This past weekend Cotta celebrated 2021 with a holiday party at ABC Supply Stadium in Beloit, WI. A huge thank you to the entire team at Cotta Transmission for another amazing year! Every single one of you are the reason why Cotta continues to be the leading force in Transmission Gearboxes.
Vibration can generally be divided into two categories – linear and torsional. Linear, the type of vibration most of us are familiar with, is the shaking and the movement of equipment we can easily feel and hear. As a rule, linear vibrations are related to some type of mechanical problem, such as imbalance or misalignment, or advanced wear of gears or bearings. Linear vibrations tend to get worse as speeds increase. Automobile tire imbalance is a good example of linear vibration. As speed increases, the vibration increases in both frequency and amplitude – in other words – the faster the tire turns the worse the imbalance becomes.
Torsional vibrations are much harder to identify, because they often cannot be felt. Torsional vibrations usually exit only at certain speed/load conditions and often “come and go” with speed changes. This exists to some extent in all rotating systems, but is not normally a problem unless the system is driven or “excited” by a frequency source which is at, or near, the natural frequency of the system (resonance). Systems operating at resonance can generate forces equal to several times the expected forces.
Torsional analysis can predict the speeds at which a system may become resonant, allowing designers to “retune” the system with various methods such as torsional couplings and mass dampeners. Torsional analysis is typically performed by the system packager or a torsional coupling manufacturer. The damage from linear vibration is usually no surprise. For example, a severely out of balance pulley could easily fail a shaft bearing.
Torsional vibrations generally cause unexpected damage. For example, a gear may wear or break in a fraction of the time it should have taken. Or, a shaft may break unexpectedly even though it is oversized. When there seems to be no explanation for component failures – consider torsional vibrations. One particularly alarming torsional condition is full reversing in which applied torque actually passes back and forth through zero. If a gearbox is subjected to a full reversing torque, a severe rattle can occur as the gear teeth load and unload. The noise generated by this action can be quite loud. Keep in mind that the noise might be the result of an existing severe torsional condition and not a defective gearbox.
If you suspect torsional or linear vibrations as a possible problem, contact Cotta Engineering for a discussion of the problem and possible diagnosis.
Cotta Transmission completed the assembly on this high-speed gearbox for a systems integrator specializing in dynamometers and test stands. The customer reached out to Cotta and needed a gearbox to reduce turbine speeds into their dynamometer speed range. This is the second unit at this installation and the requirement was to create a duplicate envelope gearbox with the new specifications. Cotta’s engineering team was able to fit the new ratio in the existing center distances while still providing all design requirements.
The high-speed gearbox will be used in a in R&D test stand application, with the dynamometer providing the load on the unit. The end user of the gearbox is one of the top science and technology research universities in the world.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Ratio: 1 to 15.68
Max Output Speed: 62,000 RPM
Max Power: 315 kW (420 HP)
Max Output Torque: 75 Nm (55 Ft-Lb) @ 40,000 RPM
Approximate Weight: 430 kg (950 LB)
Estimated Efficiency: 1270 BTU/Min
LEARN MORE: HIGH SPEED GEARBOXES
When purchasing a Cotta transmission, you are purchasing an “American Made” product that is built with the highest quality available. Cotta’s team takes pride in providing customers with a product that is built to withstand the harshest environments. You have access to the best in transmission technology expertise when Cotta is your chosen source. Our engineers are a true extension of your company. Having the experience of working with hundreds of companies and thousands of gearbox designs, our team of engineers will listen to your needs and share ideas, fulfilling your requirements to the best of our capabilities. Cotta is ISO 9001:2015 Certified as well, which helps to ensure the highest quality practices in our product design and engineering, our test and measurement equipment, and other internal throughput processes.
Whether you need a standard, modified-standard or completely new design, Cotta is ready to go to work. Cotta has 2,000+ existing product designs available, plus our experienced engineers and craftsmen who can take virtually any new transmission application from concept to delivery at our Beloit, Wisconsin production facility. These are some of the many reasons why Cotta has been in business for over a century!
Contact Cotta for your gearbox needs: Contact
Centrifugal pumps are most commonly used for pumping low viscosity fluids, such as water, solvents, oils, acids, organics etc. Cotta’s engineering team designed and manufactured this reduction gearbox that will be used in a large centrifugal pump. First-piece inspection was conducted on every machining sequence, starting at the source to support our zero-defect policy. After assembly, and testing of the gearbox in Cotta’s state-of-the-art testing facility, the unit was painted in Cotta’s inhouse paint booth, packed, then shipped out to the customer.
See Gearbox Specifications Below:
Ratio: 1.59 to 1
Engine Rotation
Max Input RPM: 2200
Max Input Torque: 2600 FT-LB
Approximate Weight; 1350 LB
Cotta’s team works with customers to design the best possible gearbox that your product or situation requires. Contact Cotta to discuss your application’s needs. See links below:
A customer of Cotta’s has has been using this creep drive design for over 10 years. These units shown in the picture are getting close to shipment and will be used in a guardrail truck application. The creep drive allows the vehicle to creep along at very low consistent speeds, regardless of the engine speed. This in turn allows the auxiliary systems to utilize the power needed to perform the work needed effectively. The vehicle is then able to drive at a normal speed once the system is disengaged.
Specifications:
- Ratio 3 : 1
- Max Torque: 1250 ft lbs input PTO mode, 12500 ft lbs thru mode
- Approximate Weight: 390 lbs
- Oil Capacity: 12 quarts
Cotta has a creep drive model #Tr2273, which is a creep drive gearbox designed to provide precision vehicle speed control by using a hydraulic motor to rotate the vehicle drive shaft. To learn more, click on Creep Drive.
For decades Cotta has been a leader in the design and manufacturing of high-capacity pump drives. As with all Cotta products, the pump drives provide years of dependable and efficient performance in the harshest most demanding conditions. To help make the process of finding the best solution for your power equipment requirements, Cotta’s website helps users to quickly find specifications on some of Cotta’s most popular pump drives.
Cotta’s Heavy Duty Pump Drive Catalog reflects products which are tabulated in descending order by input HP. You may make a selection by input power, then refer to the individual spec sheet to determine if the power division between outputs is suitable for your specific application. To start the process of a custom engineered solution, users can also contact Cotta for assistance with their pump drive selection.
Cotta’s Pump Drives Offer:
- A standard case that is cast iron for strength and rigidity. For custom designs, stress relieved steel fabrications are used
- A through shaft can be provided. Add optional disconnect for intermittent drive requirements
- Lube pump, heat exchanger, and lube distribution circuit is provided
- SAE housings from 00 (shown in picture) to 1 for minimum installation space. Delete housing for remote mounting
- Various flywheel couplings including over center clutches, torsional couplings, drive plates, and air clutches
- Interchangeable pump pads from SAE B to F can be used on any station. DIN spec pads available. Field configurable
LEARN MORE: PUMP DRIVES
Cotta’s Model SN1649 is a foot mounted single increasing stage, high-speed gearbox designed for test stand use. The gearbox is compact, making it suitable for enclosure into utilized test stands. The model has a stub input shaft and typically has an aerospace accessory drive pad output. The gearbox can be modified for operation up to 50,000 rpm output speed.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Power: 300 HP
Output Speed:
- 30,000 RPM Typical
- 50,000 RPM with modifications
Ratios: 2.00, 2.58, 3.00, 4.00, 5.44. Contact Cotta for other available ratios
Max Accell/Decel Rate: 200 rpm/sec at output. For high rates contact Cotta
Input Configuration: Keyed stub shaft is standard. Contact Cotta for optional inputs
Output Configuration: AND20002 pad is typical. Shafts and various other pads available
Rotation: Input can be driven ccw or cw. Output rotates opposite to input
Lubrication: Positive delivery. Pump, heat exchanger, and necessary temp and pressure controls are furnished
Options: Accelerometers, speed pickup, and other application specific items can be accommodated or supplied
Approximate Weight: 200 lbs
Standard Finish: 2-part polyurethane enamel
Over 50 years, Cotta has designed and manufactured a diverse line of high-speed gearboxes that are used by some of the largest OEM companies in the world for numerous R&D and production test stand applications for automotive, aerospace and industrial components. Contact Cotta for for your high-speed gearbox needs.
LEARN MORE: HIGH SPEED GEARBOX CATALOG
Cotta Transmission has been a leading force in transmission gearboxes for over a century. Cotta products are are known for their durability, often operating in extremely harsh conditions. If a gearbox happens to overheat, outside factors are most likely the cause. Some of those factors include the operating and ambient temperatures, lubricant viscosity index, as well as load conditions. However, the most frequent cause for gearboxes to overheat is the oil level. Too little oil may result in reduced delivery, or no delivery to moving parts, which can cause high friction and heat. Conversely, too much oil increases agitation by gears, bearings, and other moving parts which can generate unwanted heat. The inclination to add more oil than necessary, or “just in case”, should be avoided.
Oil level concerns are addressed with all Cotta products by experimenting with the levels at the Cotta factory. If there are special operating circumstances such as pitch or roll, or a jerky motion that can cause the oil level to change on your Cotta gearbox, contact our Engineering team to discuss the best way to re-locate the oil level. Call 608-368-5600 or email sales@cotta.com .
Cotta recently completed the painting process on this pump drive, which will be used in a rope shovel application. Cotta’s customer has been purchasing the pump drives for over 10 years. The units, as with all Cotta transmission gearboxes, have proven to be one of the most reliable, durable, and powerful products available in our industry. Cotta takes great pride and care in designing a gearbox…your gearbox. We work together to discover your specific needs, or uncover the power issues causing problems, and drive ourselves hard to design the best possible high-speed transmission gearbox, speed increaser, or reducer, pump drive, or product your situation requires.