Magnetic Gears for Utility Actuation Gearbox Applications

Modern rotary wing naval aircraft posses numerous winching and reeling systems to handle cargo, rescue operations, and sensors such as ASW devices. These systems require maintenance & lubrication, and may break down or degrade with age due to mechanical gear tooth wear – This can have severe impacts on mission availability, reliability, maintenance, and logistics. Magnetic gears and couplings offer the promise of low maintenance, low friction, high efficiency, zero wear, and now with new magnet technology, high torque densities. The basic principles and allure of magnetic gears goes back at least 70 if not over 100 years! However now, with the advent of modern high strength magnets, and innovative topologies that take full advantage of them, the promise highly efficient magnetic gearing is becoming a reality. Trex Enterprises proposes to design, develop, and test an airworthy magnetic gear based gearbox for utility actuation gearbox applications.