Concept gearbox rewrites the rules

SKF is claiming a breakthrough in the world of industrial transmissions.

SKF is claiming a breakthrough in the world of industrial transmissions.

Breaking current theoretical industrial design barriers, its 18K-SKF concept gearbox offers the power of a 280 gearbox in a 250 body.

As well as slashing both weight and volume, it offers a service life of greater than 50kh - 30kh more than the industry average.

Basing its design brief on compactness and reliability - the two primary customer demands relating to gearboxes, SKF applied its considerable engineering knowhow - in combination with expertise from its industrial partners - to prove that it is possible to surpass established engineering norms.

SKF does not intend to manufacture industrial gearboxes, instead it used this exercise as a demonstration of how inter-departmental and inter-company research, knowledge and co-operation can be applied to achieve a common goal.

In the design study, SKF Engineering Consultancy Services, through the Orpheus calculation tool, contributed to the static and dynamic modelling of the gearbox as a "system".

This gave, in addition to the results pertaining to bearing behaviour, reliable information regarding how to optimise the performance of other components.

SKF also chose partners to provide expertise in areas outside its own core competencies.

The Fiat Research Centre co-operated in the study of issues relating to the gears, in order to create optimum gear profiles.

Optimum lubrication has been calculated and guaranteed through the contribution of the global lubricant company Mobil.

Nine bearings were used - all from the new SKF Explorer range: four spherical roller bearings, three cylindrical roller bearings and two angular contact ball bearings.

It is thanks to the SKF Explorer bearing that the SKF 18K gearbox has been designed for a service life exceeding 50kh.

The prototype also provided the opportunity to try out the new SKF standard industrial seals.

Based on an original design, they take advantage of a new compound, created for this application.

Finally, SKF Mechatronics developed an integrated monitoring system to guarantee reliability.

It uses 10 sensors, working together: five accelerometers, two position sensors and sensors for temperature, torque and speed.

With this prototype, SKF has ably demonstrated that it is possible to develop new value-adding products in very demanding and competitive markets; markets where product differentiation can be difficult and where all too often the component price is considered more important than the product quality or ultimate value.

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