Understanding The Fundamental Concepts Of Gear Reducers

Gear motors and gear reducers are integral parts of numerous industries, a major one being the automotive sector. A gear reducer in particular finds use in controlling speed and torque in highly demanding settings. But how does it work exactly? In this blog, the basic working and 4 important terms related to gear reducers are addressed.

Working Of A Gear Reducer

A gear reducer is fundamentally a gear coupling. One gear is larger than the other in this configuration. The two are meshed together. When one gear starts turning, it powers the other gear and sets things in motion. For instance, a larger gear when meshed with a smaller gear, will result in increase in speed and lowering of torque. This manipulation of speed and torque is mainly achieved through gear ratio. Its basics and other important terms are addressed below.

Gear Ratio

The gear ratio will determine the transfer of motion and energy in a gear reducer. It is mainly dependent on the circumference of the two gears meshes together. For instance, if the larger gear is twice as big as the smaller one, then for each rotation of the larger gear, the smaller one will complete two rotations, making it a gear ratio of 2:1. 

Gear Reducer Torque

This is the rotational force that acts as input in a gear reducer, which is then converted into a different force and speed, all without changing the input power level. Torque generation is directly proportional to the gear ratio, and therefore, can be increased or decreased accordingly.

Drive Gear And Driven Gear

Of the two gears used in a basic gear reducer, the drive gear is connected to the input shaft. Typically small in size, it uses its input power to rotate the larger gear connected to the output shaft. The larger gear in this case is known as the driven gear.

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