Reduction Gear Box – Application and Types

Gearboxes are widely accepted mechanical device of transmitting energy from one device to another. Gearboxes are installed for increasing torque and controlling turn movement while reducing speed in mechanical drive systems. In today's engineering, reduction gear box are widely used in automobiles and two wheelers, heavy duty tools and machines even in ships and some electrical appliances to control the mechanism.

The entire framework of gearboxes consists of a set of rotating gears and shaft which are connected to wheel works. This mechanism serves the basic purpose of slowing down the speed or machine to increase the torque within system so that transfer of energy can take place from one place to another.

Composition Of Reduction Gearbox

Gearboxes are simplified engineering component that are basically configured in the inner workings of motors, machines or other mechanical component. The simplified version of reduction gear consists of a set of gear having same size of teeth with different diameters.

While designing a balanced correlation between teeth and circumference of gears is maintained; the smaller gear with small circumference will have fewer teeth than of other gear. When these gears mesh with each other in a gearbox, then the smaller gear makes one extra revolution with that of larger one. In other words, the small gear spins twice as fast as the large gear. This systematic operation of gears product twice amount of torque on the larger shaft than on the smaller; as the decrease in output speed generates an increased amount of torque.

Varied Types of Reduction Gearbox

Engineering component which uses high rotational speed in one part of design as well as needs reduced energy in another component within internal system; make use of reduction gearbox. This reduction in speed thus create the increased torque on the output shaft. There are mainly two types of reduction gears which are used while designing automobiles and mechanical machines. They are, 

• Single Reduction Gear – In this arrangement, only one pair of gears are used in the assembly of reduction gearbox. There are ports to connect the propeller shaft and engine shaft with assembly. Engine shaft drives the pinion (smaller gear) which in-turn drive the larger gear mounted on propeller shaft.
• Double Reduction Gear – In this arrangement, flexible coupling is used for connecting pinion with input shaft. There is an intermediate gear (first reduction gear) primarily connected with pinion. The first reduction gear is further connected with a low speed pinion via another shaft. To facilitate the speed reduction ratio as high as 20:1, an another reduction gear is used. The low speed pinion connects the second reduction gear with propeller shaft.

The application of double reduction gears are confined to engineered components involving high speed application.

Reduction Gearbox – Wide Application

Reduction gearboxes find their wide application in the drive-trains of automobiles to reduce the high rotational speed of the engine so that the tires can safely use the reduced speed. The same set of configuration is used in heavy machinery and mechanical appliances for reducing speed and increasing torque.
In industry, reduction gearboxes are used in Cranes, Elevators, Crushers, Conveyors, Industrial Mixers, Cooling Towers, Agitators, Extruders and many more.