Gears

Syed Shaheer Uddin Ahmed

Lecturer, MPE
The motion and power transmitted by
gears is kinematically equivalent to
that transmitted by friction wheels or
discs.
In order to avoid the slipping, several
projections (called teeth), are provided
on the periphery of the wheel, which
will fit into the corresponding
recesses. A friction wheel with the
teeth cut on it is known as toothed
wheel or gear.
Advantage
1. It transmits exact velocity
ratio.
2. It may be used to transmit
large power.
3. It has high efficiency.
4. It has reliable service.
5. It has compact layout.
Disadvantage
1. The manufacture of gears
require special tools and
equipment.
2. The error in cutting teeth may
cause vibrations and noise
during operation
Spur Gear
• Teeth are parallel to the axis
of rotation
• Used to transmit power from
one shaft to another parallel
shaft.
• Simplest type of Gear
• Only known to generate
radial load on shaft.
 Helical Gear
• Teeth inclined to the axis of
rotation.
• Teeth are thus longer than spur gear
for same witdh
• Can be used for the same
applications as spur gears
• Less noisy than spur gear
• The inclined tooth also develops
thrust loads and bending couples
• Sometimes helical gears are used to
transmit motion between
nonparallel shafts.
Bevel Gear
• The pitch surface is a cone
• Transmits power between
intersecting shafts
• Suitable for 1:1 and higher
velocity ratio/
• Can be used for right-
angle or any angular drive.
Spiral Bevel Gear
Less vibration
Smother and has higher
load capacity
Worm Gear
• Right angle drives
• Used when large gear
reductions are needed.
• Require good lubrication for
heat dissipation
• Designed like a screw (1 start
worm means there is only
one tooth)
• Tooth surface is helicoids.
 Gear Terminology
Pitch, Pitch Circle, Pressure Angle, Addendum,
Dedendum, Circular Pitch, Diametral Pitch,
Module, Clearace, Tooth Thickness, Width of
space.

Diametral Pitch P= No of Teeth/Pitch dia

a=1/P
P=diametrical pitch= N/d
b=1.25/P
c=0.25/P
Circular pitch, p= circumference/no of teeth
Law of Gearing
Pitch point divides the line between
the line of centers and its position
decides the velocity ratio of the two
teeth. The below expression is the
fundamental law of gear-tooth
action.

𝜔1 𝑂2 𝑃
=
𝜔2 𝑂1 𝑃
 Length of path of Contact
• 𝐾𝑃 = (𝑅𝐴 )2 −𝑅2 cos 2 𝜑 − 𝑅 sin 𝜑
• 𝑃𝐿 = (𝑟𝐴 )2 −𝑟 2 cos2 𝜑 − 𝑟 sin 𝜑
• Length of path of contact = KP + PL
𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑃𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑡
• Length of arc of contact=
cos 𝜑

• Contact ratio= number of pair of teeth in contact

𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑟𝑐 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑡
=
𝑝𝑐

𝑀𝑃 = 𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑
𝑃𝑁 = 𝑅 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑
Tooth Profile
A cycloid is the curve traced by
a point on the circumference of
a circle which rolls without
slipping on a fixed straight line.
An involute of a circle is a plane
curve generated by a point on a
tangent, which rolls on the circle
without slipping or by a point on a
taut string which in unwrapped
from a reel.
Interference

• The phenomenon when the tip of tooth undercuts the root on its mating gear is known

as interference.

• It can occur when the involute profile gets in contact with the non involute profile.

• This generally happens at the bottom of the base if the tooth touches it. So to avoid it –

we try to increase centre distance, create undercut.

• Use hobbing process to generate gears to have the involute profile.

Gear Train
• Gear Ratio
𝜔2 𝑁𝑝
•𝑅= =
𝜔1 𝑁𝐺
• Gear Train is a list of gears mated to allow for transfer of power from
an input shaft to output.
• Train value is used to characterize a gear train
𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟
• 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒, 𝑒 = ±
𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑜𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟
• The +/- is determined by comparing the rotational direction of the
input and output.
Gear Train

Simple Gear Train Reverted Gear Train

Compound Gear Train

Problem solving