FEASIBILITY INVESTIGATION OF HARMONIC DRIVE SPEED REDUCERS FOR HELICOPTER APPLICATIONS

Abstract

The report presents applicable helicopter and harmonic drive parameters, feasibility comparisons, data concerning the engineering and designing of a test unit, results of the test program, and recommendations for further research for improved efficiency. As a result of preliminary studies, parametric analysis, and actual testing of a harmonic drive unit designed for 250 horsepower at 30,000 r.p.m. input speed with 85:1 reduction ratio, it is concluded that: (1) from the standpoints of compactness, quietness, vibration level, simplicity, reliability, and cost, harmonic drive appears to be not only feasible but superior to conventional planetary gearing, and (2) in the present state of the art, power losses associated with the hydrodynamic wave generator bearing result in significantly lower efficiency than conventional gearing.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1964
Accession Number
AD0602018

Entities

Organizations

  • Kaman Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Army Aircraft
  • Bearings
  • Boundary Layer
  • Contracts
  • Design Criteria
  • Drive Shafts
  • Engineering
  • Friction
  • Measurement
  • Mechanics
  • Modulus Of Elasticity
  • Pressure Distribution
  • Standards
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Thin Films
  • Turbines

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Electronics Engineering
  • Tribology (the study of the boundary interaction between sliding surfaces, lubrication, wear and friction).