doublegeared

Doublegeared is a term used to describe a mechanical configuration where two gears mesh with a single intermediate gear. This intermediate gear is often referred to as an idler gear. The primary function of a doublegeared system is to change the direction of rotation or to alter the speed ratio between two shafts. When the input gear rotates, it turns the idler gear, which in turn rotates the output gear. This arrangement results in the output gear rotating in the same direction as the input gear, unlike a simple two-gear train where the output gear rotates in the opposite direction.

The speed ratio in a doublegeared system is determined by the number of teeth on the input and output gears. The idler gear's number of teeth does not affect the overall speed ratio, though it does influence the physical size and spacing of the gears. This setup is common in various mechanical devices, including transmissions, clocks, and industrial machinery, where precise control over rotational direction and speed is necessary. The addition of an idler gear can also help to bridge larger distances between shafts or to achieve a specific gear ratio that would be difficult to obtain with a direct gear mesh.