Early results from testing conducted by Genesis Partners LP have raised questions concerning the role of
gear action with the appearance of micropitting as well as surface fatigue (macropitting). Comparisons
between similar gearsets with the same loads, speeds, and lubrication but operated either as speed
increasers (where the gear drives the pinion) or as speed reducers (where the pinion drives the gear) have
yielded strikingly different propensities for wear. Further, these observations are not limited to lubrication
based failures such as micropitting, but, so far, have applied to traditional surface fatigue failures
(macropitting) as well.
Testing was conducted in two different fixtures of much different scales where a number of variables could be
controlled and monitored. The first test involved a gearbox designed for a 108kW size wind turbine that was
loaded in progressively heavier loads一up to 240% of rated capacity. The second test allowed much more
flxibility with smaller gearing by loading gearing with the same geometry as both speed increasers and speed
reducers. In both tests, lubricant cleanliness and temperature were rigorously controlled in addition to torque
and speed.

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