Computer-Aided Interactive Graphical Design of Multispeed Gearboxes

In the present paper, a methodology for interactive, graphical design of multispeed gearboxes has been developed. The synthesis process covers the design of the kinematic structure of a gearbox including the selection of the speeds of all shafts and the selection of the number of teeth on various gears. In the proposed approach, it is possible to take into account several alternative kinematic structures of crossed, open, or mixed type. It is also possible to take into account discontinuities in the spectrums of speeds on intermediate shafts and also the inclusion of passive shafts. Based on the proposed methodology, a computer program has been developed and tested for the design of six- and eighteen-speed gearboxes. Results obtained have been presented.