track-width of the vehicle (the distance
between the driving wheels) and the radius of the turn.

Brake System:
A brake is a mechanical device that inhibits motion, slowing or stopping a moving object or
preventing its motion. Most brakes commonly use friction between two surfaces pressed
together to convert the kinetic energy of the moving object into heat.

Drum Brake
A drum brake is a vehicle brake in which the friction is caused by a set of brake shoes that
press against the inner surface of a rotating drum. The drum is connected to the rotating road
wheel hub.

Disc brake

The disc brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a road wheel. A brake disc,
usually made of cast ironor ceramic, is connected to the wheel or the axle. To stop the
wheel, friction material in the form of brake pads (mounted in a device called a brake caliper)

is forced mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically or electromagnetically against both sides

of the disc. Friction causes the disc and attached wheel to slow or stop.

The most important types of braking energy are

Pneumatic
Hydraulic
Mechanical
Muscles power of the driver

Characteristics of brake
Brakes are often described according to several characteristics including:

Peak force The peak force is the maximum decelerating effect that can be obtained.
The peak force is often greater than the traction limit of the tires, in which case the brake
can cause a wheel skid.

Continuous power dissipation Brakes typically get hot in use, and fail when the
temperature gets too high. The greatest amount of power (energy per unit time) that can
be dissipated through the brake without failure is the continuous power dissipation.
Continuous power dissipation often depends on e.g., the temperature and speed of
ambient cooling air.

Fade As a brake heats, it may become less effective, called brake fade. Some designs
are inherently prone to fade, while other designs are relatively immune. Further, use
considerations, such as cooling, often have a big effect on fade.

Smoothness A brake that is grabby, pulses, has chatter, or otherwise exerts varying
brake force may lead to skids. For example, railroad wheels have little traction, and
friction brakes without an anti-skid mechanism often lead to skids, which increases
maintenance costs and leads to a "thump thump" feeling for riders inside.

Power Brakes are often described as "powerful" when a small human application force
leads to a braking force that is higher than typical for other brakes in the same class. This
notion of "powerful" does not relate to continuous power dissipation, and may be

confusing in that a brake may be "powerful" and brake strongly with a gentle brake
application, yet have lower (worse) peak force than a less "powerful" brake.

Pedal feel Brake pedal feel encompasses subjective perception of brake power output
as a function of pedal travel. Pedal travel is influenced by the fluid displacement of the
brake and other factors.

Drag Brakes have varied amount of drag in the off-brake condition depending on
design of the system to accommodate total system compliance and deformation that
exists under braking with ability to retract friction material from the rubbing surface in
the off-brake condition.

Durability Friction brakes have wear surfaces that must be renewed periodically. Wear
surfaces include the brake shoes or pads, and also the brake disc or drum. There may be
tradeoffs, for example a wear surface that generates high peak force may also wear
quickly.

Weight Brakes are often "added weight" in that they serve no other function. Further,
brakes are often mounted on wheels, and unsprung weight can significantly hurt traction
in some circumstances. "Weight" may mean the brake itself, or may include additional
support structure.

Noise Brakes usually create some minor noise when applied, but often create squeal or
grinding noises that are quite loud.