At Bronte Precision Engineering we manufacture a variety of gear types, from spur gears to helical gears and many other types. All gears are bespoke engineered to meet your exact requirements.
One gear type we specialize in is custom pinion gears, which are often used in conjunction with racks to make a rack and pinion gearset. Rack and pinion gearsets have many common applications, including some common applications that you interact with daily.
In this blog we’re going to look at Rack and Pinion Gearsets and one that we’ve recently manufactured for a rotary actuator.
How do Rack and Pinion Gearsets work?
Rack and pinion gearsets are a type of linear actuator. Their purpose is to translate rotational motion into linear motion, they take the energy from a gear that’s moving in its normal rotation and convert it into a forward or backward motion.
This requires a strong pinion gear, and we can manufacture pinion gears in many types of materials to best suit your application.
Rack and Pinion Applications
Here are just a few of the common modern applications that regularly utilise rack and pinion gearsets:
Car steering: In many vehicle types, the steering shaft attached to the wheel of the vehicle will be connected to a small pinion gear. When the wheel is turned, the gear spins, and the rack and pinion gearset translates the rotational motion into linear movement. From here, a tie rod at the end of the rack connects to the steering arm, ensuring the linear motion is sent in the proper direction.
Railways: When trains and other locomotives need to ascent a steep slope, a rack and pinion gear can help. A rack is placed along the hill and pinion gears allow for the force needed to propel the carriages up the hill.
Stairlifts: Virtually all stairlifts contain a rack and pinion gear, with the gear allowing for the upward movement in similar ways to an uphill train application.
Actuators: Actuators are machines that move various components, such as a pipeline transport system. In such a system, a rack and pinion gears help to control the valves that the system requires for basic functioning.
Rotary Actuator Rack and Pinion
A rack and pinion actuator offers greater torque range and range of rotation than its rotary vane counterpart and are generally bigger and longer lasting. We’ve recently manufactured this large rack and pinion for a rotary actuator. The pinon is 844mm and the gear is 248mm in diameter.
Request a Quote
Whether you’re an OEM or end user, no matter the industry, we can help you with precision engineered component requirements.
If you’d like a Rack and Pinion quotation or anything else including: CNC Turning, CNC Milling, Grinding or Gear Cutting – Contact us here.
