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Driveshaft vs Freewheel - What's the difference?

driveshaft | freewheel |

As nouns the difference between driveshaft and freewheel

is that driveshaft is a shaft used to transmit rotary motion while freewheel is a device in a transmission that disengages the driveshaft from the driven shaft when the driven shaft rotates faster than the driveshaft.

As a verb freewheel is

(of a gear) to continue spinning after disengagement.

driveshaft

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A shaft used to transmit rotary motion.
  • * The driveshaft of an automobile transfers power from the engine to the wheels.
  • * ''A windmill transmits motion to the ground level via a vertical driveshaft , which operates a water pump.

    • Synonyms

    * Cardan shaft * propeller shaft

    See also

    * (wikipedia "driveshaft") * (commonslite)

    freewheel

    English

    (wikipedia freewheel)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • a device in a transmission that disengages the driveshaft from the driven shaft when the driven shaft rotates faster than the driveshaft.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • (of a gear) To continue spinning after disengagement.
  • (of a cyclist) To ride a bicycle without pedalling, e.g. downhill.
  • (of a motorist) To operate a motor vehicle which is coasting without power, e.g. downhill.
  • (by extension) To operate free from constraints.