What are the types of final drives?
2 Answers
There are several types of final drives: 1. Two-stage reduction gear: It features an additional intermediate gear. The left side of the driving bevel gear meshes with the bevel gear portion of the intermediate gear, while a small-diameter spur gear on the same shaft as the bevel gear meshes with the driven gear. 2. Single-stage reduction gear: It consists of a driving bevel gear and a driven bevel gear. The driving bevel gear connects to the drive shaft and rotates clockwise, with the driven bevel gear positioned to its right. The meshing point rotates downward, aligning with the forward direction of the wheels. The function of the final drive is to further reduce the speed of the power output from the transmission to increase torque, before transferring the power to the differential.
In my over ten years of car experience, I've seen quite a variety of final drive types. The final drive plays a crucial role in the drivetrain system, reducing the engine's rotational speed and torque before transmitting it to the wheels. Common types include bevel gear designs like the hypoid gear used in rear-wheel drive vehicles, which delivers direct power transfer but can be noisy; cylindrical gear designs often found in front-wheel drive vehicles, such as helical gears that offer compact packaging ideal for city driving; and worm gear setups specifically for heavy trucks, providing torque multiplication at slightly reduced efficiency. They also differ in stages - single-stage being widely used in regular passenger cars, while dual-stage suits off-road vehicles or models requiring high reduction ratios. Each type selection impacts vehicle performance and responsiveness - wrong choices may cause sluggish acceleration. During maintenance, gear oil inspection and regular replacement are essential. My old car once had issues due to mismatched worm gears, making repairs quite challenging.
