Proposal of Gearbox Design Method with Lowered Vibroactivity

Research of vibroactivity of the means of transport, in particular of the gearbox, has become of significant importance in the recent years. Reducing of their environmental nuisance consists primarily of reducing the noise and vibration levels. Research of this type is currently conducted using simulation models, which is economically justified. The results of these studies may be a basis for the design of a gearbox with lowered vibroactivity. The paper presents a proposal of the design method of a gearbox with lowered vibroactivity. The basis for the method consists of dynamic models of the gearbox in the transmission system and FEM models of different design solutions of ribbed housing, which are the main source of vibration and noise emitted by the gearbox. It follows from previous research that the housing is excited to vibrate in bearing nodes by the dynamic load and vibration generated in meshing, that are transmitted through shafts to the bearings. Taking into account the mechanism described, it is assumed in the proposed method that a design of a gearbox with lowered vibroactivity is possible through a proper selection of the gears geometry, so as to assure a reduction of dynamic load of the gears, and of the location and dimensions of additional ribbing of the housing, with maintaining the lowest possible weigh of the housing. In the paper, the housing vibroactivity measure has been assumed and characterized, which is used in the evaluation of several engineering solutions of the gearbox housing.