You’ve probably heard the term “rack and pinion” before, most likely in regards to rack and pinion steering in a car. But have you ever wondered what, exactly, is a rack and a pinion? The following is a look at how pinion gears work within a Falk gearbox.
How Pinion Gears Work
A rack is basically a track, either straight or curved, that has teeth. The small gear that engages with the rack is called the pinion, and the teeth of the round pinion gear mesh with the teeth of the rack to create motion.
Rack and pinion gears turn rotation into linear motion. For example, when your hands turn the steering wheel of your car, a gear rotates to move the rack to the right or left – the same direction you turn the wheel.
If a pinion within a Falk gearbox has a lot of teeth, it will usually be quieter and more resistant to wear, requiring fewer gearbox repairs. Pinions with fewer teeth have larger tooth dimensions, a lower cutting cost and greater strength, yet they may wear out more often and require more gearbox repairs over the life of the system.
Common Applications for Pinion Gears
One of the earliest and simplest applications of the rack and pinion gear assembly was for paring apples; the assembly turned the apple against a blade to remove the skin. Today, rack and pinion gears can be found in motorcycle sprockets, remote-controlled cars and scales for weighing objects – including your body.
Trains that travel up steep inclines incorporate rack and pinion gears because the wheels of the train are unable to grip to the track. Traveling up steep slopes can cause the train to slip backwards; the rack and pinion gear system solved this dilemma when engineers installed a large gear wheel at the center of the train. An extra rack was added between the two train tracks, and as the cars begin to ascend, the gears engage and pull the train up the incline.
Rack and pinion gears are just one of the many gear types found in Falk gearboxes. Consult with the experts at Mar-Dustrial to choose the correct one for your specific application.
Posted under Tips and Tricks on Thursday, August 18th, 2011