Audible noise is evidence to investigate, but fault location depends on whether the sound tracks speed, torque or the machine structure.
Helical Gearbox Noise Diagnosis by Speed and Load
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EP-B2 Two-Stage Bevel-Helical Right-Angle Gearbox
EP-B2 is a two-stage bevel-helical right-angle gearbox combining a precision spiral bevel first stage with a helical reduction stage to deliver 90° shaft redirection at up to 90 kNm across sizes 4–18. The efficient alternative to worm gears for right-angle industrial drives.
MOQ: Flexible. Minimum order value USD 1,500; mixed orders and trial quantities welcome.
EP-B2 Two-Stage Bevel-Helical Right-Angle Gearbox
Where the drive must turn a corner — bevel first stage delivers true 90° right-angle power transmission with helical efficiency. Up to 90 kNm, sizes 4–18.
Product Overview: Right-Angle Drive with Helical Efficiency
The EP-B2 opens a fundamentally different axis of drive design within the HB series: the bevel-helical right-angle gearbox. Where the H series delivers in-line (parallel-shaft) speed reduction, the B series uses a precision spiral bevel gear pair as the first stage to redirect the input shaft axis by 90 degrees, then continues with helical gear reduction stages for output torque multiplication.
The result is a compact right-angle gearbox that combines the shaft-angle versatility of a worm gear unit with the efficiency, torque density, and service life of helical gear technology. At two stages (one bevel + one helical), the EP-B2 delivers ratios from approximately 5:1 to 45:1 and output torques up to 90 kNm at Size 18 — in a housing that can be mounted horizontally or vertically in any of nine standard shaft configurations.
The B2 is the most compact member of the bevel-helical family, ideal for applications where both a 90-degree shaft arrangement and moderate speed reduction are needed simultaneously, without the size or weight penalty of a larger B3 or B4 unit.
Bevel-Helical vs. Worm Gearboxes: The Efficiency Advantage
The most common right-angle gearbox type in lower-cost industrial equipment is the worm gear unit. While inexpensive and compact, worm gearboxes have a fundamental limitation: efficiency. At gear ratios above 20:1, worm efficiency commonly falls below 70%, meaning 30% of input power is lost as heat in the worm mesh. This translates directly into motor oversizing, cooling requirements, and energy cost over the equipment's lifetime.
The EP-B2's spiral bevel first stage operates at 98–99% efficiency — comparable to the helical second stage. The combined two-stage efficiency of the EP-B2 is approximately 96–97% at rated load, regardless of gear ratio. This makes the bevel-helical unit fundamentally more efficient than any worm gearbox in the same power and ratio class, particularly at ratios above 15:1 where worm efficiency drops sharply.
For a drive running 8,000 hours per year at 15 kW input, the efficiency difference between a bevel-helical unit at 96% and a worm unit at 70% represents approximately 39,000 kWh per year in energy savings — a significant operating cost advantage that typically justifies the higher first cost of the bevel-helical design within 12–18 months.
Size Range & Nominal Output Torque
EP-B2 spans sizes 4 through 18 — a focused range covering light to heavy right-angle industrial drives:
| Size | Nom. Output Torque (kNm) | Max Input Speed (rpm) | Ratio Range (i) | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0.25 | ≤1500 | 5–35 | Light right-angle drives |
| 6 | 0.60 | ≤1500 | 5–40 | Packaging, feeders |
| 8 | 1.40 | ≤1500 | 5–40 | Cross-conveyor drives |
| 10 | 3.00 | ≤1500 | 5–45 | Process agitators, fans |
| 13 | 7.50 | ≤1000 | 5–45 | Heavy conveyors, mixers |
| 16 | 20.0 | ≤750 | 5–45 | Large conveyor corners, dryers |
| 18 | 90.0 | ≤600 | 5–45 | Heavy industrial right-angle drives |
EP-B2 Horizontal Dimension Drawing — Sizes 4–12
EP-B2 Horizontal Dimension Drawing — Sizes 13–18
EP-B2 Vertical Dimension Drawing — Sizes 4–12
Shaft & Mounting Configurations
Nine standard configurations — identical naming to the H series but with the B prefix — cover every installation geometry for the right-angle drive:
| Code | Description | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| BSH | Solid output shaft, horizontal mount | Standard coupled right-angle drives |
| BHH | Hollow bore output, horizontal | Shaft-mounted right-angle units |
| BDH | Shrink-disc hollow, horizontal | High-torque shaft-mounted bevel units |
| BHM | Hollow bore + IEC motor flange, horizontal | Motor-direct bevel-helical units |
| BDM | Shrink-disc + IEC motor flange, horizontal | High-torque motor-direct mount |
| BSV | Solid output shaft, vertical | Vertical right-angle agitators |
| BHV | Hollow bore output, vertical | Vertical shaft-mounted bevel drives |
| BDV | Shrink-disc hollow, vertical | Vertical high-torque shaft mount |
BSH: Solid Shaft Horizontal
BSV: Solid Shaft Vertical
BHH: Hollow Bore Horizontal
Key Technical Features
Spiral Bevel First Stage
Precision-cut spiral bevel gears provide the 90° direction change with tooth loads distributed along a helix rather than at a single contact line — dramatically reducing noise and vibration versus straight-tooth bevel gears, while maintaining high efficiency.
Helical Second Stage
The bevel output pinion drives a carburised and ground helical gear pair for the primary torque multiplication. Helical tooth geometry provides smooth, gradual engagement and high load capacity per unit of gear width.
Compact Two-Stage Envelope
The B2 achieves right-angle geometry in a housing that is only slightly larger than an H2 of comparable torque class, making it suitable for machine layouts where both direction change and space efficiency are priorities.
Nine Mounting Configurations
BSH through BDV — solid shaft, hollow bore, shrink-disc hollow, with and without motor flange — in both horizontal and vertical orientations. The B series input shaft is always perpendicular to the output shaft.
Sizes 4–18 in Two Frame Groups
Two dimensional groups (sizes 4–12 and 13–18) provide separate engineering drawings. Sizes 4–12 are the compact light-to-medium range; sizes 13–18 cover heavy-duty right-angle drives up to 90 kNm.
Full Lubrication Compatibility
ISO VG 220 mineral or synthetic PAO gear oil. For food industry applications, NSF H1-certified food-grade gear oil is available as a factory fill option on request.
Industry Applications
EP-B2 is the standard right-angle gearbox for applications where in-line H-series geometry is impractical because the motor and driven machine shafts must be at 90 degrees to each other:
| Industry | Application | Primary Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Conveyor Systems | Drive head corner turns, cross-belt drives | 90° shaft layout, high torque |
| Food & Beverage | Mixing agitators, conveyor corners | Right-angle, food-grade lubricant |
| Packaging | Form-fill-seal, horizontal conveyor drives | Compact, precise ratio |
| Agricultural Equipment | Spreader drives, grain auger corners | Right-angle, shock tolerance |
| HVAC | Cooling tower fan drives, cross-flow fans | High efficiency, vertical mount |
| Pumping Stations | Right-angle pump drives, aerators | Continuous duty, sealed housing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore the Full HB Series
Specify Your EP-B2 Right-Angle Drive
Tell us your shaft angle constraint, required torque and ratio, and mounting orientation. Our team will confirm the correct B2 size and configuration within one business day.
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