Power for the propulsion of a car is derived from the engine. The generated power is usually available at the crankshaft, as a combination of speed (3,000 - 4,000 crankshaft revolutions per minute for a petrol engine) and torque.
The power must be made available to the road wheels. This is accomplished by what is called the transmission system of a vehicle. Front engine rear wheel, front engine front wheel drive and rear engine rear wheel drive shows different transmission systems for vehicles. The transmission system for a vehicle with a front engine, rear wheel drive consist of a clutch, a gear box , a propeller shaft and a rear axle. This arrangement is very popular. However , most care are now coming with front engine wheel drive. Rear engine rear wheel drive is to be found in a typical Volkswagen beetle car. In the transmission system of the range rover, the torque splitter splits the torque generated by the engine between the rear axle and the front axle.
It is worth noting that the transmission systems do not have propeller shaft as in the case of others. The elimination of propeller shaft gives more space for a compact car like the Volkswagen beetle.
Common to all the transmission systems are the gearbox and the clutch. The gearbox is placed between the engine crankshaft and the driving road wheels.
It is , however, practically impossible to engage a rotating gear, which is transmitting torque, with a stationary or slower running gear as it is often required during gear change.
Such an attempt can only damage the gears. The main function of a clutch is to interrupt the transmission f crankshaft torque to the gearbox. The clutch is designed to join together or disconnect Twp shafts running at different speeds. In the case of a motor vehicle transmission, the two shafts are the the engine crankshaft and the gear box shaft.
The hydraulic system consists of a clutch pedal, a master cylinder, a slave cylinder , a flexible hose and piping.
The control arm is rotated clockwise or anti clockwise to disengage or engage the clutch. This is achieved by a release mechanism operated by the driver pressing the clutch pedal. Hydraulic clutch control system shows a mechanical system consisting of a clutch pedal and linkages to increase and transmit the pedal force. The hydraulic fluids transmits and increases the pedal force exerted by the driver. The increased force is then used to turn the control arm.
