Why is Custom Gearbox for Agricultural Applications Better?

24 Mar.,2025

 

Agricultural Gearboxes

Superior Gearbox Company is a leading manufacturer of high-performance gearboxes to support a range of agricultural applications. If a standard or existing design does not suit your application, Superior's engineering team can reverse engineer an existing design or assist you in designing a custom gearbox.

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Agricultural gearboxes optimize machine performance for farmers, enabling them to maximize productivity. These gearboxes consist of shafts and gears enclosed in a housing, transmitting power from an input shaft to one or more output shafts in order to facilitate a change in the direction, speed, and/or rotation between the input and output shaft.

Agricultural gearboxes are suitable for a broad range of applications that maintain efficient farming operations. These applications rely on gearboxes to hold up to the many harsh environmental conditions, including inclement weather, continuous operation, and dry environments. At the same time, they can meet various safety and hygiene requirements. Some common applications for gearboxes in this industry include:

  • Mills
  • Farm waste pumping 
  • Processing equipment
  • Feedlot grain handling systems
  • Leaf vac systems
  • Agitators 
  • Other agricultural implements and equipment

Which Superior Gearbox is Best for Your Application?

There are several factors to consider when selecting your gearbox including shaft orientation, speed ratio, design type, the nature of the load, mounting position, and the environment of the application itself. However, this process begins with identifying the type of gearbox that best fits your application. The below table illustrates the main distinguishing differences of each type of gearbox Superior has to offer.

Once a suitable gearbox has been identified, additional factors are then considered to ensure the selection of the appropriate subtype, configuration, and size. Superior Gearbox can modify any standard configurations to tailor each unit to your specific application.

Types of Agricultural Gearboxes

Depending on application requirements, Superior Gearbox Company offers several gearboxes for agricultural applications:

Bevel Gearboxes

Bevel gearboxes contain enclosed spiral or straight bevel gears that have a conical form and are used to transmit rotational power through shafts that are typically at a 90° angle. Right-angle bevel gear drives can be employed in various agricultural machinery applications and have a wide range of horsepower capacities, ratios, and shaft configurations. Although bevel gearboxes are typically configured at a 90° angle, they can be configured at a variety of angles. Superior Gearbox offers a 68° bevel gear drive designed and developed for portable grain auger and elevator applications; however, these units are also ideal for applications such as mowers, conveyers, and seeders as well. For grain cart applications, we recommend the H130 series 50° bevel gearbox.

Worm Gear Speed Reducers

Worm Gear Speed Reducers consist of a worm input and an output worm gear that facilitate a perpendicular shaft. This results in a greater torque value as the gearbox reduces the speed of the transmission system. Worm gear speed reducers are capable of higher ratios in smaller packages compared to bevels and parallel shafts which require several reductions and take up more space. Worm speed reducers can be used with electric motors or driven by an input shaft to reduce the output speed, increase torque, change the driving direction, or to run two loads from a single power source. 

Superior Gearbox Company offers a comprehensive selection of worm gear drives well suited for a wide array of applications. These units are offered in ratios ranging from 5:1 up to 100:1 and can be configured with either a solid shaft or hydraulic motor input, in addition to, hollow or solid output shafts in both left- and right-hand or double output shaft options are available.

Parallel Gearboxes 

The high and low speed shafts parallel gearboxes are positioned on the same horizontal plane and feature spur gearing. Superior Gearbox Company offers a rugged parallel gear reducer that comes standard in a 6.09:1 ratio and features a two-piece housing, exact gear mesh, and is offered in either single or double hydraulic motor inputs. 

Helical Gearmotors

The obvious distinguishing factor of a helical gearmotor is that it comes standard as a gear drive and electric motor combination in a single unit. Like any other gear drive, these units are primarily used to reduce speed and increase torque between turning shafts. Generally, they can be classified into two types: those that transmit energy between parallel parts and those that transfer power between non-parallel parts, typically introduced as cross-axis gears.

Based on the application requirements, there are different modifications of a Helical Gearbox. Superior Gearbox offers 4 types of helical gearmotors:

  • Helical Inline Gearmotor

The helical inline gearmotor has input and output shafts of the same orientation, even though they may or may not offset each other. Inline gearmotors are characterized as parallel or coaxial and transmit power in the same direction as the motor.

  • Helical Parallel Shaft Gearmotor

The helical parallel shaft gearmotor has input and output shafts that are also oriented in the same direction but are offset by a distance causing the shaft axis to be parallel to each other.

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  • Helical Bevel Gearmotor

The helical bevel gearmotors has input and output shafts at a 90° angle. These units can be configured with either a solid or hollow output shaft. 

  • Helical Worm Gearmotor

The helical worm gearmotor are worm gear drives complemented by a helical pre-stage reduction and driven by an integrated electric motor. The reduced input speed of the electric motor to the worm gears increases the torque capacity and provides higher efficiency.

The Importance of Quality Gearboxes for Agriculture

Gearboxes are critical in agricultural equipment throughout the food cycle, from soil preparation to the sowing, harvesting, and preparation of various goods. Because of the heightened demand for food as populations grow and subsequent increased equipment wear and tear, farmers will need high-quality components in the machinery they rely so heavily on. Otherwise, costly downtime could severely hinder production and lead to failure to meet the increased demand. Agricultural applications require high-quality gearboxes. Worn out gears result in significant losses for farmers, who are the primary users of this equipment. 

High Quality Gearboxes from Superior Gearbox

Superior Gearbox Company provides customers in the agricultural sector with reliable gearbox solutions for nearly every application. Since , we have manufactured top-quality gear drives for power transmission systems of all kinds. The broad selection of gear drives includes bevel, worm, parallel shaft, and helical gearboxes for agricultural applications and many others. The experienced engineers at Superior Gearbox can design custom gear drives to meet your application's unique specifications, covering every aspect of production from prototyping to final testing.

Custom Gearbox Applications

Applications

Industrial gearboxes are mechanical systems that transfer energy between devices. These systems contain a series of gears that increase torque and reduce speed as they transfer energy from a motor to its load. Using appropriate gearboxes allows facilities to use smaller motors that draw less energy, decreasing production costs while increasing efficiency. Today's advanced gearboxes are versatile, compact, and efficient, leveraging the latest in speed-control technology to keep processes running smoothly.

Gearboxes for a Range of Industrial Applications

Industrial gearboxes are highly versatile components that can be used in any application requiring speed and torque control. As a result, gearboxes drive industrial processes as varied as material transfer and excavation. Whether used in a simple conveyor belt or an 800-ton construction vehicle, gearboxes ensure motor systems function at their best.

Custom Gearbox Applications
At Superior Gearbox, we offer high-performance, low-maintenance gearboxes to meet any industrial need. Some of the industries we serve include:

  • Agriculture. Agricultural gearboxes are part of the kinematic chain of mowers, harvesters, tillers, and similar pieces of equipment. In these settings, a tractor or hydraulic motor typically powers the gearbox, which transmits torque through the system to enable digging, spreading, spraying, or harvesting. A high-performance gearbox helps manage speed over muddy or rocky terrain and ensures that cutting, plowing, and harvesting implements have the appropriate amount of power to function efficiently.
  • Material Handling. Material handling equipment ranges from simple conveyors to cranes, lifts, and trucks. Gearboxes drive all of these devices, ensuring the proper speed and power for optimized cycle times.
    Landscaping. Landscaping equipment must contend with wet grass, mud, rocks, roots, and inclines, all while providing a smooth and consistent cut. The right gearbox ensures that lawnmowers and similar equipment can maintain the ideal speed and torque for any environmental conditions.
  • Mining. Mining operations call for heavy-duty equipment that can clear vast swathes of land in a single cycle. At the same time, mining machinery is exposed to highly variable environmental conditions that demand resilient mechanical components. Gearboxes for these applications are sturdy and rugged, calibrated for both precise control and maximal power transmission. This combination of power and precision keeps employees safe without sacrificing performance.
  • Construction. Like mining applications, construction applications take place outdoors in unpredictable conditions, and they call for both high power and precise control. Accordingly, construction gearboxes are designed to meet similar constraints, with resilience, reliability, and power output among the top priorities. Because of the mobile nature of construction applications, these gearboxes also feature compact designs with high torque/weight ratios. These components power a full range of construction equipment, including cranes, pavers, compactors, washers, drills, and more.
  • Packaging. Packaging applications vary from conveying products to sorting, wrapping, and sealing bags. While most packaging gearboxes are compact and lightweight, they feature varied designs to accommodate diverse motion patterns. The same packaging facility will often require several types of gearboxes to support differences in torque, speed, and direction of movement. For example, different components may be needed to unwind and seal lightweight bags compared to those needed to move and sort heavy products.

Types of Gearboxes for Industrial Use

While all gearboxes rely on the same principles, manufacturers incorporate different gears to match varied torque, speed, and energy requirements. Together, the size and shape of the gears determine the device's torque and speed output. 

The gears used in industrial gearboxes differ primarily in the shape of their teeth, which dictates how the gears lock together. The most common gearboxes include the following:

  • Spur Gearboxes. One of the most common types of gears, spur gears are cylindrical components with parallel teeth positioned around their circumference. They are used in various industrial equipment to transfer mechanical motion as well as control torque, power, and speed. Common applications include transmissions, conveyor systems, and more.
  • Helical Gearboxes. Helical gears feature angled teeth that allow for smoother, quieter movement than many other gears. The helical shape means that any load is distributed across several axes, reducing wear and allowing helical gearmotors to last longer than other designs. Their efficient load-bearing capabilities make them ideal for high-load, heavy-duty applications, including conveyors, steel mills, paper mills, and material handling.
  • Bevel Gearboxes. Beveled gearboxes are unique in that their gears' mating faces have unequal numbers of teeth. This helps to alter torque and rotational drive, either by decreasing speed and increasing torque or increasing speed and decreasing torque. This type of gearbox is ideal for applications requiring high load capacity with quiet and smooth operation.
  • Worm Reduction Gearboxes. Worm reduction gearboxes feature a large-diameter worm wheel and a worm screw. The worm screw meshes with the teeth of the worm wheel, causing the wheel to move similarly. Worm reduction gearboxes are among the most compact and efficient ways of reducing speed, especially between non-intersecting crossed axis shafts.
  • Spindle Gearboxes. Spindle gears offer a cost-effective gearbox solution, requiring little maintenance and resisting wear at high torque. Spindle gearboxes are common in medium-duty applications such as mowers, conveyors, and vibratory trenches.

At Superior Gearbox, we offer standard components suitable for virtually any OEM's needs, including spur, helical, bevel, spindle, and worm reduction gearboxes. We also work with clients seeking custom products, whether they require modifications to an existing product or a completely new solution.

Benefits and Features of Gearboxes

Whether used to control an excavator's speed or route fill in a packaging facility, industrial gearboxes are key to operational efficiency. The right gearbox keeps energy consumption low and power output high, all while minimizing maintenance requirements. In many cases, using gearboxes to manage torque allows facilities to choose fewer and smaller motors, increasing efficiency even further.

Additional benefits of industrial gearboxes include:

  • Sturdy construction to withstand high loads and harsh environments
  • Compact units with excellent torque/weight ratios
  • Precise control over operational processes

The experts at Superior Gearbox Company can help you select the right gearboxes so that you achieve maximum benefit from your investment.

Superior Gearbox Meets All Your Gearbox Needs for a Range of Applications

Super Gearbox Company has been a leader in power transmission since , offering innovative components to meet our clients' ever-evolving needs. Our in-house design, testing, and quality-control processes ensure that OEMs receive the highest-quality components at an affordable price. To learn more about our standard or custom industrial gearbox capabilities, contact us today.

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