Question

Simple planetary gearsets are being discussed. Technician A says any one of the three members can be used as the driving or input member. Technician B says the ring gear is always the driving or output member. Who is correct?

Answer 1

Answer: Technician A- any of the three members can be used as the driving or input member.

Explanation: The three members which can be used as a driving or input member are sun gear, pinion gear carrier, and ring gear, hence, the carrier and its pinions are seen as one unit which is the mid-size gear member. However, One member can be held and kept from rotating while the third member becomes the output member or the driven. Selecting which member is driving, held and driven determines the gear ratio for the gearset.