Raymond Drago, PE
Raymond J. Drago is Chief Engineer for Drive Systems Technology, Inc., a mechanical power transmission consulting organization that he founded in 1976. Drago holds a master’s degree in structural engineering from Drexel University (1980), a master’s degree in engineering from Pennsylvania State University (1973) and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from The City University of New York (1967). He is a registered Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania and Minnesota.
He also served as Senior Technical Fellow – Gear Technology with the Senior Technical Advisors Group of the Boeing Integrated Defense Systems Group – Helicopters Division. During his 37-year career at Boeing, Drago’s primary interests were in the areas of applied mathematics, kinematics, analytical gear system design and synthesis, finite element analysis and computer programming. He was also responsible for the continued development and operation of the company’s computer aided gear design systems as well as many related computer programs, including a complete Gear Finite Element Method Analysis System.
Drago has been and is currently involved in the analysis, design, manufacture, assembly and test of many gear systems ranging from small wind tunnel model drives, through dedicated research test specimens, to full scale helicopter and marine hardware and a very wide variety of industrial gear/bearing systems. This involvement includes application of computer-aided design, development, supervision of assembly and testing. He has also been Project Engineer and Principal Investigator on many drive system related research programs ranging from theoretical investigation of nongeared speed reduction concepts to the development of new gear tooth forms.
Drago is an active participant in the American Helicopter Society (AHS), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE), the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) and the Association of Iron and Steel Engineers (AISE). Within the framework of these activities, he has published over one hundred technical reports, society technical papers and magazine articles. AGMA has presented Drago with the Technical Division Executive Committee Award “… for his outstanding contributions to the art of Gear Design and Utilization.” The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has also presented him with two awards for his development of a NASTRAN Analysis System for Spiral Bevel Gears and his work on determining the Influence of Contact Ratio And Tooth Form on Gearbox Noise, noting that his “…innovation as an item of potential utility and value to others beyond the aerospace field is a significant contribution to the benefits accruing to the Nation from our national aerospace programs.” He has been awarded a patent “High Profile Contact Ratio, Non-Involute Gear Tooth Form and Method” (4,640,149) defining a new and unique gear tooth form.
In his role as Chief Engineer of Drive Systems Technology, Inc., Drago is active in all areas of mechanical power transmission. These activities include the design and analysis of drive systems for such diverse areas as large, high speed paper, printing and cardboard machinery, commercial marine drives, heart pumps, large oil field valves, high speed cable climbing devices, high speed gas turbine/generator sets, special automotive racing gearboxes, artificial limbs, mine shaft hoists, air and water cooled condensers, miniature gear motors (120 IN-OZ Torque range), automatic bolt torquing devices, very large mining & mill gears, municipal and industrial water and waste water processing system drives and small private helicopter conversions (piston to turbine engines).
