Hypoid gearmotors enter a new generation

Sumitomo has developed a new generation of its Hyponic right-angle geared motor, which it claims is smaller, lighter, quieter and more versatile than rival products.

The Neo Hyponic gearmotor uses the same cone-shaped hypoid gear teeth that Sumitomo chose more than two decades ago when a customer asked it to develop a compact, lightweight, right-angle geared product combining:

.• higher efficiencies than conventional helical-worm products;

• the robustness and reliability of wormgears;

• low noise; and

• freedom from maintenance.

The Hyponic geared motor has an overall efficiency of 85-88% over a wide range of ratios from 5:1 to 1,400:1. Although helical-worm and wormgear reducers can deliver 93% efficiencies at low ratios, at higher ratios, their efficiencies can drop below 50%.

Several of Sumitomo`s ideas have since been copied by its rivals, but the company is confident that the new generation will help to re-establish its lead.

Improvements to the new version of the Hyponic product include a more compact design with the hypoid pinion integrated with the motor shaft. The hypoid gears have a larger contact area than conventional bevel spiral gears, resulting in higher torque transmissions for a given size of gearbox, as well as low noise and vibration levels.

The new geared motors can be interchanged with rival products from European manufacturers without any performance penalty, according to Sumitomo. There are designed to be maintenance-free for life, and can be installed at any angle.

The case-hardened molybdenum steel geared are housed in aluminium alloy casings and are said to be 30% lighter, on average, than conventional models. They are expected to be used in applications such as conveyors, crushers and baggage-handling equipment.

Allan Findlow, Sumitomo`s UK sales manager, is confident that the new range of geared motors, "will once again keep Sumitomo ahead of the competition in the setting of new standards in an increasingly demanding industry sector".