Enumeration of Feasible Clutching Sequences of Epicyclic Gear Mechanisms

A new methodology for enumeration of feasible clutching sequences of epicyclic gear mechanism (EGM) composed of two or more fundamental gear entities is presented. The method relies on previous work on algorithmic technique. It improves on existing techniques used for automatic transmission mechanisms in its ability to accurately solve the kinematics of geared mechanisms and estimating their velocity ratios and arranging them in a descending order in a simpler manner without depending on certain gear sizes. Twelve velocity-ratio-relations are derived for any four coaxial links of an epicyclic gear train. These velocity-ratio-relations are three more than the nine relations given in literature. In addition, the velocity ratios can be arranged in a descending sequence without using complicated artificial intelligence technique or complicated computer algorithm. The present methodology is judged to be more efficient for enumeration of all feasible clutching sequences of an EGM.