A gearbox is a transmission device that provides the directional change of a rotating shaft, often along with a transfer of power or speed, either increasing or decreasing speed while decreasing or increasing torque. Gearboxes are manufactured to handle a variety of speed to torque ratios.
Gearbox Manufacturers
- Tri-Tec Manufacturing designs and manufactures manual gearboxes to DOD standards for US Navy fleets. Their gearboxes feature ASTM-B-594 bronze or ductile cast bodies and gears.
- Zero-Max is a US manufacturer of the right angle gearboxes, available in a 1:1 and 2:1 speed ratio, as well as both two-way and three-way versions, designed to meet a variety of shaft speed and torque requirements. The Crown Gear right angle gearbox sets the standard for spiral bevel gear drives.
Gearbox Basics
The essential concept of a gearbox is the transmission of mechanical power in a rotating source to another device. The fundamental method of power or speed transmission in a gear box are gear ratios. If a motor with a high rotational speed is transferred via gear box to a lower rotational speed, the device will gain a mechanical advantage and an increase in torque, or power, at the lower speed. Gear boxes transfer both from high speed to lower speed/higher torque and from slower speed/higher torque to higher speed/lower torque. A right angle gearbox adds a directional component to the standard gearbox transmission of power. In addition to changing the speed/torque of a motor through gear ratios, a right angle gearbox can transfer the power of the rotating shaft to another shaft that can rotate at a perpendicular 90 degrees to the original shaft. Right angle gearboxes are a common transmission device used in almost all application where motors are used, including motor vehicles, power generation, and all manner of automation technologies.
