Wednesday, November 20, 2013
How a Power Train on a Car Works
In its most basic form, a vehicles power train consists of two main systems: the engine and the drivetrain. The engine creates the power, and the drivetrain harnesses it to turn the wheels.
Engine
A gasoline internal combustion engine combines a mist made of air and fuel in its intake manifold. When the intake valves open, a spark plug fires to ignite this mixture, pushing the piston downward to turn the crankshaft. The revolution of the crankshaft pushes the next piston up, and the process repeats to continue the rotational motion.
Transmission
The transmission connects to the engine via a torque converter or a clutch plate or plates, depending on the type of transmission. Power from the engine turns the input shaft and then transfers through the transmissions gears to attain the desired output ratio.
Driveshaft and Differential
In some cars, the differential bolts directly to the transmission in a single housing. In others, it mounts on the rear axle and connects to the transmission via the driveshaft. The differential is responsible for flipping the rotational motion of the driveshaft onto the separate axis of the axle turning the wheels.
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