Gear Assembly
s = sun, p = planet
a = arm, r = ring

Center Velocity of Planet Gear

Inside Velocity of Planet Gear

The objective in designing the salad spinner is to maximize the spin rate of the inside bowl (connect to the sun gear) for a given handle (or arm) angular velocity.

The epicyclical gear mechanism has four different objects that can rotate. For the salad spinner, the outside ring gear is fixed and the arm or handle angular velocity is given as 1 rev/s. This leaves two other gears with unknown angular velocities, the sun and planet gears.

Since the handle mechanism rotates about its center and its angular velocity is known, the linear velocity of the arm tip, v_a, is

     v_a = ω_a r_a

However, this is also the linear velocity of the planet gear center.

Because the ring gear does not rotate, the velocity at the point of contact between the planet gear and the ring gear is zero (outside edge).

By using similar triangles, the edge velocity of the planet gear where it contacts the sun gear, v_p, can be calculated as

     v_p = 2 v_a = 2(ω_a r_a)

Velocity of Sun Gear

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Velocity at Point of Contact
Between Gears

Since the the planet gear and the sun gear are in contact (and do not slip), their tangent linear velocities must be equal, giving

     v_s = v_p

Since the sun gear is pinned, v_s = r_sω_s. Substituting for v_s and v_p gives

     ω_sr_s = 2 ω_a r_a

     ω_s = 2 ω_a r_a/r_s

The angular velocity magnification is dependent on the ratio of the carrier radius to the sun gear radius, r_a/r_s .

A small sun gear and a large planet gear will produce the highest rotation rate for the bowl. Thus, the best radius for the sun gear r_a is 0.5 inch (remember, there are only 4 gear sizes available). This requires the planet gear radius to be 1.5 inches.

     ω_a = 2 (1 rev/s) 1.5 in / 0.5 in = 6 rev/s

This gives a speed magnification of 6 to 1.