Drivetrain Qualification Systems / Tracked & Heavy Armoured Vehicle Side Gear Boxes / LH & RH · PLC-HMI Automation / Noida · India 2026 · Product Page

SIDE GEAR BOX TEST RIG · LH & RH

Electrical & Hydraulic System for the Side Gear Box (LH & RH) Test Rig — tested hot, pressurised and loaded to ~150°C oil, 18 kgf/cm², 78–80 kW.

In tracked and heavy armoured vehicles a failed side gear box is a mobility kill — no steering, no manoeuvre, no mission. This rig reproduces the real operating envelope before the gearbox ever reaches a vehicle: hot pressurised lubrication, hydraulically actuated clutch, gear-shift and brake loading, a high-power asynchronous servo drive, and full torque, temperature, pressure, noise and vibration monitoring under PLC-HMI automation — for both LH and RH variants on one integrated test bench.

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Electrical and hydraulic system for side gear box LH and RH test rig - LH-labelled gearbox fixture, hydraulic power unit and dual-monitor control console by Neometrix

Fig · 01 Side gear box (LH & RH) test rig · LH gearbox fixture, hydraulic power unit and control console, full test cell

Main Drive

78–80kW

Lube Pressure

~18kgf/cm²

Actuation Pressure

~40kgf/cm²

Max Oil Temp

~150°C

Torque Sensor

0–300Nm

About

A mobility kill starts with an unproven side gear box.

Side gear box LH and RH test rig hydraulic power unit and electrical control panel - defence gearbox validation system by Neometrix

The Electrical & Hydraulic System for the Side Gear Box (LH & RH) Test Rig is a fully engineered test facility developed to qualify side gear boxes for tracked and heavy armoured vehicles, where drivetrain reliability directly dictates mission readiness. In these platforms, a failed side gear box means the vehicle cannot steer, manoeuvre or withdraw, so every gearbox has to be proven before it ever reaches the field.

The rig combines dedicated lubrication and actuation hydraulic power packs, a high-power asynchronous servo drive and a PLC–HMI control system to reproduce the real operating envelope: oil heated and pumped through the gearbox under pressure, a controlled brake load applied to make the gear train work rather than freewheel, and hydraulically actuated clutch and gear-shift cylinders mimicking real vehicle actuation forces and sequences. Torque, RPM, temperature, pressure, noise and vibration are monitored in real time, turning each test into a repeatable, data-driven validation rather than a subjective “sounds okay” judgement.

Full technical detail

Hydraulic Architecture

Two circuits, one purpose each.

The hydraulic system is split into two logical subsystems — lubrication/oil circulation and heating, and actuation of clutch, gear-shift and brake — for reliability, control and ease of maintenance.

LUBE · 01

400 L insulated tank

Large-volume tank for thermal stability and reserve for extended endurance runs, designed to minimise aeration and ensure reliable suction and return.

LUBE · 02

Hot, pressurised circulation

~20 kW immersion heater drives oil temperature up to ~150°C; delivery pressure around 18 kgf/cm² with multi-stage coarse + fine filtration keeps oil clean.

ACT · 03

40 L actuation reservoir

Dedicated, separate from lubrication oil, reducing cross-contamination. High-pressure circuit works up to roughly 40 kgf/cm².

ACT · 04

Dedicated cylinders

Clutch, gear-shift, gear-shift block/locking and brake actuation cylinders, PLC-sequenced through repeatable engage–select–load–shift cycles.

Typical return oil temperature during testing is targeted around 100 ± 10°C — a window that lets the rig assess sealing, clearances, noise/vibration and efficiency under genuinely hot running conditions, not lukewarm shop conditions.

Drive & Measurement

Programmable drive, inline torque truth.

Servo drive, not on/off

Mechanical energy comes from a robust asynchronous servo motor rated at approximately 78–80 kW, up to about 2500 RPM, commanded by a servo drive with closed-loop encoder feedback. It supports constant-speed running for endurance and heat soak, controlled speed ramps for performance mapping, and step/transient profiles for shock and load simulation — with over-current, over-temperature and safe-shutdown protection built in.

Inline torque measurement

Torque is measured directly on the shaft with an inline sensor covering approximately 0–300 Nm, mounted between the motor output shaft and the gearbox input shaft. It captures torque versus speed in each gear, transient torque during clutch engagement and gear shifts, and how torque requirements change as the oil heats up — building a clear “good gearbox” torque signature to flag any deviation early.

Instrumentation

Every signal, correlated in real time.

An instrumented test platform, not just a mechanical load machine — the sensor suite gives full visibility into how the gearbox actually behaves.

SENSOR · RPM

Rotational speed

Measures speed across the full operating range, used to synchronise torque, vibration and noise data against RPM.

SENSOR · TEMP

PT100 RTDs, 0–150°C

Installed in the lubrication tank and key lines, used both for monitoring and closed-loop temperature control/safety.

SENSOR · PRESSURE

Lube & actuation pressure

Pressure transmitters (~0–20 bar, 4–20 mA) monitor lubrication health and cylinder pressures during clutch, gear-shift and brake actuation.

SENSOR · NOISE

Overall gearbox noise

~0–80 dB typical measurement range, useful for NVH comparison between units and over time.

SENSOR · VIBRATION

Tri-axial accelerometer

Captures vibration in three orthogonal axes across a wide frequency band suitable for gear mesh and structural vibration analysis.

CONTROL · PLC-HMI

Industrial PLC + touchscreen HMI

Sequences heating, motor run and actuation; enforces safety interlocks; gives operators real-time trends, recipes and manual modes.

Gallery

The test rig, on the shop floor.

Real photographs of the Electrical & Hydraulic System for the Side Gear Box (LH & RH) Test Rig — hydraulic power unit and the actual gearbox test fixture.

Electrical and hydraulic system for side gear box LH and RH test rig - LH-labelled gearbox fixture, hydraulic power unit and control console by Neometrix

Electrical and hydraulic system for side gear box LH and RH test rig - integrated power and control test bench by Neometrix

Side gear box test rig actuator and gearbox fixture assembly - electrical and hydraulic drive system for LH RH gearbox testing by Neometrix

Downloads

Design drawings.

Design drawings for the side gear box (LH & RH) test rig, available as PDF for procurement review and technical pre-screening.

Specifications

Full technical specification.

Category	Parameter	Typical Value / Description
Application	Gearbox type	Side Gear Box – LH & RH variants
Function	Scope	Functional, performance & endurance testing
Main Drive	Motor type	Asynchronous servo motor
	Rated power	~78–80 kW
	Max speed	Up to approx. 2500 RPM
	Control method	Closed-loop speed/torque control via servo drive
Lubrication System	Tank capacity	400 L
	Working fluid	High-grade gear oil (e.g. IOC 030-GX-100 type)
	Delivery pressure	Around 18 kgf/cm²
	Heater rating	~20 kW immersion heater
	Max oil temperature capability	Up to approx. 150°C
	Typical return oil temperature	~100 ± 10°C during test
	Filtration	Multi-stage (coarse + fine filters)
Actuation System	Reservoir capacity	40 L
	Actuation pressure	Up to approx. 40 kgf/cm²
	Functions driven	Clutch, gear shift, gear-lock, brake actuation
	Pump capacity	~30–40 LPM @ up to ~40 bar
Torque Measurement	Torque sensor range	Approx. 0–300 Nm
	Mounting	Inline between drive motor and gearbox input shaft
Sensors – Process	RPM	~3–2500 RPM
	Oil temperature (PT100)	0–150°C
	Pressure transmitters	~0–20 bar, 4–20 mA output
	Noise	~0–80 dB measurement range (typical)
Sensors – Vibration	Type	Tri-axial accelerometer
	Frequency range	Wide band suitable for gear mesh & structural vibration analysis
Control & Interface	Controller	Industrial PLC
	HMI	Graphical touchscreen operator panel
	Communication	Industrial serial/fieldbus interface (e.g. RS-485/modern equivalent)
Operating Modes	Test mode	Semi-automatic and fully automatic sequences (configurable)
	Logging	Real-time monitoring, trend/data logging (depending on setup)
Typical Environment	Installation	Defence vehicle factories, ordnance plants, heavy vehicle test facilities

Applications

Where this rig gets used.

Organisations that can’t afford guesswork on gearbox reliability.

USER · 01

Armoured & tracked vehicle manufacturers

Routine testing and final acceptance of side gear boxes before vehicle integration.

USER · 02

Ordnance factories & overhaul depots

Post-repair and post-overhaul performance verification before re-induction.

USER · 03

Defence R&D and engineering labs

Design validation, benchmarking, oil and configuration comparison testing.

USER · 04

Independent test houses

Contract testing for OEMs and maintenance organisations across defence and heavy vehicle sectors.

Media Gallery

Watch the rig run.

Video walkthrough of the side gear box (LH & RH) test rig in operation.

FAQ

Common questions.

Q · 01 What is a side gear box test rig and where is it used?

A side gear box test rig, also called a side gearbox test bench or side gear box test stand, is used to test the left-hand and right-hand side gear boxes of tracked and heavy armoured vehicles. It is a specialised tracked vehicle gearbox test rig and heavy armoured vehicle drivetrain test system designed for defence and automotive applications.

Q · 02 What makes this hydraulic gearbox test bench suitable for defence applications?

This hydraulic gearbox test bench uses PLC-controlled automation to run endurance and performance tests on side gear boxes under realistic operating conditions. As a PLC-controlled test rig for military gearbox testing and armoured vehicle transmission test, it simulates actual loads, hot pressurised oil, and dynamic clutch/gear-shift cycles to qualify gear boxes before vehicle integration.

Q · 03 Can the same test stand handle both LH and RH side gear boxes?

Yes. The rig is designed as a combined left-hand right-hand side gear box test system, so one side gearbox test bench can handle multiple gearbox variants used in different defence test equipment and automotive gearbox endurance test scenarios.

Q · 04 How hot and how pressurised is the lubrication supplied during a test?

The 400-litre insulated lubrication tank uses an approximately 20 kW immersion heater to reach oil temperatures up to around 150°C, with delivery pressure around 18 kgf/cm² through multi-stage filtration. Return oil temperature during testing is typically targeted around 100 ± 10°C, so the gearbox is tested hot, loaded and properly lubricated, close to real service conditions.

Q · 05 How does the rig actuate the clutch, gear shift and brake during a test?

A dedicated 40-litre actuation hydraulic power pack, separate from the lubrication circuit, drives the clutch actuation cylinder, gear shift cylinder, gear shift block/locking cylinder and brake actuation cylinder at a working pressure up to roughly 40 kgf/cm². The PLC sequences these cylinders through repeatable cycles such as engage clutch, select gear, apply brake, run at load, release, and shift to the next gear.

Q · 06 What drives the gearbox under test, and how is torque measured?

A high-power asynchronous servo motor rated at approximately 78–80 kW and up to about 2500 RPM supplies mechanical energy under closed-loop servo-drive control. An inline torque sensor with a range of approximately 0–300 Nm is mounted between the motor output shaft and the gearbox input shaft to capture torque versus speed, transient torque during shifts, and torque drift as the oil heats up.

Q · 07 What does the rig monitor besides torque and temperature?

The instrumentation suite includes an RPM sensor, PT100 RTD temperature sensors in the lubrication tank and key lines, pressure transmitters on the lubrication and actuation circuits, a noise sensor, and a tri-axial vibration accelerometer. Correlating these signals lets the rig distinguish lubrication issues from design flaws and detect early mechanical problems before catastrophic failure.

Q · 08 How is the test rig controlled and operated?

An industrial PLC sequences oil heating and circulation, motor run-up/steady-run/run-down, and clutch/gear-shift/brake actuation, while enforcing safety logic such as over-temperature shutdown, low-pressure alarms, emergency stop and mechanical interlocks. A graphical HMI touchscreen gives the operator real-time visualisation, start/stop of test sequences, recipe selection for different gearbox variants, and trend/history viewing.

Q · 09 Who uses this side gear box test rig, and is it customizable?

The rig is used by armoured vehicle and tracked platform manufacturers, ordnance factories and heavy vehicle overhaul depots, defence R&D and engineering labs, and independent test houses. It is designed and manufactured by Neometrix Engineering Pvt Ltd, India, and is offered in customized configurations for different gearbox variants and client-specified test parameters.

Q · 10 How can I get a quotation for this side gear box test rig?

You can request a quotation by contacting Neometrix Engineering Pvt Ltd through https://neometrixgroup.com/products/electrical-and-hydraulic-system-for-the-side-gear-box-lh-and-rh-test-rig or by email or phone. Neometrix exports this side gear box test rig to defence and industrial customers across multiple countries.

Details

Purpose & functional scope.

Validate mechanical performance

Check whether the gearbox can transmit the required torque without abnormal noise, vibration or overheating, and confirm correct functioning in all gears under both light and heavy load.

Verify shift and actuation behaviour

Evaluate smoothness and repeatability of clutch engagement/disengagement, confirm the gear shift mechanism reaches and positively holds each gear position, and check brake actuation under controlled hydraulic load while rotating.

Assess thermal and lubrication performance

Study oil temperature rise under sustained loading and endurance runs, and examine gearbox behaviour at elevated oil temperatures closer to real service conditions.

Analyse NVH, fatigue trends & acceptance criteria

Capture noise and vibration signatures across the full speed range to identify early misalignment, bearing damage or gear tooth pitting, then run standardised test cycles for every gearbox leaving the factory with full traceability.

The rig turns side gear box testing from a subjective “sounds okay” judgement into a repeatable, data-driven validation process.

Get a proposal

Tell us your LH/RH gearbox
test requirements.

We size the lubrication and actuation power packs, configure the PLC test sequence, and walk through acceptance criteria with your QA team before you commit.

Request proposal +91 7777 876 876