Stress assessment of gear teeth in epicyclic gear train for radial sedimentation tank

The paper presents the strength evaluation of planetary gear teeth designed for a radial sedimentation tank drive. A novel type of gear drive, composed of a closed epicyclic gear train and an open gear train with internal cycloidal gear mesh is proposed. Contact stress and root stress in the planetary gear train were determined by the finite element method and according to ISO 6336. The influence of the mesh load factor at planet gears on stress values was also established. A comparison of the results followed. It was observed that the mesh load factor on satellites depends mainly on the way the satellites and central wheels are mounted, the positioning accuracy in the carrier and the accuracy of teeth. Subsequently, a material was selected for the particular design of planetary gear and the assumed load. The analysis of the obtained results allowed assuming that in case of gears in class 7 and the rigid mounting of satellites and central wheels, gears should be made of steel for carburizing and hardening. In case of flexible satellites or flexible couplings in the central wheels and gears in class 4, gears can be made of nitriding steel.