KEVOS® MAKEOS · Power Transmission

Torque Arm Reaction Check (Output Torque, Arm Reaction, Anchor Pin Joint)

For a shaft-mounted gearbox held by a torque arm, what reaction does the arm put on its anchor, and is the anchor pin joint strong enough?

Check of the torque arm of a shaft-mounted gear reducer: the output torque from power and speed with a service factor, the reaction at the arm anchor from the torque and the arm length, then the pin bending, shear and bearing, the eye net tension and tear-out of the arm’s pin joint (as the clevis pin joint tool), against the allowable stresses.

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How this tool works

Inputs, units and where to find them

InputUnitTypical source
Motor powerkWRated power of the motor driving the reducer.
Output (shaft) speedrpmSpeed of the reducer output shaft.
Service factor (starting and shock)Factor for starting torque, shock and jams.
Arm length (shaft centre to anchor pin)mmDistance from the shaft centre to the anchor pin, measured perpendicular to the arm’s line of reaction.
Anchor pin joint
Pin diametermmDiameter of the anchor pin.
Arm eye thicknessmmThickness of the arm’s eye.
Thickness of each bracket platemmThickness of each plate of the anchor bracket (fork).
Gap between eye and each platemmGap between the eye and each plate.
Eye edge distancemmDistance from the eye hole centre to the end of the arm.
Allowable pin bending stressMPaAllowable pin bending stress.
Allowable pin shear stressMPaAllowable pin shear stress.
Allowable bearing stressMPaAllowable bearing stress.
Allowable eye tensile stressMPaAllowable eye net-section tensile stress.
Allowable eye tear-out shear stressMPaAllowable eye tear-out shear stress.

Method and formulas

  1. Output torque = 9549 P ÷ n × service factor.
  2. Arm reaction = torque ÷ arm length (taken perpendicular to the arm).
  3. Pin bending, shear, eye and fork bearing, eye net tension and tear-out (as the clevis pin joint tool).
  4. Example: 1,145.9 N·m gives a 3.8197 kN reaction; the joint is at 36.025% of its allowables.

Limitations

  • Arm perpendicular to the line to the shaft centre; an inclined arm adds a component along the arm.
  • Reaction from torque only; belt pull or overhung loads on the reducer are not included.
  • Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.

Typical uses

  • Check the torque arm on a conveyor drive
  • Size the anchor pin and bracket
  • Check a torque arm after fitting a larger motor

Who it is for

  • Maintenance engineers
  • Design engineers
  • Millwrights

What you get

  • Output torque
  • Arm reaction
  • Pin joint stresses and utilisation

Interpreting the result

  • Doubling the arm length halves the anchor reaction; a rubber bush at the anchor cushions starting shocks.

References

  • Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 1535, 1720–1735, 2122–2160. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.

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