by Jake Schell
“Today’s trucks are significantly more complex than the old truck that my classmate and I (eventually) changed the oil in.”
Loop a rubber band over the middle of two parallel pencils and start turning the pencils in opposite directions. As the pencils are twisted, potential energy is gathered in the rubber band. Let go of one or both pencils and the energy is now kinetic as the pencils flail about in a spectacular display of what people do when there is nothing else interesting going on.
It is possible to get a bit overzealous in the pencil twisting task and winding the rubber band to the point at which the rubber band knots. Then when the pencils are released, nothing happens as the knot inhibits the release of energy.
Nevertheless, the potential energy still exists in the tightly bound rubber band which is discovered when you attempt to undo its knot. At that point, the fun generally concludes and the whole mess ends up in the trash.
What about other lesser-known sources of potential energy waiting to be released?
A driveshaft likely seems a fairly innocuous component when it sits still in an unmoving vehicle. Granted, a driveshaft can be heavy and somewhat awkward when multiple shafts are linked together.
However, a driveshaft can hold potential energy in the twisting force not released between the engine/transmission and the wheels connected to the ground. When the transmission remains engaged the engine’s compression force holds the transmission in place.
Then, a forward or reverse force from the wheels is held in place by the stationary wheels or the parking brake to the driveshaft. As a result, when the technician unbolts an end of the driveshaft, the potential energy is suddenly converted to kinetic energy as the heavy driveshaft bangs, however briefly, against whatever is in its way. The “whatever” can easily be the technician’s body.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Check out Jake Schell’s complete line-up of monthly columns in Fleet Equipment Magazine at https://www.fleetequipmentmag.com/author/jake-schell/.
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About the Author
Jake Schell
Jake Schell is the Associate Product Manager for Mitchell 1’s commercial vehicle product line. He has been with Mitchell 1 since 2001. Prior to coming to Mitchell 1, Jake spent 20 years as a technician, with Chevrolet Master certification in the transmission category as well as ASE certifications in both car and truck.
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