Guidance on Horizontal Footmount Gear Motor 3

[suyog21]

Hello All,

I want to make a vertical ground drill, for that i got old horizontal foot mount helical gear motor, now issue is that I want it to use in vertical position will it work or i have to make some other arrangement to convert horizontal to vertical rotation.


Editted -- Can I attached Bevel gear to convert horizontal to vertical motion for my intended use. with same ratio(1:1). Will bevel gears transmit heavy duty power.

Suyog Patil
CAD Engineer
NX 7.5. 8, 8.5 9, 10 TC-9

 

[3DDave]

Yes.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Chances are that the internal oil distribution system will leave the upper bearings and maybe the gears starved for lubrication when the unit is upended.
... and if there's a vent, it may end up in the wrong place and become a drain.
... and the motor bearings are probably not adequate to support the weight of the rotor when the shaft is vertical.

Your best choice is to find a gearmotor that's intended to run with all the shafts vertical.
Next best is to find a right angle gearbox that can handle the torque, and build some kind of adapter frame.
Next least awful is to re-engineer the gearmotor you've got, which is easy if the manufacturer builds the same box for both orientations and just changes the feet (not likely), and buys motors with decent thrust bearings (much less likely).
Awful choice is to gamble that your gearmotor will last 'long enough' in an orientation for which it was not engineered.

I.e., like 3DDave said.





Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[tbuelna]

What is your definition of "heavy duty power"?

I would agree with the comments above regarding lubrication/sealing issues of your gearbox when operated in a vertical position.

Also remember that most gearboxes are not designed to handle the large thrust force your drill bit will produce. You will likely need a separate thrust bearing to isolate the gearbox from these forces.

 

[suyog21]

Here are the images of gear motor (1 hp, 40 rpm output, 3 phase), i want to use it for earth auger. for transmitting horizontal to vertical i tried with straight bevel gears but the cost of project increases.

Please comment on using gear-motor vertically.

Suyog Patil
CAD Engineer
NX 7.5. 8, 8.5 9, 10 TC-9

 

[MikeHalloran]

Well, it presumably belongs to you and is paid for, so do with it as you wish.

You might consider linking it to the back of a truck or something, in such a way that you don't personally have to provide the counter-torque.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[mfgenggear]

why not add an angle head ? would it loose that much torgue or force. I like Mikes suggestion mount it on a platform.

 

[Lnewqban]

Not recommended.
That machine is designed for horizontal work.
Some gears may be lacking lubrication when working vertically.
Life of radial bearings will be shortened by the weight of the shaft and gears pushing down axially.
Since you have to feed the motor with 3-phase power and the torque will be hard or impossible to hold by hand, you will need some type of steel frame.
If that is true and you have the room to do it, crossed belts and two pulleys (one vertical and one horizontal) may be feasible.

 

[3DDave]

I'd hook it to a hydraulic pump and use that to drive a hydraulic motor to allow for better protection. That will also cost more; some solutions do.

 

[BrianE22]

Take the gearbox apart and make your own evaluation of whether or not the lubrication would be o.k. Maybe the bearings are sealed and don't require oil. Maybe you just need to add more oil.

 

[gearcutter]

Most, if not all, geared vertical spindle drilling machines have gearboxes that operate in the horizontal position.
The uppermost gears and bearings are generally not lubricated throughout the life of the machine as the oil simply doesn't get to those areas.
I've seen drills up to 3.5KW that are designed like this.
Perhaps grease is used when the drills are new.........and that's all that's required.