slow down.Familiar term, but what does it actually mean?
On the surface, it may appear that the number or size of the gears is 'reduced', which is partially true.When a rotating machine such as an engine or electric motor requires a reduction in output speed and/or an increase in torque, gears are often used to achieve the desired result.A gear 'reduce' specifically refers to the speed of a rotating machine; the rotational speed of a rotating machine is 'reduced' by dividing it by a gear ratio greater than 1:1.A gear ratio greater than 1:1 is achieved when a smaller gear (reduced in size) with a smaller number of teeth meshes meshes and makes a larger gear with more teeth.
A reducer has the opposite effect on torque.Increasing the output torque of a rotating machine by multiplying the torque by the gear ratio by multiplying the torque with less loss of efficiency.
While reducing speed reduces speed and increases torque in many applications, in other applications gear reduction is used to increase speed and reduce torque.Generators in wind turbines use this method to convert the relatively slow speed of the turbine blades to a high speed capable of generating electricity.These applications use the opposite gearbox to those used in applications where speed is reduced and torque is increased.
