Gears

By: Alex Vang

 What is a Gear?

A gear is a machine component that is used to transmit mechanical power from one shaft to
another by successfully engaging its teeth.

Gears are one of the most used methods of mechanical power transmission in the
machines. Power transmission by the gears have almost 100% efficiency.
Advantages of the Gears

-It is positive drive hence velocity remains constant

-Provisions for changing velocity ratios can be made with the help of gear box

-Its efficiency is very high

-Can be used at low speeds

-Can transmit high torque values

-Compact in construction
Disadvantages of Gears

-Not suitable when shafts are distant

-At high speeds noise and vibration happen

-REQUIRES lubrication

-No flexibility.
Spur Gears

Spur Gears are used for the power transfer in the shafts which are parallel to each other.

They have straight teeth as shown in the image

Helical Gears

Almost the same as spur gears but they have inclined teeth for uniform and silent teeth meshing.

Power transmitting capability of helical spur gears is more than that of normal spur gears.
Bevel Gears

Bevel Gears are used for power transmission in the shafts which are perpendicular to each
other. Due to the spiral teeth they provide uniform and silent teeth engagement. It has more
power transmitting capacity than zero bevel gears.
Worm Gear

Sometimes this type of gear arrangement is also known as worm and wheel. Here the long rod
having spiral is the worm. We should note one thing that the worm can rotate the Gear but the
reverse isn’t true.
Types of Gear Trains
There are 4 types:

1. Simple Gear Train

- Gears are in the form of series.Axes of gears remained fixed. Each gear is mounted on
different shaft

2. Compound Gear Train

-Same characteristics except more than two gears can be mounted on a single shaft.

3. Reverted Gear Train

-Same characteristics as compound except the axis of shafts on which first and last gear is
mounted coincide.

4. Planetary Gear Train

-A type of gear train where at least one axis of the participating gear’s shafts rotates with
respect for the other gears