COMMON TERMS AND DEFINITIONS extracted form *AGMA Standard Gear Nomenclature

PITCH is the distance between similar equally spaced tooth surfaces along a given line or curve. The use of the single word PITCH without qualification may be confusing, and for this reason specific designations are preferred, like CIRCULAR PITCH, AXIAL PITCH, DIAMETRAL PITCH. CIRCULAR PITCH is the distance along the pitch circle or pitch line between corresponding profiles of adjacent teeth. AXIAL PITCH is linear pitch in an axial plane and in a pitch surface. In helical gears and worms, axial pitch has the same value at all diameters. In gearing of other types axial pitch may be confined to the pitch surface and may be a circular measurement. The term axial pitch is preferred to the term linear pitch. The axial pitch of a helical worm and the circular pitch of its wormgear are the same. DIAMETRAL PITCH is the ratio of the number of teeth to the pitch diameter in inches. PITCH DIAMETER is the diameter of the pitch circle. PITCH CIRCLE is the curve of intersection of a pitch surface of revolution and a plane of rotation. According to theory, it is the imaginary circle that rolls without slipping with a pitch circle of a mating gear. ADDENDUM is the height by which a tooth projects beyond the pitch circle or pitch line; also, the radial distance between the pitch circle and the addendum circle. DEDENDUM is the depth of a tooth space below the pitch circle or pitch line; also, the radial distance between the pitch circle and the root circle. CLEARANCE is the amount by which the dedendum in a given gear exceeds the addendum of its mating gear. WORKING DEPTH is the depth of engagement of two gears, that is, the sum of their addendums. WHOLE DEPTH is the total depth of a tooth space, equal to addendum plus dedendum, also equal to working depth plus clearance. OUTSIDE DIAMETER is the diameter of the addendum (outside) circle. ROOT DIAMETER is the diameter of the root circle. ROOT CIRCLE is tangent to the bottom of the tooth space in a a gear cross section. BACKLASH is the amount by which the width of a tooth space exceeds the thickness of the engaging tooth on the operating pitch circles. FACE WIDTH is the length of the teeth in the axial plane. LEAD is the axial advance of a helix for one complete turn, as in the threads of cylindrical worms and the teeth of helical gears. PRESSURE ANGLE is in general the angle at a pitch point between the line of pressure which is normal to the tooth surface and the plane tangent to the pitch surface. The pressure angle gives the direction of the normal to a tooth profile. MODULE (inch) is the ratio of the pitch diameter in inches to the number of teeth. It is the reciprocal of the diametral pitch. MODULE (millimeter) is the ratio of the pitch diameter in millimeters to the number of teeth. It is converted to diametral pitch by the equation: 25.4 Pd = module (millimeter) Where Pd = diametral pitch

*With the permissioon of the publisher, The American Gear Manufactuerers Association, 1330 Massachusettes Ave. NW., Washington, D. C. 20005

7N

(800) 243-0986
In CT (203) 775-4877

NORDEX