Planetary drive for optimised boat handling

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 6, 2002

Brevini's compact high-torque planetary gearing technology is being used as the wheel drive system for a new generation of self-propelling cradle ride boat trailers.

The ability of Brevini's compact, but high torque, planetary gearing technology to provide innovative solutions in all areas of industry and transportation is being underlined by adoption of the technology as the wheel drive system for a new generation of self-propelling cradle ride boat trailers.

In recent years both the number of boating enthusiasts and the number of boats being registered have grown considerably.

These developments, in turn, have resulted in a parallel growth of technology for handling leisure boats, which, with recent advances in design, can weigh anything from 15 to 200 tons.

The primary function of these handling systems is to optimise the time for fundamental operations, such as lifting the boats out of the water and transporting and storing them.

One of the most recent developments in this field is an innovative self-propelling cradle trailer, which is able both to lift a boat and move it sideways without requiring any other equipment.

The trailer consists of two strong beams joined together at the front end and completely open at the opposite end.

This design allows the beams to be inserted under the hull of the boat, enabling it to be handled within a small amount of space.

As a further aid to manoeuvrability, the trailers can be supplied with separate front and rear steering and also remote control, making all the functions - moving backwards and forwards, lifting and lowering - extremely simple to carry out.

To meet the specific and complex handling requirements of these trailers, Brevini has provided an integrated package, based upon its inline EM 1045 planetary gear units and Samhydraulik HPR 160 - 315 hydraulic motors.

This package provides the high torque and very low speeds required when performing tasks, such as inching boats onto the trailer, manoeuvring fully laden trailers for boat storage and launching boats into the water.

With its ability to mount inside each of the trailer wheels, the combination drive system also speeds up build-times for the unit and ensures that the overall drive layout is as compact as possible.

An additional benefit is the small number of components involved in the overall power transmission package.

Fewer components mean fewer things to wrong, and also a reduced maintenance requirement.

Finally, the modular nature of the package itself, with its multi-stage approach, ensures great flexibility in power output, satisfying what is an essential requisite for vehicles of this type.

Compact size, low weight and the ability to accept directly mounted standard wheel rims and packaged hydraulic motors, are three of the major reasons why Brevini's wheel drives are increasingly being employed by designers of mobile plant and vehicles.

The Brevini wheel drive units permit a much neater design solution than axle drives and provide greater clearance for rough terrain vehicles.