MDE Unit 20 Q5

An epicyclic planetary gearset is a gear reduction assembly consisting of two gears mounted so that the center of one gear (the “planet”) revolves around the center of the other (the “sun”).

1. Epicyclic gearing – Wikipedia

Components of an Epicyclic Gearset:

• Sun gear: The central gear.   1. Epicyclic gearing – Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
• Planet gears: Multiple gears that orbit around the sun gear.   1. What is a Planetary Gear? – Regal Rexnord www.regalrexnord.com
• Carrier: Holds the planet gears and rotates around the sun gear.   1. Epicyclic gearing – Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
• Ring gear: A gear surrounding the sun and planet gears.   1. Planetary Gears – Harmonic Drive harmonicdrive.de

Operation:

• The sun gear, planet carrier, or ring gear can be held fixed or rotated as the input, while the remaining components become the output.
• Different gear ratios can be achieved by varying the fixed component and the input/output.   1. How Gear Ratios Work – Premium Transmission premium-transmission.com

Image of an Epicyclic Gearset:

Opens in a new windowm.youtube.com

Epicyclic Gearset

Advantages of Epicyclic Gearsets:

• Compact design   1. What is a Planetary Gear? – Regal Rexnord www.regalrexnord.com
• High torque capacity   1. Epicyclic Gear: Basics, Ratios & Advantages – StudySmarter www.studysmarter.co.uk
• Smooth operation
• Multiple speed ratios in a single unit   1. Epicyclic gearing – Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org

Epicyclic gearsets are widely used in marine propulsion systems due to their high power density and efficiency.

To create an accurate sketch of a planetary gear set, include the following:

• Sun gear: The central gear around which the planet gears revolve.   1. Epicyclic gearing – Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
• Planet gears: Multiple gears that orbit around the sun gear.   1. What is a Planetary Gear? – Regal Rexnord www.regalrexnord.com
• Carrier: The component that holds the planet gears and rotates around the sun gear.   1. Epicyclic gearing – Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
• Ring gear: The outer gear that meshes with the planet gears.   1. The Fundamentals of Planetary Gear Systems gearmotions.com

Optional components:

• Bearings: Support the sun gear, planet carrier, and ring gear.
• Shafts: Connect the input and output to the gear set.
• Cages: Hold the planet gears in place.

Additional tips:

• Consider a cross-sectional view to show the internal components clearly.
• Indicate the direction of rotation for each component.
• Label each component for clarity.

By including these elements, you can create a comprehensive sketch of a planetary gear set.