Hypoid gearboxes are a type of spiral bevel gearbox. In contrast to traditional bevel gearboxes, they have non-intersecting axes, meaning they are not parallel, but rather are offset from one another. This provides them with hyperbolic rather than conical geometry.
Due to the tooth design, there is a greater contact area, meaning higher torques and gear ratios are possible, delivering greater precision. Hypoid gearboxes are compact and also offer smoother running properties. They have quiet operation and can achieve lower backlash ratings than traditional bevel or worm type gearboxes. They tend to be used where speeds exceed 1,000rpm, or for lower-speed applications that demand extreme smoothness or quietness.
A range of industry sectors employ hypoid gearboxes in a variety of applications. Hypoid gearboxes provide unmatched performance to the automotive industry when it comes to power transmission and are often used in rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive systems to ensure efficient torque transfer between the engine and the drive wheels. In the automotive industry, hypoid gearboxes deliver improved mechanical efficiency compared with traditional bevel gearboxes. This means that energy losses during power transfer are reduced and the fuel economy of vehicles is increased.
In industrial machinery such as mining equipment, backhoe loaders, excavators, cranes and conveyors, hypoid gearboxes are used extensively for the transmission of high torque loads. They offer the ability to withstand heavy-shock loads without compromising performance.
Industrial robots present the greatest opportunity for the precision gear products market, because of the precise controlled movements required. Interact Analysis research forecasts the market value of gearboxes sold into the industrial robots market will leap from $1 billion in 2021 to $1.9 billion in 2027. Because of their low backlash, hypoid gearboxes offer superior precision and efficiency.
Hypoid gearboxes are also proving popular with the renewable energy sector because of their efficient energy conversion and reliable power transmission. They are increasingly being used in applications such as wind turbines and solar tracking systems.
Popular applications for hypoid gearboxes also include power tools such as circular saws, angle grinders and worm drive saws, where gearboxes are needed for the efficient transfer of power from the motor to the grinding or cutting elements.
Hypoid gearboxes are likely to evolve further, finding their way into new applications as the technology develops and companies are won over by the increased productivity, reduced maintenance costs and overall performance improvements they deliver.
Apex Dynamics UK now offers the BKM Series of high precision hypoid gearboxes said to offer high torque, superior accuracy, excellent radial load capacity and low backlash, all in a compact design.