Title: Design Requirements for a Two-Stage Speed Reducer in a Manufacturing Company
Overview: For the design project, we assume a manufacturing company needs a two-stage speed reducer, which is required to be installed in their assembly line as depicted in Figure 3: 1) electric motor; 2) belt drive or chain drive; 3) gear-driven speed reducer; 4) coupling; 5) roller; and 6) conveyor belt.
Functions: The functions of the gear-type speed reducer are as follows:
1. To receive power from an electric motor through a rotating shaft.
2. To transmit the power through machine elements that reduce the rotational speed to a desired value.
3. To deliver the power at the lower speed to an output shaft, which ultimately drives the conveyor system.
Working conditions: The components 5 and 6 are parts of a conveyor system, which runs 16 hours/day, 5 days per week, with a design life of 10 years. This is approximately 40,000 hours of operation, and its operation is generally smooth. The roller has a diameter of 350 mm, and a torque of 1400 N-m is applied to it. The speed of the conveyor belt is 0.5 m/s, which is permitted to vary by 5%. The speed reduction ratio of the speed reducer should be controlled in a range of 3.46 to 3.53 for each stage. A mechanical efficiency of greater than 95% is desirable. Flexible couplings may be used to connect the output shaft directly to the shaft of the roller for the conveyor system.