Gearboxes shed mass for lightweight field gun
A
Power Jacks product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Aug 18, 2005
BAE Systems has won a contract to supply the US Marines with a lightweight howitzer gun, and Neeter Drive is helping out with gearbox design.
BAE Systems has won a contract to supply the US Marines with a lightweight howitzer gun.
In early 1997, the Ultralightweight Field Howitzer (UFH), developed by the then Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering (VSEL), was selected in preference to a Royal Ordnance design to meet the US Army and USMC XM777, or LW155 requirement.
The M777 howitzer is substantially different from any other gun, as it has been designed to be ultralightweight to allow the US Marines to fly the gun in by helicopter; the gun uses an extensive range of lightweight materials including aluminium and titanium.
The howitzer had been in development for over 3 years using Neeter Drive gearboxes, and in the ensuing 5 years Neeter Drive has been working closely with BAE Systems (VSEL) to ensure that the units meet the design requirements of the US Army.
During this period the design was developed with BAE to include features required following extensive testing and trials.
All the results in the tests and trails ensure that the units have been honed to the optimum required for the application.
Neeter Drive's gearboxes were chosen for the design following the success of the gearboxes on an earlier gun designed by BAE (VSEL) the AS90.
The AS90 uses eight gearboxes per gun.
The gearboxes were chosen for its compact design and the company's ability to be able to adapt the unit to the customer's needs.
The ability to offer bespoke features and adapt to customer requirements enabled BAE to again select a Neeter Drive gearbox.
The criteria for the design were compactness, lightweight and ability to operate in arduous climate conditions worldwide.
The gearbox housing and covers are manufactured from aluminium to aid with the weight requirements; the Neeter Drive units are already a compact design and the seals and oil were designed in to the customers specification.
As well as these features, the units have special designed shafts and covers and the units are also chemically treated to the customer specifications.
Three units are supplied for each howitzer, each one different, two are based on the standard N35 gearbox design and the third is a bespoke design based around a set of N35 gears.
Many different prototypes were manufactured and tested in vigorous terrain and weather conditions, each design slightly different until the final design was settled on.
The final design has not yet seen service, but has been put through a more rigorous test than the prototypes.
Two of the gearboxes are power driven and the third is used as a hand wind facility, all units are used in the elevation of the gun, prior to its use.
In recent years Neeter Drive gearboxes have been used in many military applications; a few examples include the BAE guns, satellite communication and mine sweeping equipment.
BAE Systems used Neeter Drives range N spiral bevel gearboxes.
The range-N is renowned for its ultracompactness, and is available in five sizes and five ratios.
The five sizes are Series 35, 37, 38, 39 and 40 offer as standard housings manufactured from spheroidal graphite iron, high quality precision cut Gleason gears which helps to reduce the overall noise levels of the units, taper roller bearings, shouldered through shafts giving greater torque handling and as well as shaft seals, all housing covers are fitted with O-ring seals.
Options include hollow output shaft, motor mounting input shafts.
Other features available on request include, stainless steel shafts and special material housings/coatings.
Minor alterations, including longer shafts, shorter shafts, spigots on covers, special input/output flanges and special materials are available: the options are endless.
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