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Gears Gearboxes
Helical Gears
Introduction
Helical gears are similar to spur gears except that the gears teeth are at an angle with the axis of the gears. A helical gear is termed right handed or left handed as determined by the direction the teeth slope away from
the viewer looking at the top gear surface along the axis of the gear. ( Alternatively if a gear rests on its face the hand is in the direction of the slope of the teeth) . Meshing helical gears must be of opposite hand.
Meshed helical gears can be at an angle to each other (up to 90o ). The helical gear provides a smoother mesh and can be operated at greater speeds than a straight spur gear. In operatation helical gears generate
axial shaft forces in addition to the radial shaft force generated by normal spur gears.
In operation the initial tooth contact of a helical gear is a point which develops into a full line contact as the gear rotates. This is a smoother cycle than a spur which has an initial line contact. Spur gears are generally
not run at peripheral speed of more than 10m/s. Helical gears can be run at speed exceeding 50m/s when accurately machined and balanced.
Standards ... The same standards apply to helical gears as for spur gears
AGMA 2001-C95 or AGMA-2101-C95 Fundamental Rating factors and Calculation Methods for involute Spur Gear and Helical Gear Teeth
BS 436-4:1996, ISO 1328-1:1995..Spur and helical gears. Definitions and allowable values of deviations relevant to corresponding flanks of gear teeth
BS 436-5:1997, ISO 1328-2:1997..Spur and helical gears. Definitions and allowable values of deviations relevant to radial composite deviations and runout information
BS ISO 6336-1:1996 ..Calculation of load capacity of spur and helical gears. Basic principles, introduction and general influence factors
BS ISO 6336-2:1996..Calculation of load capacity of spur and helical gears. Calculation of surface durability (pitting)
BS ISO 6336-3:1996..Calculation of load capacity of spur and helical gears. Calculation of tooth bending strength
BS ISO 6336-5:2003..Calculation of load capacity of spur and helical gears. Strength and quality of materials
A helical gear train with parallel axes is very similar to a spur gear with the same tooth profile and proportions. The primary difference is that the teeth are machined at an angle to the gear axis.
Helix Angle ..
The helix angle of helical gears β is generally selected from the range 6,8,10,12,15,20 degrees. The larger the angle the smoother the motion and the higher speed possible however the thrust loadings on the supporting
bearings also increases. In case of a double or herringbone gear β values 25,30,35,40 degrees can also be used. These large angles can be used because the side thrusts on the two sets of teeth cancel each other
allowing larger angles with no penalty
Pitch /module ..
For helical gears the circular pitch is measured in two ways
The traverse circular pitch (p) is the same as for spur gears and is measured along the pitch circle
The normal circular pitch p n is measured normal to the helix of the gear.
The diametric pitch is the same as for spur gears ... P = z g /dg = z p /d p ....d= pitch circle dia (inches).
The module is the same as for spur gears ... m = dg/z g = d p/z p.... d = pitch circle dia (mm).
The relationship between the shaft angles and the helix angles β 1 & β2 is as follows
For gears with a 90o crossed axis it is obvious that the gears must be the same hand.
The centres distance (a) between crossed helical gears is calculated as follows
a = m * [(z 1 / cos β 1) + ( z 1 / cos β 1 )] / 2
The sliding velocity Vsof crossed helical gears is given by
a) Standards.
b) Books are available providing the necessary guidance.
c) Software is also available making the process very easy. A very reasonably priced and easy to use package is included in the links below (Mitcalc.com)
The determination of the capacity of gears to transfer the required torque for the desired operating life is completed by determining the strength of the gear teeth in bending and also the durability i.e of the teeth (
resistance to wearing/bearing/scuffing loads ) .. The equations below are based on methods used by Buckingham..
Bending
The Lewis formula for spur gears can be applied to helical gears with minor adjustments to provide an initial conservative estimate of gear strength in bending. This equation should only be used for first estimates.
σ = Fb / ( ba. m. Y )
When a gear wheel is rotating the gear teeth come into contact with some degree of impact. To allow for this a velocity factor is introduced into the equation. This is given by the Barth equation for milled profile gears.
K v = (6,1 + V ) / 6,1
σ = K v.Fb / ba. m. Y
The Lewis form factor Y must be determined for the virtual number of teeth z' = z /cos3β The bending stress resulting should be less than the allowable bending stress Sb for the gear material under consideration.
Some sample values are provide on this page ef Gear Strength Values
Surface Strength
The allowable gear force from surface durability considerations is determined approximately using the simple equation as follows
Fw = K v d p b a Q K / cos2β
Q = 2. dg /( dp + dp ) = 2.zg /( zp +zp )
Fw = The allowable gear load. (MPa)
K = Gear Wear Load Factor (MPa) obtained by look up ref Gear Strength Values
Lewis Form factor for Teeth profile α = 20o , addendum = m, dedendum = 1.25m
Number of Number of Number of Number of Number of
Y Y Y Y Y
teeth teeth teeth teeth teeth
12 0.245 17 0.303 22 0.331 34 0.371 75 0.435
13 0.261 18 0.309 24 0.337 38 0.384 100 0.447
14 0.277 19 0.314 26 0.346 45 0.401 150 0.460
15 0.290 20 0.322 28 0.353 50 0.409 300 0.472
16 0.296 21 0.328 30 0.359 60 0.422 Rack 0.485
Drive_Index
Gears Gearboxes
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