Window Functions for the Calculation of the Time Domain Averages of the Vibration of the Individual Planet Gears and Sun Gear in an Epicyclic Gearbox

An existing technique which enables the estimation of the time domain averages of the tooth meshing vibration of the individual planet and sun gears in an epicyclic gearbox from measured vibration signals has been revised. A key feature of the existing technique is the sampling of the vibration signal within a rectangular window in the time domain when one of the planet gears is close to the vibration transducer. The revised technique permits the use of other window functions, and a detailed analysis shows that the errors in the estimate of the time domain average can be expressed in terms of the window function. Several suitable window functions which enable a reduction in the level of the errors are demonstrated by numerical examples and by the analysis of data from a test on a helicopter gearbox with deliberate damage to one of the planet gears.