TORQUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 149, 26 June 1934, Page 16

TORQUE.

TENDENCY TO TWIST,

MEASUREMENT OF FORCE,

When we say an engine develops S3ftlb, torque, we mean that at a distance of lft from the centre of the crankshaft the engine would exert a force of S3lb, or at a distance of 53ft from the centre of the crankshaft the engine would exert a force of lib.

That is torque, which means turning movement or twist, therefore torque tube or torque rods mean gadgets to prevent things twisting when the force is applied. An example is a model aeroplane with a motor so powerful that, instead of propelling the forward, it spins the aeroplane itself. Think of this in tonus of motor car and it is obvious that, if the load be great, the engine will try to turn the motor car round its crankshaft and propeller-shaft, instead of turning them.

Hence arises also braking torque. When the brakes are applied the drums would rather take the shoes round with them than fight the friction. This tendency has to be cheeked by something that* prevents the axle itself turning— the springs, for instance, but in some cases by torque rods, or a torque tube in which the propeller-shaft works, which also serve to prevent the torque of the engine rotating the axle casing.