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Typical Drivetrain Components
The function of your drivetrain is to convert the power generated
by the engine, and provide the thrust to make your car move. The
power and torque available from the engine will vary depending on the
speed at which it is operating. The powertrain, through changes
in gear, will adapt the available torque, required by the driver, and
put it to the ground.
for example, if the load on the vehicle is increased (going up a
hill or adding payload), then additional torque is required.
This is obtained through the downshifting of the transmission.
Transmission - This is the part of your vehicle that gives
you the ability to change gears, thus alter the amount of torque
available to you. Gear changes can be manually operated by the
driver, as often found in sports cars, European cars and large trucks.
They can also be automatic, requiring no driver input, these will be
familiar to most people and are found in the vast majority of cars and
light trucks in North America.
Differential - When a car goes around a corner, the outside
tire covers a greater distance than the inside tire does. Since
these happen in the same time frame, it means that the outside tire
must be able to rotate faster. The differential allows this to
occur. On rear wheel drive cars, this component is found between
the two rear wheels.
Transaxle - This is a combination of a transmission and a
differential. It is compact and is used in situations where the
drive wheels are at the same end of the car as the engine, as in front
wheel drive cars.
Transfer Case - This is a gear box that is used to transfer
torque to a second drivetrain. A common example of this is a
four wheel drive vehicle.
Power Converter - This is more commonly known as a power
take off (PTO). It is used to transfer power to a secondary item
that has nothing to do with moving the vehicle. An example would
be using a PTO on a tractor to run a piece of auxiliary farm
equipment.
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