FME 212: Gear Train Problems

1. Figure Q1, below, illustrates an automotive sliding-mesh transmission gearbox.

Speed Selections

3 4
Input Output
1 2 Shaft
Shaft

5 6 10
7 8

Counter
Shaft

Fig. Q1

The numbers of teeth on the various gear wheels are as follows:

Gear Wheel Number of Teeth Gear Wheel Number of teeth

1 12 6 35
2 15 7 25
3 25 8 30
4 20 9 12
5 38 10 12

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 Gear wheel 1 is keyed to the input shaft and cannot slide along it. Gear wheels 2, 3,
and 4 form a compound cluster that is keyed to the output shaft but can be slid along
it. Gear wheel 10 is a reverse idler. Determine the gear ratios for each speed
selection, starting from the lowest forward selection to the highest and then to the
reverse selection. Tabulate your results.

2. Name the four basic categories of gears.

Define the terms circular pitch, module, addendum, and dedendum, as applies to
spur gear wheels.

A reverted compound gear train, in which gear 1 is the driver, consists of spur gear
wheels with the following numbers of teeth:

z1 = 14, z 2 = 56, z3 = 16, z 4 = 34

Determine the overall gear ratio.

If the module of the input pinion is 2.5 mm, determine the module of the output gear
and the centre distance. Determine too, the pitch circle diameters of all the gear
wheels in the train.

1 3

7
6
5
4

Fig. Q5

3. Determine the speeds and directions of rotation of all the gear wheels in the train
illustrated in Fig. Q5, overleaf, given that gear wheel 1 rotates at 1 200 rpm,

Chain Drives 3 of 3
 clockwise. The numbers of teeth on each gear wheel are given in the table below the
figure, on the next page. Tabulate your results.

Gear Wheel Number of Teeth Gear Wheel Number of Teeth

1 22 5 26
2 40 6 42
3 24 7 44
4 44

Resources
• ERDMAN, ARTHUR G. and GEORGE N. SANDOR. (1991). Mechanism Design,
2nd Edition: Chapter 7 – Gears and Gear Trains. Prentice Hall International, Inc.

• KIMBRELL, JACK T. (1991). Kinematics Analysis and Synthesis: Chapter 11 –

Gear Trains. McGraw-Hill Inc.

• MARTIN, GEORGE H. (1982). Kinematics and Dynamics of Machines, 2nd

Edition: Chapter 13 – Gear Trains, Translating Screws, Mechanical
Advantage. McGraw-Hill Inc.

• SHIGLEY, JOSEPH EDWARD and JOHN JOSEPH UICKER (1980). Theory of

Machines and Mechanisms: Chapter 9 – Mechanism Trains. McGraw-Hill
Book Company.
• www.emerson-ept.com/eptroot/public/schools/gears2.pdf

• For basic gear types and specifications:

http://www.srl.gatech.edu/education/ME3110/design-
reports/RSVP/DR4/catalog/geartype.htm-pitchdefs

• For some good background material and analysis:

http://www.sdp-si.com/herb/spk/SDP-SI/D190/D190cat.htm

• For a good course on basic gear and gear train analysis:

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/People/rapidproto/mechanisms/chpt7.html

• For another good course on basic gear and gear train analysis:
http://www.claymore.engineer.gvsu.edu/~jackh/eod/mechanic/content.html

• Other Internet Resources.

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