Drive shaft
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A drive shaft, driveshaft, driving shaft, tailshaft, propeller shaft, or Cardan shaft is a component for transmitting mechanical power, torque, and rotation, usually used to connect other components of a drivetrain that cannot be connected directly because of distance or the need to allow for relative movement between them.
Drive shaft with universal joints at each end and a spline in the centre
Škoda 422 rear axle, suspension and drive shaft on display at the Škoda Museum
A truck two section propeller shaft
The exposed drive shaft on BMW's first motorcycle, the R32
Transaxle
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A transaxle is a single mechanical device which combines the functions of an automobile's transmission, axle, and differential into one integrated assembly. It can be produced in both manual and automatic versions.
Csonka transaxle from 1908
Drawing of the "Alfa Transaxle" layout, with gearbox mounted in block at the rear differential; also inboard brakes to reduce unsprung mass