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Copyright © 2025 Fluent Conveyors, LLC. All right reserved
Fluent Conveyors logo is a registered trademarks of Fluent Conveyors, LLC. Serial Number 97664258 Registered on Dec. 12, 2023
Copyright © 2025 Fluent Conveyors, LLC. All right reserved
Fluent Conveyors logo is a registered trademarks of Fluent Conveyors, LLC. Serial Number 97664258 Registered on Dec. 12, 2023
Fluent Conveyors supplies gearboxes (speed reducers) for belt conveyors and roller chain conveyors. Shop helical inline drives, right-angle helical bevel drives, parallel shaft drives, and worm drives for replacement and new installations.
Compact coaxial design with aligned input and output shafts. High efficiency and torque capacity for continuous-duty conveyor applications.
Key specs:
Power: 0.16–200 HP
Torque: Up to 205,000 lb-in
Efficiency: 95–98%
Mounting: Foot, flange, shaft mount
Applications: Belt conveyors, moderate-duty roller chain
General specifications listed below. See products for full specifications.
0.16–268 HP (varies by type)
88–680,200 lb-in (varies by type)
3.15:1 to 14,340:1 (varies by type and model)
50–98% (helical: 94–98%, worm: 50–90%)
Foot mount, flange mount, shaft mount with torque arm
IP55 (standard), IP66, IP69K washdown, corrosion-resistant coatings
Mineral oil (standard), synthetic for extreme temperatures
1.0–2.0 depending on application class
-13°F to 104°F (standard), extended with synthetic oil
ISO 9001, food-safe options available
reliable conveyor performance.
Built for dependable performance and efficient power transfer in conveyor applications.
1. Calculate torque requirements
Determine the required output torque based on conveyor load, belt speed, pulley diameter, and friction factors. Account for starting torque, which can be 2–3x steady-state torque for heavy-loaded starts.
Required torque (lb-in) = Pulling force (lbs) × Pulley radius (inches)
Pulling force includes material weight, conveyor belt weight, friction coefficient, and elevation forces for inclined conveyors. Apply appropriate service factors based on application severity.
2. Determine gear ratio
Calculate the required gear ratio from motor speed and desired output speed:
Gear ratio = Motor RPM ÷ Output shaft RPM
Standard motor speeds:
1,750 RPM (4-pole)
1,150 RPM (6-pole)
850 RPM (8-pole)
Select the closest available standard ratio. You can usually accommodate small variations in output speed through VFD control.
3. Apply service factors
Service factors account for loading conditions, operating hours, and start/stop frequency.
Loading severity:
Class 1 (uniform, light): 1.0–1.15 (packaging conveyors)
Class 2 (moderate, occasional shock): 1.25–1.5 (recycling, aggregates)
Class 3 (heavy, frequent shock): 1.5–2.0 (mining, heavy scrap)
Operating hours:
Intermittent (<3 hours/day): No additional factor
Moderate (3–10 hours/day): Add 0.0–0.1
Continuous (>10 hours/day): Add 0.1–0.25
Start/stop frequency:
≤10 starts/hour: 1.0
11–30 starts/hour: 1.1
30 starts/hour: 1.25
Selection torque = Required torque × Total service factor
4. Select mounting configuration
Shaft mount: Most common for conveyors. The gearbox mounts to the drive shaft with a hollow-bore output. It requires a base or torque arm mount to react against torque forces to eliminate external couplings and alignment concerns.
Foot mount: The gearbox mounts to the base with a solid output shaft connected by a coupling. This mount provides maximum maintenance flexibility but requires precise alignment.
Flange mount: The gearbox bolts to an equipment housing or mounting plate. This mount is common in vertical or space-constrained installations.
5. Confirm environmental requirements
Standard (IP55): Dust ingress prevention and water jet protection. Suitable for indoor conveyors with moderate dust levels.
Washdown (IP66, IP69K): Enhanced sealing for high-pressure cleaning. Required for food processing, pharmaceutical, and other hygienic applications. Use smooth-surface housings and synthetic food-grade lubricants.
Corrosion protection: Painted finishes for outdoor installations, stainless steel or special coatings for corrosive environments (chemical processing, marine applications).
Temperature extremes: Synthetic lubricants extend operating range to -40°F to 150°F. Specify heaters for cold-start conditions below 0°F.
6. Verify output shaft requirements
Match output shaft diameter and configuration to existing pulley or sprocket bore. Standard keyways follow ANSI B17.1. For shaft-mounted units, confirm that the hollow bore diameter matches the drive shaft. Order bushings or adapters if sizes don't match perfectly.
Recycling and waste management conveyors
Recycling and waste management materials create moderate to heavy shock loading from irregular objects, varying densities, and occasional jams.
Recommended gearbox types:
Helical inline drives: 10–50 HP range for sorting conveyors and general transport
Helical bevel drives: Heavy-duty applications with vertical motor orientation preferred
Parallel shaft drives: Heavy loads in construction and demolition debris processing
Service factor: 1.25–1.5 (Class 2 loading)
Special considerations: Enhanced sealing for dust, corrosion-resistant coatings for outdoor installations, and frequent start/stop capability for sortation systems.
Aggregate and mining conveyors
Abrasive materials, continuous operation, and heavy loads demand maximum durability and torque capacity.
Recommended gearbox types:
Parallel shaft drives: Primary choice for 50+ HP applications with extreme torque
Helical bevel drives: Space-constrained installations requiring right-angle configuration
Helical inline drives: Smaller aggregate conveyors and feeder applications
Service factor: 1.5–2.0 (Class 3 loading for mining, Class 2 for aggregate processing)
Special considerations: Sealed breathers for dust prevention, synthetic lubricants for temperature extremes, oversized output shafts for heavy radial loads, and continuous-duty thermal ratings.
Manufacturing and distribution conveyors
Manufacturing and distribution conveyors often deal with lighter loads, frequent starting/stopping, and positioning moves. Efficiency and noise levels often matter more than maximum torque capacity.
Recommended gearbox types:
Helical inline drives: Standard choice for package handling and light assembly
Worm drives: Quieter operation for noise-sensitive environments, positioning applications requiring self-locking
Helical bevel drives: Vertical motor mounting in space-limited facilities
Service factor: 1.0–1.25 (Class 1 loading)
Special considerations: High-efficiency units (IE3 motors paired with 96%+ gearboxes) for energy cost reduction, lower noise levels for worker comfort, and frequent start/stop ratings for sortation.
Food processing and pharmaceutical conveyors
Hygienic design requirements exceed standard industrial specifications.
Recommended gearbox types:
Helical inline drives with washdown capability: Primary choice for food-safe applications
Stainless steel or special coated units: When aluminum housings don't meet sanitation standards
Service factor: 1.0–1.5, depending on product characteristics
Special considerations: IP66 or IP69K environmental ratings mandatory, smooth-surface housings without crevices, synthetic food-grade lubricants, stainless steel hardware, FDA-compliant materials, drainage provisions preventing water pooling.
Conveyor gearboxes mount in three standard configurations. Select the configuration that matches your existing installation or best fits your conveyor layout.
use a hollow-bore output shaft that slides directly onto the conveyor drive shaft. A torque arm or base mount prevents gearbox rotation under load. Shaft mounting is the most common configuration for right-angle helical bevel and worm drives, and eliminates external couplings and field alignment. Learn how to install a torque arm on a conveyor gearbox.
mount to a rigid base with a solid output shaft connected to the drive shaft or load via an external coupling. This configuration offers maximum maintenance flexibility (the motor can be replaced without removing the gearbox) and is the standard mounting for parallel shaft drives and helical inline drives in most conveyor applications.
bolt directly to the equipment housing or mounting plate using B14 or B5 flange configurations. Flange mounting suits space-constrained or vertical installations and is common in OEM equipment where the gearbox integrates into the machine structure.
Gearbox environmental ratings define protection against solids and liquids. Higher ratings increase cost but prevent premature failure in harsh conditions.
We supply asynchronous AC motors, synchronous AC motors, and motors in explosion-proof housings matched to gearbox requirements. All motors meet or exceed gearbox thermal and mechanical ratings.
Motor options include:
Power range: 0.16–75 HP (larger available for gearmotors)
Efficiency classes: IE1, IE2, IE3, IE4, IE5+
Voltages: 230/460V, 575V, and others
Enclosures: TEFC, IP55, IP66, IP69K, explosion-proof
VFD-compatible ratings for variable-speed applications
Motor brakes factory-installed or field-added
Fluent supplies pre-engineered motor and gearbox combinations that arrive matched, aligned, and ready to install. We verify power ratings, thermal capacity, gear ratios, and mounting compatibility before shipment. Complete drive packages can include factory-configured control systems and PLCs programmed for your specific gearbox assembly, providing plug-and-play conveyor control solutions.
Motor brakes are available factory-installed on gearmotors or as field-installed additions, matched to drive unit torque and duty cycle requirements. Control panels can be configured with variable frequency drives (VFDs), soft starters, and system programming tailored to your operational requirements.
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