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RD-1 Gear Drive - Internal Components Assembly

This photo shows the main internal components of the RD-1 as they fit together in assembly.  When completed, the planet carrier housing (upper left) will have slots that mate to the fingers on the planet carrier.  This holds the planet carrier stationary.  The sun gear, coupled to the engine through a damper, engages the planet pinions.  These, in turn, engage the ring gear that drives the output shaft.

One of the advantages of a planetary gear drive is that there are no radial bearing loads. Except for thrust loads generated by the helical-cut gears, all of the forces generated by the gears are contained by the ring gear.   Another advantage is the large tooth-contact area.  A spur-gear reduction drive would require gears 3.5  inches wide to have contact area equivalent to this planetary gear set.