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Magnetic planetary gear drive

L Xu and X Zhu Mechanical Engineering Institute, Yanshan University, Hebei, Peoples Republic of China The manuscript was received on 11 November 2008 and was accepted after revision for publication on 6 April 2009. DOI: 10.1243/09544062JMES1441

Abstract: In this study, a magnetic planetary gear drive is proposed and its operating principle is introduced. The equations of the geometrics and kinematics for the drive are given. The equations of the magnetic induction intensity for the magnetic gear teeth are deduced. The equations of the torques between the planetary gears and sun gear or crown gear are developed. The available parameters of the magnetic planetary drive are presented and the magnetic ux density distributions of the magnetic gear teeth are investigated. The torques between the planetary gears and sun gear or crown gear are analysed. When the relative rotating angle between the gears is increased, the magnetic torque grows, gets to a maximum value, and then drops. The maximum torque represents extreme load-carrying ability of the drive system. The pole pair number, the tooth thickness and the tooth width of the magnetic gears, and the speed ratio of the drive have obvious inuence on the output torques. To obtain a large magnetic torque, a large tooth width of the gear, a proper pole pair number, a proper radial thickness of the tooth, a large planetary gear number, and a large speed ratio should be chosen. Keywords: planetary drive, magnetic gear, torque, magnetic ux density

INTRODUCTION

In 1987, the magnetic gear drive was proposed [1]. The basic features of the drive were analysed and the test of its driving torque was completed [2]. The mechanism by which magnetic force is generated in the meshing area was elucidated and an experimental meshing model was used to clarify the principle of operation of the magnetic gear [3]. The equations of the driving torque for the drive were proposed and compared with simulation from a nite element method (FEM) software program [4]. By changing the number of the pole pairs and the size of the gears, the optimum of the driving torque for the drive was done [5]. The inuence of the distance between the magnetic gears on the output torque for the drive was investigated [6]. The magnetic eld and driving torque of the drive were also analysed [79]. In 2005, a parallel magnetized spur gear was described by an analytical model and the analytical model was veried with the nite-element method [10]. In 2006, the magnetic
Corresponding

author:

Mechanical

Engineering

Institute,

Yanshan University, Hebei 438, Qinguangdao, Hebei 066004, Peoples Republic of China. email: Xlz@ysu.edu.cn
JMES1441 IMechE 2009

force gears characteristics and the typical permanent thulium magnetism gear drive systems structure were summarized and the dynamic model of the drive system was established [11]. A new magnetic skew gear drive and a new magnetic worm gear drive using permanent magnet were proposed [12, 13], and a new cycloid permanent magnetic gear drive was also proposed [14, 15]. Moreover, the design and analysis of the non-contact magnet gear for conveyors were completed [16] and the application of the magnetic gear on the brushless machine for wind power generation was also discussed [17]. Factors affecting efciency of normal planetary gear set include meshing efciency, stirring efciency, and bearing efciency. The magnetic planetary gear set is without mesh and does not need lubrication. Its operating efciency only includes bearing efciency. Hence, the operating efciency of the magnetic planetary gear drive is much higher than that of the normal planetary gear drive. Moreover, the magnetic gear drive is without wear and noise and is suitable for the technical elds such as medical apparatus, chemical equipment, food processing equipment, etc. However, the driving torque of the magnetic gear drive is relatively small. It limits the application of the drive. Hence, the authors propose a magnetic planetary gear drive in which the speed ratio and
Proc. IMechE Vol. 223 Part C: J. Mechanical Engineering Science