Slewing drives consist of a radial gear, axial worm shaft, and drive component, used to transform axial motion into radial motion. They have many applications, including wind and solar energy systems, and are made of materials such as steel and phosphor bronze. They have a long history, dating back to ancient Greece.
The term “slewing drive” most often refers to a mechanism consisting of a radial gear, an axial shaft called a worm, and an attached drive component. More advanced slew drives might include specific designs of worms, protective casings, and other ancillary components. Slewing drives are capable of transferring forces and torques as well as sustaining these forces over time. There are many applications for slewing drives, a few different materials to choose from, and a long history.
The most basic slewing unit has a worm-driven radial gear. The teeth of the gear meet with the grooves of the worm, and as the worm turns, so does the gear. Common features for different drives may include an hourglass-shaped worm gear, which is often considered more efficient because more teeth can be engaged on the gear at the same time. Other features may include a protective casing intended to keep the mechanisms clean. The motor or drive component, such as the swing of a wind turbine, could also change the specific design of a swing motor.
In general, the purpose of these machines is to transform axial motion into radial motion. Depending on the number of threads on the worm and the number of teeth on the gear, the speed and magnitude of the axial force will be converted into a specific radial force. Depending on the application, a swing drive could be useful for amplifying the torque that turns a mechanism.
Slewing drives have many applications. For example, wind energy systems often use a swing motor to convert the axial motion created by the turbine into amplified radial motion that can be converted into energy. Solar tracking systems might also include rotation drives to maintain the best position for the solar arrays as the sun moves across the sky. Additional applications of a slewing unit can include hydraulic systems and mechanical lifts.
The materials used to create the spin units are somewhat consistent. Most often, steel with phosphor bronze provides high strength and consistent corrosion protection. Materials might also include bronze varieties such as nickel phosphorus bronze added to steel, depending on the application.
These devices have a long history, perhaps starting in ancient Greece with a device called a worm. Spinning units were also common in the Renaissance. Although modern slewing drives perform more complex tasks and are made with more advanced materials, the ultimate goal of a slewing drive hasn’t changed much over time.
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