Gearboxes are divided into two categories according to the arrangement of gears, namely parallel-axle gearbox and straight-axle gearbox. The two configurations provide different price points, size constraints, performance, efficiency and deceleration ratios. Yongkun will discuss different types of parallel shaft gearboxes today to help your applications choose the right gearbox.
There is no change in direction between the input and output shafts in the parallel-shaft gearbox, whether offset or not. Parallel axle boxes can be parallel or coaxial.
Parallel Inline Gearbox
In parallel inline gearboxes, the input and output shafts offset each other by a certain amount, but there is no angle between them.
The main gear types used in parallel gearboxes are spur, helical or double helical gears. Spur gears are generally suitable for low-torque, low-speed applications because of their relatively large noise and large stresses due to their small tooth surface area. Helical gears have better tooth engagement characteristics and transmit more power at similar efficiency levels with much less noise.
Nevertheless, the helical direction produces great thrust along the shaft, sometimes requiring special bearings. Double helical gears are similar to two opposite gears in parallel and help eliminate thrust while maintaining similar performance. Due to its efficient use of space, parallel inline gearboxes are ideal for applications with limited space, such as agitators in liquid mixing processes.
Coaxial Inline Gearbox
In the case of coaxial inline gearbox, the input and output of the gearbox share the same axis, so the imaginary line passing through the center of the input shaft will also pass through the center of the output shaft.
Coaxial inline gearbox uses planetary system and has excellent performance characteristics. Planetary gearboxes are very compact and can handle high torque and acceleration with a small amount of clearance. Single-stage reduction ratio is high and can be easily connected to achieve extremely high reduction ratio. At the same time, however, planetary gearboxes have some drawbacks, including maintenance that is more complex and slightly more expensive than other gear systems.
