Planetary gears are also known as ____________ gears.

Planetary gears are also known as ____________ gears.

• A. Epicyclical
• B. Centerline
• C. Constant mesh
• D. Servo piston

Answer: (A)

Planetary gear systems are described as epicyclic gearing. In such sets, you have a sun gear, planet gears that mesh with it, and often a ring gear. The planet gears rotate on their own axes while they also revolve around the sun gear, and the carrier that holds them can rotate too. This combination of rotating around a central gear while spinning on their own shafts is what defines the epicyclic, or epicyclic gearing arrangement. The term captures the motion pattern of the planets moving around another circle as part of the gear train. The other terms don’t name this arrangement: centerline gear isn’t a standard designation for planetary sets, constant mesh describes a different concept of gears always in mesh, and servo piston is not a type of gear at all.

Planetary gear systems are described as epicyclic gearing. In such sets, you have a sun gear, planet gears that mesh with it, and often a ring gear. The planet gears rotate on their own axes while they also revolve around the sun gear, and the carrier that holds them can rotate too. This combination of rotating around a central gear while spinning on their own shafts is what defines the epicyclic, or epicyclic gearing arrangement. The term captures the motion pattern of the planets moving around another circle as part of the gear train. The other terms don’t name this arrangement: centerline gear isn’t a standard designation for planetary sets, constant mesh describes a different concept of gears always in mesh, and servo piston is not a type of gear at all.