Vintage performance from planetary gearboxes

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 15, 2002

Brevini is proving that even the most ancient and mature processes can benefit from its planetary gearbox technology.

Brevini is proving that even the most ancient and mature processes can benefit from its planetary gearbox technology.

The company is applying its planetary units to the art of wine making, a process that goes back as far as, and beyond Roman times.

The gearboxes are used in a number of areas in the wine making process, predominantly on presses, filters and fermenting reservoirs.

Surprisingly, applying gearboxes to wine making is no easy task.

Products used have to be both tough and reliable, because, although they work a fairly low number of hours each year, the work is concentrated practically into one month and is extremely demanding, requiring continuously high torques.

Despite this regime, Brevini's planetary units have established a reputation for efficiency and reliability that has led to an 80% market share for the company's products in the Italian wine making sector.

Considerable success is also being enjoyed in France, Spain and Portugal.

In general, Brevini gearboxes designed specifically for wine-making are employed for two functions in fermenting reservoirs.

The reservoirs, or tanks, may be either vertical or horizontal and are made of stainless steels in standard sizes varying in capacity from 25,000 to 200,000 litres.

In the first instance the gearboxes drive the blades of the fermenters positioned at the bottom of the tank, which take care of removing the rape.

They are also employed at the top of the tank to drive an impeller, which stirs (presses) the "hat" formed by the rape during fermentation.

The configuration of the Brevini gearboxes used for these operations varies with the type of drive motor used.

Usually the drive is electric, resulting in a four stage planetary unit of either inline or right-angle specification.

In cases where the drive is hydraulic the size range is the same but with only two stages When sizing the gearboxes it is necessary to take into account not so much the "starting" torque as the maximum torque of the motor and the required reduction ratio.

This is essential because the maximum torque limit is frequently reached - and even exceeded - in this type of processing, both on start-up and during the frequent accidental stoppages that occur during the operations.

To account for this problem, Brevini has strengthened the output sections - the shaft and planet carriers - of its gearboxes used in wine-making.

As a result, the products are always reliable, even in situations of exceptional stress.

The international nature of Brevini's business means that the company is able to support the wine producing industry with a highly effective pre and after-sales operation, providing service and spare parts throughout the world.

This is essential as breakdowns during the processing season can be disastrous, resulting in product spoilage and considerable lost revenue.