Can someone translate this

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May 12, 2011 | 12:30 AM

ford2go

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Cargo Master

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From: Frequently frozen MN

Can someone translate this

This is from a Leno article in Popular Mechanics. He's talking about the drivetrain on his Tatra. It's a rear engine car and apparently the setup is a little odd.

"It has a rigid tubular-backbone chassis. Instead of constant-velocity joints, the car has two crown-wheel gears—one on each rear-axle shaft—that pivot around a pair of differential spur gears"

I'm fairly lost here, although one wiki did say that the Toronado may have used a similar system. An illustration would have been great, but I'm hoping that one of the fte geniuses can explain the system in simpler terns.

Article is pretty good. Leno always seems to be a great guy who's got the world by the A**.

1938 Tatra T87 - Jay Leno's Garage - Popular Mechanics

hj

May 12, 2011 | 06:53 AM

Ford_Six

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From: The Big, Oregon

Basically, instead of having CV joints like a front drive car, the rear tires on that one move in an arc like the Ford twin I beam setup. There is a shaft inside a tube that drives the wheels, and the end of that shaft engages a gear in the transmission. The center of motion for that tube's pivoting up and down is the drive gear in the trans. Tatra still uses a variant of this system on their trucks today.

May 13, 2011 | 12:28 AM

ford2go

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From: Frequently frozen MN

I actually think I understand!
Thanks,

hj

May 13, 2011 | 04:25 AM

IB Tim

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From: 3rd Rock

Great explanation

May 13, 2011 | 07:49 AM

Rogue_Wulff

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From: Lost

How about a video of it in action? YouTube - Original Tatra Backbone Tube Concept

Sorry, embedding the video has been "disabled by request".

May 13, 2011 | 03:45 PM

*2fords*

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From: Nixa

The 49 Chevy that they rebuilt on Trucks had a tube attached to the rearend instead of a driveshaft, is it the same thing as this Tatra?

May 13, 2011 | 05:32 PM

KelVarnson

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue_Wulff

How about a video of it in action? YouTube - Original Tatra Backbone Tube Concept

Interesting, in the newer design the left and right wheels are slightly offset front to back. In the older design it just looks like they used different diameter ring gears so they wouldn't interfere.

I was wondering how they manage to differentiate between the wheels. I heard them say drive "shafts" (plural), so I guess the differential is elsewhere?

I had never seen this system or heard of a Tatra before today. Thanks.

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May 13, 2011 | 05:41 PM

raytasch

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From: W. Central FL.

Quote:

Originally Posted by *2fords*

The 49 Chevy that they rebuilt on Trucks had a tube attached to the rearend instead of a driveshaft, is it the same thing as this Tatra?

I did not see the show but a 49 chevy had a torque tube drive. Universal joint at the rear of the transmission splined to the drive shaft that was enclosed in the torque tube that was fixed solidly to the differential. Early Fords cars and light trucks, had a similar set up, main difference being the differential was a banjo configuration on the Ford.