Work of the planetary gear trains as differentials and their capabilities

¹ Institute of Mechanics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
² Podemcrane AD, Gabrovo, Bulgaria

^* Corresponding author: k_arnaudov@abv.bg

Abstract

Planetary gear trains can work differently, namely, with F=1 degree of freedom, i.e. as reducers or multipliers, and also with F=2 degrees of freedom, i.e. as differentials. Moreover, with a two-motor drive they work as a summation planetary gear train and with a one-motor drive, they work as a division planetary gear train. The most popular application of planetary gear trains is as a differential which is bevel and is produced globally in millions of pieces. Some of the cylindrical planetary gear trains can also be used as differentials. Although less often, they are used in heavy wheeled and chain vehicles such as trailer trucks, tractors and tanks. They are also very suitable for lifting machines with a two-motor drive which provides maximum security for the most responsible cranes, such as the metallurgical ones. Initially the paper presents some simple, i.e. single-carrier cylindrical planetary gear trains, both with external and internal meshing, driven by 2 motors. Their kinematic capabilities and velocity, respectively, are considered to realize the necessary gear ratio. Finally, the case of a compound two-carrier planetary gear train is considered, which is composed of 2 simple planetary gear trains. This shows that not only the simple planetary gear trains, i.e. the single-carrier ones, can work as differentials.