SEED Guides Unit Selection - Gearbox < >

In this section a description of the most common types of gearbox available together with their general characteristics is given. Typical ranges of main parameters are shown purely for preliminary guidance. It should be noted that it is possible to obtain composite boxes, which combine the characteristics of two or more types, or compound boxes, which increase the speed ratio by compounding two or more stages of the same type. Both these extensions would be at the expense of simplicity, weight, cost and mechanical efficiency.

The classification of types is usually on the basis of shaft orientation or speed ratio.

Figure 2 shows the shaft orientations available for the gearbox types covered in this Guide.

Figure 2 Classification of Gearbox Types according to Shaft Geometry