A Novel Algorithm for Enumeration of the Planetary Gear Train Based on Graph Theory

As well known, graph theory is a powerful tool for mechanism design. The enumeration of planet gear trains can be converted the synthesis of graphs while a planetary gear train is converted to a graph. During the enumeration of graphs, the problem of isomorphism should be solved. This paper proposes a novel algorithm used to generate non-isomorphism graphs and thereby omits the part of isomorphism detection. The vertex characteristic is firstly defined in this paper that is the core of the enumeration algorithm. This paper also gives an example of the application for the algorithm.