Enumeration of 1-DOF Planetary Gear Train Graphs Based on Functional Constraints

Abstract

A procedure for the enumeration of the graphs of 1-dof planetary gear trains is presented. The planetary gear trains enumerated have a single input shaft and a single output shaft. These gear trains should satisfy certain functional constraints that avoid the existence of idle links. These constraints are derived. The enumeration of the graphs exploits the resulting particular features of the structure of planetary gear trains by proceeding gradually through different levels of that structure. The procedure includes a check for isomorphism among the resulting graphs. Finally, the graphs of the planetary gear trains having up to 9 links are presented. Those graphs containing embedded structures are identified.