Custom gears drop in to upgrade telescope
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David Brown Engineering product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jan 13, 2004
The world's largest optical and infra-red telescope on the summit of Hawaii's dormant Mauna Kea volcano is protected by giant shutters now controlled using David Brown gear units.
The world's largest optical and infra-red telescope on the summit of Hawaii's dormant Mauna Kea volcano is protected by giant shutters now controlled using David Brown gear units.
The Keck 1 telescope is one of two operated by the California Association for Research in Astronomy at the summit of Mauna Kea.
Each telescope stands eight storeys tall and weighs 300t, yet operates with nanometre precision, probing the deepest regions of the universe.
David Brown Engineering, a Textron Fluid and Power company, has provided a "drop in" solution to replace the original reducers that were causing maintenance problems - particularly seal leaks which were of concern because of the low temperatures and dry air some 4km above sea level.
The observatory presents obvious maintenance problems and the aim was to find a replacement reducer that would require minimum modification at the summit, and which offered an increased service factor and improved seal arrangement.
A total of 14 custom 8in centre distance HP double enveloping worm reducer units were ordered, with a special ratio of 9.75:1.
The replacement units are equipped with modified input shafts, hollow shafts, and housings, and special output mounting flanges and keeper plates in hollow bores.
They incorporate taconite seal arrangements on both input and output shafts, and expansion chambers are also supplied to provide a sealed unit.
Four gearboxes have now been installed and commissioned on the bottom shutter and a further eight will be installed on the top shutter during the next two years.
The remaining units will be held on site as spares.
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