Use of Noncircular Gears to Reduce Torque and Speed Fluctuations in Rotating Shafts

A methodology is presented where noncircular gears are used to reduce unwanted torque and speed fluctuations that may exist in rotating shafts. A noncircular gear pair is used to drive an auxiliary shaft where a flywheel is mounted, thus creating an auxiliary torque fluctuation. The form of the undesirable torque fluctuation is used to determine a motion specification for the synthesis of a noncircular gear pair. The undesired torque fluctuation and the auxiliary torque fluctuation are added to reduce the net torque fluctuation. Two illustrative examples are included. This approach of torque balancing is compared to the classical method of mounting a flywheel onto the shaft that experiences the unwanted torque fluctuation to reduce its speed variation.