Mechanical transfer units

Abstract

It is the function of mechanical transfer units to adapt the energy of motion, provided by the drive, to the demanded parameters and to direct it to the downstream working element, assembly or device. Therefore gearings, couplings and shafts including the related bearings are required. The fulfillment of a given transfer function, which represents the interrelationship of motions of input and output link, is the main task of gearings. Input as well as output are mechanical variables. Thus gearings are also known as mechanical transformers, especially for rotation speed and torques. Furthermore it may be their task to guide a gearing element to predefined positions or points of the element on predefined trajectories. They are then called guide gearings. Couplings connect shafts to transfer rotations and torques. Shafts are line segments, which carry parts of the device and their weight and operation forces. Couplings are carried by bearings, which also assure the position of moving parts in space. Consecutively an overview of transfer elements which are most often required in small electric drives will be given, to allow an unerring choice. For their dimensioning and design as well as for further mechanical elements, required to assemble a drive, please refer to further reading.