Transmission Analysis—Automatic Derivation of Relationships

A method for derivation of relationships for general mechanical transmission systems is given. It is adapted for computer-aided analysis and synthesis of the kinematics, loads, and power flows. Losses are included. All relationships are handled by a computer program. No manual dealing with equations is necessary. The user only describes the transmission systems: (1) The transmission units, e.g., gear transmissions, planetary gear trains, clutches and input shafts. (2) How the shafts of those units are connected. Then, the computer program formulates the relationships, and a computer algebra program performs algebraic eliminations. Symbolic, non-numerical, relationships between speeds and torques of two arbitrary shafts can be derived, e.g., the overall efficiency. Special algorithms handle the power flows in split-power transmissions. The method saves time and eliminates the risk for human errors.