Train Gear Box

The train gear box shown is a double reduction gearbox. The gearbox is comprises of two halves, which assemble around a large gear wheel mounted on the vehicle axle. The pinion gear is driven by an AC motor via a gear coupling, with the torque reaction, restrained by a reaction link.

GTO were asked to develop the design of the gearbox to meet the requirements of normal and environmental (fatigue and proof) loads.


The acceptance criteria were:

That stresses should be below the allowable specified by the clients for each load case based on fatigue life requirements and proof requirements.
GTO developed a solid model of the assembled gearbox. A spring element having radial, torsional and conical stiffness was used to represent the hanger connection. Mass elements were used to represent motor pinion cartridge, motor intermediate cartridge, motor main cartridge, wheel pinion cartridge, wheel intermediate cartridge, and wheel main cartridge. The hanger shaft was modelled with beam elements.

The model was set up in ANSYS and a linear static analysis with "g" loads was used to predict stresses that were subsequently used to predict fatigue life.

GTO successfully developed and verified the design of the train gear box.