An articulated-locked train gear uses how many high-speed pinions?

• A. One
• B. Two
• C. Three
• D. Four

Answer: (B)

Two high-speed pinions share the load and keep engagement flexible. In an articulated-locked train gear, the pinions sit on a common cradle that can articulate, allowing both pinions to mesh with the same bull gear. This divides the drive between two contact points, lowering the stress on each pinion and gear, and it accommodates minor misalignments without losing meshing. With only one pinion, all the load and any misalignment would be carried by a single gear set, increasing wear and the risk of binding. So the design uses two high-speed pinions to achieve smoother, more durable reduction from high-speed to low-speed shafts.