Sunday, May 11, 2014
Why Is a Drive Shaft Hollow
The drive shaft is a long rod or tube used to carry rotational force from a vehicles engine to the wheels. Drive shafts vary in size, configuration and features. One variation is a hollow drive shaft, used for several reasons.
Rotational Inertia
The engine would have to power the rotation of a solid piece of metal. With a hollow drive shaft, there is less mass for the engine to push and the force it produces is able to accelerate the drive train faster.
Low Cost
Making a hollow drive shaft uses less material than a solid one. With some good engineering, manufacturers can make hollow drive shafts with the same structural integrity as their solid counterparts. The saved material lowers the cost.
Fuel Efficiency
Because of the reduced rotational inertia, the engine can get the same push with less work. This translates into fuel efficiency. With less material to push, it takes less fuel to get the same acceleration.
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