Torsional deflection in spur gear pinion?

Question

Many years ago, the final drive for the M55, a 50 ton 500 horse power tracked vehicle, was redesigned and still failed. The cross drive transmission has splines that drive the pinions that drive bull gears that are on the same shaft as the sprockets that drive the tracks. An old man wants to know if there are now pre twisted spur gear pinions so, when highly loaded, a gear will be twisted straight. TIA

Harold and Susan Vordos · Accepted Answer

Chuckle!You're kidding, right?Once metal heat treated metal, as gears should be, has reached its yieldpoint, it's not exactly reliable.   I may be mistaken, but I think that'scalled broken teeth.     Lets see what gear experts have to say.Harold

Harold and Susan Vordos · Answer

OK- I think this time it may make more sense-----I should read what I postbefore doing so!

David Billington · Answer

One problem with this type of system is what I believe is called recirculating horsepower. Although the engine might be able to provide 500hp to move the vehicle along, the actual tranmission may have to be able to transmit 2000hp for instance. IIRC this situation arrises due to the load on the tracks when steering.Clark Magnus

David Billington · Answer

Yes quite right, and I failed to mention that the part of the transmission which sees this problem is that which links the tracks together. I only mentioned the issue because maybe the original designers of the m55 didn't know about this or had failed ot take it into account fully. It is possibly a non obvious problem which effects the design of this type of vehicle.Tom wrote:

Tom · Answer

I think you are confusing horsepower with torque...Tom

Torsional deflection in spur gear pinion?

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