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What is a bevel gearbox and where is it used?
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The indispensable building block for power distribution and change of direction in complex drive systems.
A bevel gearbox is a form of right-angle gearbox that transmits rotational movement and torque between intersecting shafts – typically at 90°. It is named after the conical gears (bevel gears) that provide the change in direction and gear ratio. In the ZIMM product range, this includes, among others, the KST and KSZ-H series with compact sizes, high torque density and symmetrical mounting dimensions.
While a screw jack moves a single linear axis, the bevel gearbox acts as an architectural distribution and deflection element: it links drives into a mechanically synchronised overall system – scalable, modular and compatible with the ZIMM modular system (screw jacks, actuators, shafts, couplings).
Design and operating principle
A bevel gearbox essentially consists of two main components:
- Driving bevel gear (pinion): smaller bevel gear on the input shaft.
- Driven bevel gear (crown wheel): larger bevel gear on the output shaft.
When the input shaft rotates, the pinion meshes with the crown wheel; the output motion is deflected through 90°. Depending on the tooth form (straight, helical or spiral bevel), smooth running, torque capacity and noise behaviour vary. ZIMM uses backlash-free tapered roller bearing support, effective sealing (shaft seals/O-rings) and high-precision gearing; available features include, among others, gear ratios of 1:1, 2:1, 3:1 and a rotatable, symmetrical design (e.g. 180° rotation to change the direction of rotation).
Use in screw jack systems
In screw jack systems, the bevel gearbox assumes the central distribution and deflection function – it distributes the power of one motor to several screw jacks. A typical arrangement looks like this:
- One motor drives a central connecting shaft.
- T-shaped bevel gearboxes are mounted along this shaft.
- Each bevel gearbox deflects through 90° and drives the worm/input shaft of a screw jack.
- The mechanical coupling ensures synchronised, uniform motion of all screw jacks involved – without complex electronic control. This enables large lifting systems, lifting platforms or precise adjustment systems (e.g. H-configuration with four screw jacks) that move as a single unit. For this purpose, ZIMM offers matched KSZ-H/KST bevel gearboxes, connecting shafts and couplings – fully compatible with screw jacks (ZE/ZE-H/GSZ) and actuators.
Beyond use in such systems, bevel gearboxes are widely used in mechanical and plant engineering, in conveying technology and in the automotive industry – wherever compact change of direction, high torque transmission and precise power distribution are required. ZIMM cites, among others, high efficiency, smooth running, backlash-free bearing support and robust housings (e.g. EN-GJL-250 or EN AW-6082 T6) as key product features.
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Our expertise ranges from the development and manufacture of industrial gearboxes with matching parts to casting, series production and precision machining. We not only offer robust gearboxes, but also customized drive elements, manufactured exactly according to your drawings and specifications.
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