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Mechanical Engineering vocabulary · Machine Elements

Gearbox

Meaning in mechanical engineering, with examples

/ˈɡɪrbɑːks/nounCore term

In mechanical engineering, gearbox means: A closed unit of gears, shafts and bearings in a housing that changes the speed and torque between a motor and the machine it drives.

In Turkish: dişli kutusu, redüktör, şanzıman

How it is used

Used in industrial drives, conveyors, vehicles and wind turbines. A gearbox has a ratio, a rated torque and a specified oil type and level. Technicians check the oil, listen for noise and look for leaks. A gearbox that lowers the speed is also called a speed reducer.

Example sentences

  1. The conveyor is driven by a 4 kW motor through a 25:1 gearbox.

  2. Change the gearbox oil after the first 500 hours of operation.

Common collocations

  • gearbox ratio
  • gearbox oil
  • industrial gearbox
  • gearbox housing
  • planetary gearbox
  • gearA toothed wheel that meshes with another toothed wheel to transmit rotation and torque, often changing speed or direction at the same time.
  • shaftA long, round rotating part that carries gears, pulleys or wheels and transmits power and torque from one component to another.
  • torqueA turning force that makes something rotate around an axis, such as a shaft or a bolt. It equals force times distance and is measured in newton meters (N·m).
  • bearingA machine element that supports a rotating or sliding part, such as a shaft, and reduces friction between the moving surfaces. Ball and roller bearings are the most common types.
  • lubricationPutting oil or grease between moving surfaces, for example in bearings, gears and chains, to reduce friction, wear and heat.

More terms: Machine Elements

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