Here you can find PT terminology and descriptions as defined by the Power Transmission industry for everything found on the GEECO site. If you are new to PT, this is a good place to learn a little bit about some of products found in the industry. Or, if you are a seasoned veteran, the information here will help clarify specifically how GEECO defines a product to help get you the product you need.
Motors
Gear Motors
A small motor (ac induction, permanent magnet dc, or brushless dc) designed specifically with an integral (not separable) gear reducer. This construction provides many benefits for a user and eliminates the guesswork of sizing a motor and gear reducer on your own.
Motor Bases
A stable platform used for the secure mounting of electric motors
Variations: Adjustable, Rigid
Controls & Feedback
Programmers, Inputs, Outputs used to help increase automation capabilities and safety.
Timers
Once triggered, timers will count a set amount of time before initiating the next action.
Counters
A display that keeps a count or tally of an event such as opening/closing of a switch.
PLC (Programmable Logic Controller)
A computer control system that continuously monitors inputs, determines what actions to take based on a user defined program, then executes those actions by activating or deactivating outputs.
Relays
Used to isolate one voltage level from another. Acting like an automated switch, it opens or closes a circuit when power is supplied to it.
Switches
Used to open or close an electrical circuit
Proximity Sensors
A sensor that detects the presence of nearby objects without physical interaction
Electrical Enclosures
A cabinet where active electrical equipment is installed for operation. They (Enclosures) provide safety for the user and protection for the equipment. from the environment.
Soft Starters
Soft starters connect the motor to the power supply through a voltage reduction device and increases the applied voltage gradually or in steps
Inverters & VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives)
Used to control the speed of A.C. Powered motors by altering the frequency and voltage of the A.C. Power supply to the motor.
Starters
Contactor or relay used to connect a motor to a power supply
Motor Controllers
Devices that control the performance of an electric motor.
Speed Reducers
Takes a known input speed and converts it to a desired output speed (RPM) and torque rating.
Shaft Mount
A Shaft Mounted Speed Reducer (also known more simply as SMSR) is a speed reducer mounted directly onto, and statically supported by, a driven shaft -that may be found on a conveyor. Typically, the SMSR incorporates a hollow bore (keyed, Taper-Grip® bushing, etc.) to facilitate mounting onto the driven shaft.
Variations: Belt driven or C-Faced to motor
Ratio Multipliers
Gear box that increases the rotational speed of the output shaft in relation to the input shaft
Inline
A gearbox where the input and output shaft are aligned on the same axis
Parallel
Similar to Inline gearboxes, however the output shaft is offset in relation to the input shaft.
Right Angle
A gearbox where the input and output shafts are 90o to each other.
Variations: Left or right hand output, double output shaft
Chain Drives – Belting – Gearing
Sprocket
Thin wheel with teeth that engage with a chain.
Materials: Cast Iron, Nylon, Stainless Steel, Brass, Bronze, Nickel Plated, Steel, Pressed steel.
Sheave
A wheel with one or more grooves to hold a belt or cable.
V-Belt
The groove is V shaped, corresponding to the belts used. As the belt pulls tighter, it gets pulled deeper into the groove, reducing slippage.
Synchronous
The sheaves that have teeth to accept cogged belts
Idler Pulley
A pulley that acts as a guide. Also used to take up slack in a belt/chain drive.
Belts
V-Belt
Flexible belting with a trapezoidal shape. Made of rubber, polymers and fibers for added strength, it is the basic belt for power transmission.
Pros: 97% efficient, quiet operation. Allows for misalignment. Good for shock loads. No lubrication requirements.
Cons: Does not work well in wet or oily environments. Requires frequent tensioning maintenance.
Synchronous
A flexible drive belt with teeth cut into it to engage with corresponding toothed sheaves.
Pros: Up to 98% efficient, can handle higher torque loads than V-belts. Work in oily and wet environments. Limited belt stretch.
Cons: Not good for shock loads. Does not handle misalignment as well as V-belts.
Specialty Belts
Belts that are a custom design or size.
Chain
Roller Chain
Assembled with a combination of links and pins, it is the basic design for most types of Power Transmission chain.
Bucket & Conveyor Chain
Roller chain with modified link plates that allow for the attachment of various accessories.
Agricultural Chain
Chain with large spaces between the links to promote self-cleaning. They can also be modified to attach accessories.
Precision Chain
Chain that is designed to not wear or stretch and to exacting tolerances. It is primarily used for indexing and timing applications.
Engineered Chain
Chain that uses a double pitch (links are twice as long), but uses a headed pin and sometimes a flanged roller (F-roller). Also known as large pitch conveyor chain.
Open Faced Gears
Gears & Gear Racks
Miter Gear
Specialty bevel gear that is designed to operate with a 1:1 gear ratio.
Bevel Gear
Gears having a conical shape to create a 1-90 degree angle between the input and output and can have a gear ratio between 1:1 and 6:1.
Spur Gears
Gears that transmit motion/power between parallel shafts.
Gear Racks
A length of bar with gear teeth cut into it that mate with a spur gear. Used to turn rotary motion in to linear motion.
Hubs
Taper Lock Bushing
Bushing with tapered OD to fit the taper bore of sheave or sprocket. When tightened, the bushing locks onto the shaft.
Pros: Cost effective. No machining. Less slippage than with set screws.
Variations: Keyless
QD Bushing
Uses a tapered bore to help secure sheaves and sprockets to the shaft. They differ from a Taper Lock by the more common use of a flange. Also unique, the bolts used to secure the flange can be tightened from either side and there is a split cut into the bushing to help with fitment over the shaft.
Bearings
Bushings, Loose bearings, Mounted Bearings.
Mounted Bearings
Bearings that come installed in a case or housing.
Pillow Block
Identified by the supported shaft’s axis running parallel to mounted surface.
Variations: 2 or 4 bolt mounting, 1 or 2 piece housing.
Flange Bearing
Identified by the supported shaft’s axis is perpendicular to the bearing’s mounted surface.
Variations: 2/3/4 bolt frames.
Take-up Bearing
Specifically designed for conveyor belt systems, The bearing and its housing slide in an adjustable frame to take up slack in the conveyor belt system to maintain proper tension.
Hanger Bearing
Usually mounted from the top or side relative to the the screw in a screw conveyor system. The bearing and housing provide adjustment using a bolt to align the conveyor screw in it trough.
Variations: 1 or 2 piece housing. 1 or 2 piece bearings.
Materials: Metal, Wood or Ceramics.
Unmounted Bearings
Bearings that are not pre-pressed into a housing.
Cartridge Bearing
A bearing assembly, including the inner and outer races, ball/rollers and shield.
Ball Bearing
Uses balls to allow the bearing races to move more efficiently.
Pros: Low friction, relatively cheap
Cons: Lower load capabilities than other styles of rolling bearings
Variations: Angular, Axial, Deep Groove
Roller Bearing
Uses cylindrical shaped rollers to support the bearing races.
Pros: Increased load limit over ball bearings
Cons: Not good for thrust load applications
Variations: Taper Roller, Needle Bearing
Spherical Bearing
Uses barrel shaped rollers to support the bearing races.
Pros: Higher Load capacity than ball bearings, self aligning, shock resistant
Cons: Must operate at lower rpms.
Sleeve Bearing
A variation of the plain bearing, it has no moving pieces, the shaft spins inside the race. Lubrication is provided by the bearings drawing oil through the outer shell into the inner sleeve.
Pros: Inexpensive
Cons: Only for low speed applications
Thrust Bearing
Bearings designed to handle large compressive axial loads.
Variations: Plain, Ball, Spherical, Roller
Bushings
A variation of the plain bearing, they are mounted in a housing to provide surface for shafts to rotate or slide on.
Brass
Pros: Rust resistant, easy to work with, low friction when paired with steel shafts.
Steel
Pro: Good for High load/Low speed applications
Self-Lubricating (Bronze)
Bushings that have be impregnated with oil so they typically require no further lubrication. Usually made of bronze or iron alloys.
Pros: Good for hard to lubricate and costly replacement applications
Cons: Sensitive to dirt and debris. Also, they have a minimum rpm in order to create enough heat to release the oils.
Composite
Bushing made of plastic or plastic-metal combinations.
Pros: Uses a dry lubrication, Good for wash-down and food production applications
Cons: May have a lower load capacity
PT Accessories
Accessories are used to compliment major mechanical components of a mechanical drive system
Cam Follower
Specialized roller or needle bearing designed to follow a cam profile. Also called ‘track followers’ or ‘track rollers.’
Variations: Stud, Yoke
Rod Ends
An eye shaped housing that holds a spherical bearing. The base of the housing can be attached to the end of a threaded rod using either male or female threads to allow for adjustment.
Springs
Used to store or absorb energy.
Brakes
Disc brakes for Power Transmission systems are used to control speed reduction and prevent unwanted reversing.
Mechanical Brakes
Uses mechanical linkage to engage the brake.
Electrical Brakes
Brakes that use an electrical switch to activate.
Hydraulic
Brakes that are activated by compressing fluid.
Replacement Parts
Calipers
The housing that contains the brake pads and piston. It provides the structure for forces to act upon the brake rotor.
Pads
Brake pads consist of the backing plate and the friction material. The plate gives a surface for the friction material to be held when in the calipers.
Rebuild Kits
Parts needed to maintain and repair brake systems.
Collars
Used hold something in place on a shaft
Variations – Rigid, flexible, Old Ham, Gear, Flange, Sleeve, Universal, solid, split, 2-piece
Couplings
A device that joins two shafts together.
Variations: Rigid (Sleeve, Flange, Hirth), Flexible (Beam, Constant velocity, Disc, Fluid, Oldham, Gear, Universal joint)
Clutching
Mechanically engages and disengages a drive shaft from a driven shaft.
Variations: Friction, Torque limiting, Non-slip
Seals
Used to close the space between moving and non-moving parts. This prevents lubricants from getting out and contaminants from getting in.
Lip Seal
Typically mounted in a housing, they use two faced design to seal a radial shaft. The angles of the faces can determine the seal’s performance, and help adjust to variations in the shaft. Modern seals use garter springs to maintain constant pressure around the shaft.
V-Ring Seal
Used as an axial load seal. Commonly paired with lip seals or used as a pre-seal for bearings.
Speed Sleeve
A repair product for shafts that have indications of wear at the point of a seal. The sleeve slides over the shaft and provides a new surface for the seal to ride on.
Retaining Rings
Fasteners that either hold a component in place on a shaft or in a housing or bore.
Variations – Tapered, Constant section, Spiral
Conveyor Components
Rollers/Pulleys
Components that support the material moving along the conveyor.
Drum Pulley
The rolling supports for belted conveyors. Has a solid face that supports the conveyor belt.
Variations: Plain, Lagged, Crowned
Wing Pulley
Similar in function to a Drum Pulley, but uses multiple faces individually supported by their own gussets creating channels to move debris away from the faces and belts.
Variations: Spiral, Herringbone
Conveyor Rollers
A cylinder that allows materials to roll across from one roller to the next. Rollers can be driven by a motor, or spin freely.
Variations: Straight, Tapered, Crowned, Skate wheel, Ball Table, Conveyor Idlers
Shafting
Positions and anchors drums and rollers to the conveyor frame.
Cold Rolled
The typical metal that is used to make shafts. Sold in standardized diameters.
Precision
Shafts that are machined to a specific diameter or design.
Belting
An endless surface for conveyed material to ride on.
Variations: Can be made in a wide array of configurations and materials to meet the specific needs of the application
Screw Conveyor
Material is moved along a trough via a rotating helical screw.
Applications – Grain, Cement, Food Industry, Paper pulp, Sewage, Sand
Linear Motion
Taking a power source and converting it to movement along a X, Y, Z axis.
Actuators
Convert a rotations motion into linear movement.
Variations: Electric, Hydraulic, Pneumatic, Thermal, Mechanical.
Linear Bearings
Provide free movement in a single axis/direction.
Variations: Roller, Slide
Linear Shafting
Provides a guide or track for linear bearings to follow.
Variations: Shaft, Rail