KINEMATIC ANALYSIS OF EPICYCLIC-TYPE TRANSMISSION MECHANISMS USING THE CONCEPT OF FUNDAMENTAL GEARED ENTITIES

A new methodology for the speed ratio analysis of epicyclic-type trans mission mechanisms is presented. First, the kinematic characteristics associated with various operation modes of fundamental geared entities are investigated. Then, it is shown that the overall speed ratio of a n epicyclic gear mechanism can be expressed in terms of its fundamenta l geared entities. This method lends to an automated derivation of the speed ratio of an epicyclic-type transmission mechanism without the n eed of a symbolic manipulation software.