i Radiator Radiator fan ue ! Engine WheeltTyre Front axle Universal joint Gear box: a Silencer. Propeller shaft—}—> | Unera fit Leaf spring =) je Chassis ie er ae biferenlSteerngw {a) Side view Air reservoir Propeller A ° \ clutch ems Fuel tank earbox (©) Upper view Fig. 1.2: Truck chassi Functions of Chassis: 1. To support the load of the body, engine, clutch and gear box etc. 2. To withstand the forces caused due to le the sudden braking and acceleration of the ae ; 3, To withstand the bending load and twisting due to the rise and fall of the front an axles. 4, To carry the load of the passengers or goods carried In the body. 5. To withstand the stresses caused due to the bad road condition. Requirements of Automobile Chassis: 1. The body should be light in weight. 2. It should have minimum number of components. 3. It should withstand vibrations while in motion. 4. It should have uniformly distributed load. 5. It should be cheap and easy in manufacturing, 6. It should offer minimum resistance to air. 7. It should have long fatigue life. ee a‘Automobile Engineering (T.Y. Dip. Sem. VI) 15 Introduotion to Automobil Types of Vehicle Layout (chassis) Depending on Position of Engin: The various types of vehicle layout depend on position of the engine on frame, (a) Full forward chassis: In this type of chassis, the engine is fitted in front of driver seat or in driver cabin. It provides safety to the driver. (b) Semi-forward chassis: In this chassis, engine is mounted half in driver compartment and remaining half out of driver compartment. The extra passengers or luggage can be placed in the driver's cabin, (c) Bus chassis: Engine is completely mounted inside driver cabin. Provides clear view of the road, extra space for passengers. (a) Engine at front chassis: Engine mounted at front, and drive may be given to front axle or rear axle. Extra floor area, extra space for luggage and passengers. (e) Engine fitted at rear: Engine mounted at rear side of automobile provides clear view of the road at the front, eliminates long length propellers shafts and provides lot of space at front. (f) Engine mounted at center: Uniform distribution of weight. Weight is concentrated at Center of Gravity of automobile which improves stability of automobile when it is in motion. Types of Vehicle Layout Depending on Vehicle Drive: 1. Front Wheel Drive. a) Front wheel drive with engine at front. 2. Rear Wheel Drive a) Rear wheel drive with engine at front b) Rear wheel drive with engine at rear 3. All Wheel drive 1, Front Wheel Drive: (a) Front Wheel Drive Vehicle with Engine at Front: Ditferentiat = Engine Support bar etal Gear box M axle eh er) Fig, 1.3: Front wheel drive vehicle with engine at front Tas = In this arrangement the engine is fitted In the front of vehicle and drive Is given to the front wheel. - The propeller shaft length is reduced or neglects the propeller shaft. = The drive transfer the power from the front engine, situated at front end, to the gear box to the differential with the help of gear drive. The differential unit is placed In the front axle. - This arrangement provides good grip with road surface due to engine weight at the front. = Absence of propeller shaft can decrease the chassis height. Note that for front engine, front wheel drive vehicle there is generally no propeller shaft in modern vehicles. But there is a transaxle with two half shafts/axles on each side connecting wheels with ball joints.‘Automobile Engineering (T.Y. Dip. Sem. VI) 1-7 Introduction to Automobiles 7. Less costly and easier maintenance: Rear wheel drive is mechanically simpler and typically does not involve packing as many parts into a small space as does front wheel drive, thus requiring less disassembly or specialized tools in order to replace parts. 8. Weight transfer during acceleration: During heavy acceleration, the front end rises, and more weight is placed on the rear, or driving wheels. Better handling in dry conditions: Accelerating force is applied to the rear wheels, on which the down force Increases, due to load transfer in acceleration, making the rear tyres better able to take simultaneous acceleration and curving than the front tyres. 10. Towing: Rear wheel drive puts the wheels which are pulling the load closer to the point where a trailer articulates, helping steering, especially for large loads. Disadvantages of Rear Wheel Drive with Engine at Front 1, We require to use propeller shaft. Length of transmission increases. Higher noise transmitted from front engine to driver cabin. It requires larger brake pads at front wheels because of higher weight being transmitted on front wheel while deceleration, Distinguish between Front Engine Front Wheel Drive and Front Engine Rear Wheel Drive: Hy 2 3% 4. Front engine rear wheel drive 1, The motor, differential are located in the Front engine front wheel drive 1. Engine, clutch, gearbox and final drive are located at the front of the vehicle, ahead of the driver and the front axle line, rearmost portion, behind the rear axle line. 2. Weight distribution tends to be more than 50% to 60% in the front axle. 2. Ithas a 50 ~ 50% weight distribution. 3. More passenger room since the propeller shaft Is eliminated. 3. Less passenger room, leg room space since a tunnel Is needed for propeller shaft. Propeller shaft is eliminated. We require to use propeller shaft. 5. Under-steer condition can be preferred on 5. Rear-engine vehicles’ tendency to over- steer due to greater weight resident in the rear of the vehicle that results in greater momentum. 6. Example: Mercedes, BMW this type of vehicle. 6._Example: Toyota, Audi, Ford and VW (b) Rear Wheel Drive Vehicle with Engine at Rear: ~ This type of layout eliminate propeller shaft. = Engine Is mounted at rear and drive is also mounted at rear e.g. TATA NANO. = The drive chain in this type of layout is as given below. Engine-Clutch-Gearbox-Differential- Universal Joint-Rear axle-Wheels Advantages of Rear Wheel Drive with Engine at Rear: 1. The front axle consists of very simple design and houses the steering mechanism only. 2. Because of high weight on the driving axle, It provides excellent traction and grip on steep hills. 3. Rear floor can be made flat due to absence of propeller shaft. Driver cabin is well isolated from engine noise. 5. Because of elimination of front engine packaging constraints, the front body can be design as per styling. *