A time ratio
ED% is driven or loaded time divided by total interval time. It describes the operating pattern you entered; it is not a universal gearbox rating.
AGV Drive Wheel Gearbox Duty Cycle
Estimate the driven-time share of an AGV cycle. Check the result against model-specific load, speed, and thermal data.
Published October 7, 2026 · Last reviewed October 7, 2026
What the duty-cycle result tells you
Thermal suitability
ED% alone cannot say whether a reducer will overheat. Check the selected model’s thermal data against the actual torque, speed, ambient, mounting, and operating profile.
Service life
The tool does not estimate bearing L10h or gear life. Those checks need component ratings and the loads, speeds, and conditions used by the relevant manufacturer method.
Calculation method and examples
The calculator divides driven or loaded time by the sum of driven time and unpowered dwell time. The example values and rows below demonstrate arithmetic only; they are not industry benchmarks or gearbox recommendations.
| Driven / loaded time | Unpowered dwell | Total interval | Calculated ED% | What it describes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 s | 75 s | 120 s | 37.5% | Driven for 45 of each 120 seconds. |
| 54 s | 6 s | 60 s | 90.0% | Driven for 54 of each 60 seconds. |
| 60 s | 0 s | 60 s | 100.0% | No unpowered dwell was entered. |
If the cycle changes, use totals from a representative observation window. This time aggregation does not weight load or speed and cannot represent heat accumulation, starts, reversals, or cooling during a shift.
Evidence and scope of the engineering checks
These sources explain which engineering check is needed. They do not define a universal AGV gearbox ED% threshold. Source status and product details were checked on October 7, 2026.
| Source | What it covers | How to apply it |
|---|---|---|
| IEC 60034-1:2026 | IEC lists this edition as “Rotating electrical machines — Part 1: Rating and performance”; published 13 March 2026. | Motor duty declarations describe the electrical machine. Confirm reducer thermal limits from the gearbox maker separately. |
| ISO 281:2007 | ISO defines methods for rolling-bearing dynamic ratings and basic or modified rating life; basic rating life is associated with 90% reliability under stated conditions. | A time ratio or motor torque ratio is not a bearing-life calculation. The actual bearing loads, ratings, speed, and operating conditions matter. |
| Neugart NGV AGV wheel gearbox data | The product page publishes model-specific operating data, including average thermal input speed at rated torque and S1 for each listed frame. | Read thermal and mechanical data for the exact selected model and configuration; do not substitute a generic ED% or oil-temperature cutoff. |
ISO's catalog record for ISO 281:2007 was checked on October 7, 2026; it notes a revision is in progress. Confirm the current edition and the manufacturer’s calculation method before a design release.
What ED% cannot validate
A credible wheel-drive decision separates the schedule summary from the component checks. The same ED% can represent very different loads, speeds, ambient conditions, and heat paths.
| Decision | Unknown from ED% alone | Next check |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal suitability | Gear ratio and efficiency, transmitted torque and speed, ambient, mounting, lubrication, enclosure, and cooling. | Compare the actual operating profile with the exact reducer model’s thermal rating and limits. |
| Bearing life | Equivalent bearing loads, dynamic rating, bearing type, speed distribution, lubrication, and reliability target. | Request a bearing-life calculation using the gearbox maker’s component data and load cases. |
| AGV traction sizing | Wheel radius, mass and load distribution, rolling resistance, grade, acceleration, braking, and starts per hour. | Build the wheel torque and speed profile, then verify peak and continuous ratings separately. |
| Frame size and lifecycle cost | ED% alone does not show which frame is adequate or whether oversizing would pay back in this application. | Compare manufacturer-validated options against measured loads, target life, energy use, and maintenance needs before adding size margin. |
Minimum information to prepare
- Vehicle and payload mass per driven wheel
- Wheel diameter, grade, and rolling surface
- Speed, acceleration, braking, and starts per hour
- Driven and dwell times across a representative shift
- Ambient temperature and mounting/enclosure details
- Target service life and maintenance constraints
Frequently asked questions
Using the calculator
What does the AGV gearbox duty-cycle result mean?
It is the driven-time share of the interval you entered: driven or loaded time divided by total interval time. It helps describe an operating profile to a supplier. It is not a thermal pass/fail result or a gearbox life estimate.
What should count as driven time?
Enter the periods when the gearbox is driven or transmits load. Use the same basis for every part of the interval. Ask the gearbox supplier how to treat powered holding, braking, and other states that do not fit a simple driven-versus-unpowered split.
Can I use the calculator for a changing route or multi-shift schedule?
Yes, as a time-ratio summary: add the driven periods and unpowered dwell periods over a representative observation window. The result still does not account for changes in torque, speed, starts, reversals, or heat build-up between shifts.
Selecting and validating a wheel drive
Does a high ED% prove that the gearbox will overheat?
No universal ED% cutoff can establish that. Thermal suitability depends on the exact gear unit and its operating conditions. Compare the real load and speed profile with the manufacturer’s thermal data for the selected model, including ambient temperature and mounting conditions.
Can ED% or peak motor torque predict L10h bearing life?
No. ISO 281 covers rolling-bearing rating life; a calculation needs bearing-specific ratings and equivalent bearing loads across the operating conditions. A gearbox output-torque ratio alone is not that bearing load calculation, and this tool does not calculate L10h.
Do motor duty labels such as S1 or S3 certify the gearbox?
No. IEC 60034-1 is a rating and performance standard for rotating electrical machines. Check the motor duty declaration and the gearbox manufacturer’s own thermal and mechanical ratings separately.
What should I send for a model-specific engineering check?
Provide the wheel size, vehicle and payload mass per driven wheel, grade or ramp profile, acceleration and braking profile, speed, travel and dwell times, starts per hour, ambient temperature, mounting and enclosure details, lubricant or maintenance constraints, and the target service life.
Validate the drive-wheel gearbox with engineering
Include the calculated time ratio with the traction, load, speed, environment, and service-life requirements above. The gearbox manufacturer can then check the specific model’s thermal and mechanical ratings against the real AGV motion profile.