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Three-in-one gears slash parts counts

01 July, 2001

Three-in-one gears slash parts counts

By using the same casing and common components for three types of right-angle gear-drive - single-worm, helical-worm and helical-bevel-helical - Renold Gears has cut the number of components it needs from 578 to 142. The three-in-one concept, first shown at the Hanover Fair earlier this year, is now available to UK customers.

As well as reducing its parts count and simplifying servicing, Renold claims that the new, mid-range e.PM gears offer a 52% improvement in power compared to their predecessors. According to managing director, John Sandle, they are also smaller, will be cheaper to own, and will be easier to clean and maintain.

Two years of development have gone into the new range which will supercede the earlier WormMaster and PowerMaster ranges (although the WormMaster will still be available for at least two more years).

The new gears come in six sizes with centres ranging from 90mm to 200mm. They include:

• the PW single-worm drive in ratios from 5:1 to 70:1, with a maximum torque output of 4,700Nm;

• the PH helical-worm combination, in ratios from 16:1 to 333:1 and torque ratings up to 8,100Nm; and

• the PB helical-bevel-helical arrangement, covering the range 16:1 to 160:1, with a top torque rating of 12,000Nm.

All are available with hollow-bore or output shafts, in speed reducer or motorised versions, with input powers from 0.55-45kWm.

The input adapter is designed to take standard, off-the-shelf motors, including high-efficiency Eff1 types. Sandle points out that one of Renold`s main German rivals only accepts certain motors. "We are ahead of the game," he asserts.

The new gears have been designed from the outset to be ordered via the Internet and this facility will be available by the end of 2001.

Renold`s target markets for the new range include elevator and escalator drives, mixers and grinders, water treatment equipment, and textile machinery.