Planetary Gearboxes have three major components :
- Sun gear : The sun gear is meshed around with the planet gears, which in turn are meshed with ring gear.
- Planet gear : Planet gears are connected to each other by a carrier, which helps them to rotate around the sun gear.
- Ring gear :
The sun gear is meshed around with the planet gears, which in turn are meshed with ring gear. Planet gears are connected to each other by a carrier, which helps them to rotate around the sun gear.
Advantages of Planetary gear box system over helical gearbox :
- Planetary Gearboxes are compact, light weight and take less space, because load is shared between the planet gears.
- Vibration and noise is reduced because load is shared. its also increases efficiency, Since the shafts are inline and concentric, bending moment is absent.
- Favorable volume output
- Manufacturing of these components is relatively cheaper due to smaller size as compared to parallel axis gearboxes.
Disadvantages of Planetary Gearboxes:
- Gear system is very complex & needs precision manufacturing.
- Teeth ratios are specific and assembly is according to them.
- Calculations of efficiency are a bit difficult.
