ME 7 – Activity 6

I. One of the most practical applications of rolling objects is the use of rolling- element
bearings, such as ball bearings, in rotating devices. Conduct an Internet Search and
Write an Essay about rolling-element bearings, provide illustrations and discuss its
working principle. (Use additional sheets for your answers)

Bearings, especially rolling element bearings, are among the most common
components in the business. These bearings may be found in a variety of applications,
including electric motors, gearboxes, and conveyor systems. Basically, if a shaft needs to
spin, a rolling-element bearing can (and usually does) support it. Some individuals are
unaware that the actual composition of these gadgets varies greatly depending on the
application. Two races are separated by a collection of rollers in rolling element bearings.
The bearing's load capacity and lubrication needs are determined by the geometry of these
rollers. The first sort of roller we'll look at is the ball bearing, which is one of the most
prevalent. Ball bearings are available in a wide range of sizes, materials, and finishes. This
gives them a lot of versatility in terms of how they might be used. It makes no difference
which way the components are pointing because the balls in these bearings just roll between
the two races. Cylindrical roller bearings, as its name implies, have cylinders positioned
between the inner and outer races. In the racecourses, these cylinders, which are shaped like
soda cans, roll down their sides.

Unlike balls, which may roll in every direction, the components can only travel along a
single axis. With the exception of being rounded around the middle, spherical roller bearings
are quite similar to cylindrical roller bearings. Spherical roller bearings are rounded rather
than being a perfect cylinder, therefore the sides of the cylinder are no longer parallel to
each other. They have a greater surface area in contact with the race as a result of this than a
cylindrical part of equal length. Needle roller bearings feature a smaller diameter but a
longer length than the preceding examples. These parts are flawless cylinders that have
been stretched to resemble needles. They make up for the surface area in the length they
span, despite their modest diameter. The components of tapered roller bearings have a bigger
diameter at one end than the other. This gives the components a small conical shape and
allows them to roll in a diagonal plane. These components can sustain both axial and radial
loads because of the angles they form. All of the pieces listed above are available in a
variety of arrangements. A single row of components is used in certain bearings, whereas
numerous rows are used in others. Cages are employed in some
bearings to keep the parts separated and their spacing consistent. Seals are another component
of bearings that may be changed. All of these characteristics influence the bearing's
functioning and life expectancy.

The lubrication regime for rolling components is known as elastohydrodynamic

lubrication. The fluid layer is frequently less than one- millimeter-thick in this regime, and
pressures of up to 500,000 pounds per square inch are not unusual. The oil solidifies for a
brief duration, deforming the rolling element and mating surface elastically. Any pollution
can disrupt this process, resulting in disastrous consequences. Particles in the load zone
degrade the mating surfaces and can lead to the formation of new wear particles. The
principle behind a ball bearing is that rolling friction is less than sliding friction. It aids in the
reduction of friction between two surfaces in contact and the maintenance of separation
between bearing races, allowing for minimum surface contact between two surfaces.
 II. Answer the following: (Use additional sheets for your answers)
1. Explain the principles of rolling.
The principle of a rolling-element bearing, also known as a rolling bearing, carries a load by
sandwiching rolling elements (such as balls or rollers) between two bearing rings called races. The
rolling components roll with low resistance and little slippage due to the relative motion of the
races. Aside from that, The principle behind a ball bearing is that rolling friction is less than
sliding friction. It aids in the reduction of friction between two surfaces in contact and the
maintenance of separation between bearing races, allowing for minimum surface contact
between two surfaces.

2. What pure rolling contact means?

Pure rolling contact is defined as a relative motion between two lines or planes. surfaces on which
the points or elements of one appear one after the other. in touch with those in the preceding
order. Case One: External contact, cylinders roll together without sliding. In short, Pure rolling
means the motion of the round object without any slipping or skidding at the point of contact
between the two bodies.

3. One of the most practical applications of rolling objects:

Human Transportation Vehicles

4. Name at least five conditions of bodies in pure rolling contact. Explain each condition.
 Cone Rolling together without slipping – it is often required to connect two shafts
that lie in the same plane but make some angle with each other. This is done by means of
the right cones or frustums of cones, the cones having a common apex. The same
reasoning applies to the ratio of speeds at the base of the cones as to the circles
representing the cylinders.
 Cone with opposite direction of rotation – to calculate the cone angles when the
angle between the axed and the speed ratio is known.
 Rolling of Non-Circular Surfaces – if the angular speed ratio of the two rolling
bodies is not constant, the outlines will not be circular. Whatever forms of curves
 will be fulfilled, the point of contract must be the line of centers, and the rolling arc must
be of equal length.
 Cylinders rolling together without slipping (internal contact) –cylinder A is
hollow with B inside it so that the contract is between the inner surface of A and the
outer surface of B. This is called internal contact. The two cylinders will turn in the same
sense.
 Cylinders rolling together without slipping (external contact) – Let point A be
a cylinder fast to shaft S and B a cylinder fast to shaft S. Assume that the shafts are held
by the frame so that their centers are at a distance apart just equal to the sum of the radii of
the two cylinders.

III. Perform the following tasks: (Use additional sheets for your answers)

A. Define and Discuss the following:

1. Line of Contact – is the line or curve along which two tooth surfaces are tangent to each
other.

2. Path of Action –It is the straight line passing through the pitch point and tangent to both base
circles. The imaginary surface in which contact occurs between two
 engaging tooth surfaces. It is the summation of the paths of action in all sections of the
engaging teeth.
3. Line of Action – A line normal to a pair of mating tooth profiles at their point of contact.

4. Length of Action – Length of Action (Z) - is the distance on an involute line of

action through which the point of contact moves during the action of the tooth
profiles.

5. Limit Diameter – is the diameter of the pitch circle. In parallel shaft gears, the pitch
diameters can be determined directly from the center distance and the number of teeth.)
is the diameter at the base of the tooth space.) is determined by the center distance at
which the gears operate.

6. Face Advance – is the distance on the pitch circle that a gear tooth travels from the time
pitch point contact is made at one end of the tooth until pitch point contact is made at the
other end.

7. Zone of Action – For involute, parallel-axis gears with either spur or helical teeth, is the
rectangular area in the plane of action bounded by the length of action and the effective
face width.
 8. Plane of Action – The surface of action for involute, parallel axis gears with either spur
or helical teeth. It is tangent to the base cylinders.

9. Lines of Contact – are one type of cylindrical gear where the teeth are curved into a helix
shape. Compared to spur gears (straight teeth), properly designed helical gears can have
a larger total contact ratio which can improve vibration and noise. Badly designed helical
gears can be noisier than well-designed spur gears.

10. Arc of Action – Segment of a pitch circle subtended by the angle of the action.

B. List Down at least three important applications of Gear Trains. Discuss briefly how it works.
Provide an Illustration/ Drawing.
 Reverted gear train
Characteristics of the reverted gear train
- All the characteristics of the reverted gear train are the same as the compound
gear train except that the axis of shafts on which the first and last gear is
mounted coincides. In the above gear arrangement (the top view is shown here)
the gears with the shafts are the first and last gear of the arrangement. You can see
easily that their centerline coincides.
 Planetary or epicyclic gear train
- Characteristics of the planetary or epicyclic gear train. As the name suggests, it
is a type of gear train in which at least the axis of one of the participating gear’s
shafts rotates with respect to other’s

 Compound gear train

- Characteristics of the compound gear train. All the characteristics are the same as a
simple gear train except that more than two gears can also be mounted on a
single shaft.
 IV. Explain the following (Use additional sheets for your answers)
1. What is a Gear?
Gears are machine elements that transmit motion through a series of teeth that engage one
after the other. The teeth of the gears operate as little levers. A gear is a machine component
that is made up of a toothed wheel and a rotating shaft. The teeth of one gear engage the teeth
of a mating gear to transmit and change rotary motion and torque (turning force) without
slipping. The ratios of the rotary speeds and torques of the shafts are constant if the teeth on a set
of mating gears are positioned on circles, i.e. if the gears are toothed wheels. The speed and
torque ratios change when the teeth are positioned on noncircular bodies.
2. Gears are classified according to the relative position of the axes of revolution namely: (Cite one
example for each)

Gears may be classified according to the relative position of the axes of revolution.
The axes may be:
 Parallel
Ex. Spur gears

 Intersecting,
Ex. Straight bevel gears
  Neither Parallel nor Intersecting.
Ex. Crossed Helical Gear

3. Discuss the concept of Gear Train.

A gear train is a mechanical system formed by mounting gears on a frame so the teeth of the
gears engage. Gear trains consist of two or more gears for the purpose of transmitting motion
from one axis to another. Ordinary gear trains have axes, relative to the frame, for all gears
comprising the train. Figure 7-6a shows a simple ordinary train in which there is only one gear
for each axis. In Figure 7-6b, a compound ordinary train is seen to be one in which two or more
gears may rotate about a single axis.