Gear Train

• A combination of gear wheels by means of which motion is

transmitted from one shaft to another shaft.
• The nature of the train used depends upon the velocity
ratio required and the relative position of the axes of
shafts.
 Types of Gear Trains
• Simple gear train – (Gear box of automobiles, Lathe
machines, heavy duty press machines.
• Compound gear train – ( Centre Lathe , Milling Machines,
DVD recorders)
• Reverted gear train – ( Automotive transmissions, lathe
back gears, industrial speed reducers, and in clocks (where
the minute and hour hand shafts are co-axial)
• Epicyclic gear train – (Useful for transmitting high
velocity ratios)
 Simple Gear Train

Series of gears, capable of receiving and transmitting motion from one gear to another
is called a simple gear train.

The idle gears are used for the following

two purposes
1. To connect gears where a large
centre distance is required
2. To obtain the desired direction of
motion of the driven gear (i.e. clockwise or
anticlockwise).
 Compound Gear Train
• When there are more than one gear on a shaft, it is called a
compound gear train.
• When a series of gears are connected in such a way that two or
more gears rotate about an axis with the same angular velocity.
 Reverted Gear Train
When the axes of the first gear and last gear are co-axial, then the
gear train is known as reverted gear train.
Epicyclic Gear Train
• A gear train having a relative
motion of axes is called a planetary
or an epicyclic gear train.
• The axis of at least one of the gears
also moves relative to the frame.
 Analysis of Epicyclic Gear Train
Assume clockwise motion of wheel as +ve and counterclockwise as –ve.

• Assume Arm “a” is fixed and turn “S” through “x” revolutions.
in the clockwise direction.
• Revolutions made by a =

• Revolutions made by S =

Epicyclic gear train

• Revolutions made by P =

• Now if the mechanism is locked together and turned through a number of

revolution , the relative motions between a , S and P will not alter.
• Let the lock system is turned through “y” revolutions in the clockwise direction.
• Revolutions made by a =

• Revolutions made by S =

• Revolutions made by P =
 Table of motions

Step Conditions of Motion Na NS NP

No.
1 Arm “a” is fixed and gear “S”
rotates through + 1 revolution
i.e. 1 rev. clockwise

2 Arm “a” is fixed and gear “S”

rotates through + x revolutions

3 Add + y revolutions to all elements

4 Total motion
1.In an epicyclic gear train, an arm carries two gears A and B having 36 and 45 teeth respectively. If the
arm rotates at 150 r.p.m. in the anticlockwise direction about the centre of the gear A which is fixed,
determine the speed of gear B. If the gear A instead of being fixed, makes 300 r.p.m. in the clockwise
direction, what will be the speed of gear B ?
Step Conditions of Motion NC NA NB
No.
1 Arm “C” is fixed and gear “A”
rotates through + 1 revolution
i.e. 1 rev. clockwise

2 Arm “C” is fixed and gear “A”

rotates through + x revolutions

3 Add + y revolutions to all elements

4 Total motion
2.In an epicyclic gear train, an arm carries two gears 1 and 2 having 40 and 50 teeth
respectively. The arm rotates at 160 r.p.m. CCW about the centre of the gear 1 which is
fixed. Determine the speed of gear 2.

Step Conditions of Motion Na N1 N2

No.
1 Arm “a” is fixed and gear “1”
rotates through + 1 revolution
i.e. 1 rev. clockwise

2 Arm “a” is fixed and gear “1”

rotates through + x revolutions

3 Add + y revolutions to all elements

4 Total motion
 3. An epicyclic gear train is shown in figure given below.The number of teeth on A and B
are 75 and 195. Determine the speed of arm “a” :
(i) If A rotates at 100 rpm CW and B at 50 rpm CCW.
(ii) If A rotates at 100 rpm CW and B is stationary.
 Table of motions
Ste Conditions of Motion
p
No.
1 Arm “a” is fixed and gear
“A” rotates through + 1
revolution i.e. 1 rev.
clockwise

2 Arm “a” is fixed and gear

“A” rotates through + x
revolutions

3 Add + y revolutions to all

elements

4 Total motion