An Application of Generalized Kinematic Chains to the Structural Synthesis of Nonfractionated Epicyclic Gear Trains

This paper presents a systematic approach, which is based on the concept of generalization for the structural synthesis of geared kinematic chains for epicyclic gear trains with any number of degrees of freedom. First, the fundamental rules of generalized kinematic chains for nonfractionated epicyclic gear trains are investigated. Next, according to the numbers of gear pairs and degrees of freedom, acceptable kinematic chains for nonfractionated epicyclic gear trains are identified from an atlas of basic kinematic chains. Then, each acceptable kinematic chain is specialized to be epicyclic gear trains. Finally, geared kinematic chains for nonfractionated epicyclic gear trains with up to three degrees of freedom and four gear pairs have been susscessfully constructed.