REAR AXLE DRIVES Hotchkiss Drive Torque tube Drive

Hotchkiss Drive

Hotchkiss Drive This type of drive is commonly used on passenger cars and heavy commercial vehicles. This arrangement (Fig) uses two rear leaf springs, which are longitudinally mounted, and are connected to the frame by a ‘fixed’ pivot at the front, and swinging shackles at the rear. A universal joint is mounted at each end of the propeller shaft, with provision for accommodating change in shaft length due to the deflection of the springs. This drive, therefore, incorporates an open propeller shaft with two universal joints and a slip joint.

Hotchkiss Drive

Torque tube Drive

Torque tube Drive This drive system is generally used in passenger cars and Heavy commercial vehicles. Figure illustrates a layout using laminated springs, which are connected to the frame by a swinging shackle at each end. A tubular member called torque-tube, encloses the propeller shaft and is bolted rigidly to the axle casing. The torque-tube is positioned at the front by a ball and socket joint, which is located at the rear of the gearbox or cross-member of the frame. A small-diameter propeller shaft is installed inside the torque tube and splined to the final-drive pinion. A universal joint is installed in the centre of the ball joint to allow for angular deflections of the drive.

Spring take only side thrust Torque tube takes torque reaction, braking torque and driving thrust No need of slip joint

In this design the torque reaction and driving thrust are taken up by the torque tube.