Types of Gear

No Types Description

1. Spur gear ● Transmit power through shafts that are parallel

● Its teeth are parallel to the shaft axis (produce radial
reaction loads on the shaft, but not axial loads)
● Usually used for low and medium speed applications
which are usually up to 3600 rpm
● Not very often used in high speed applications (produce
loud noise at high speeds)
● Benefits: simple design, cheap production, and
maintenance

2. Rack and pinion ● Type of linear actuator that comprises a circular gear
(pinion) engaging a linear gear (rack)
● Translate rotational motion into linear motion
● Driving the pinion into rotation causes the rack to be
driven linearly
● Used in steering systems to change the direction of cars
● Characteristics: simple structure, high rigidity, small and
lightweight, and excellent responsiveness
● Benefits: simple to use with precision and there is no loss
of internal damping.

3. Internal gear ● Has teeth on the inside of the ring

● Small size
● Slow speed but high torque
● Multiple planetary gears driving a large driven gear
● Load more evenly distributed
● More resistant to damage
● Applications: tractor, construction equipment, helicopter,
turbine engine and electric screwdriver

4. Helical gear ● Transmit power through shafts that are parallel

● Teeth are oriented at an angle (12° to 20°) to the shaft
● More than 1 tooth will be in contact during operation
● Able to carry more load than spur gear
● Suitable for high speed application (no loud noise)
● Sliding contact between teeth and produce axial thrust of
gear shafts and heat
● Less efficient than spur gear
● Transmit power from engine to wheels on vehicle

5. Herringbone gear ● A specific type of double-helical gear

● Each helical groove looks like the letter V and together, it
 forms a herringbone pattern
● Do not produce an additional axial load unlike helical gear
● Can be used in torque gearboxes without requiring a
substantial thrust bearing
● Advantages: smooth transferring of power and side-thrust
of one half is balanced by that of the other half
● Disadvantages: difficult to manufacture than spur or
helical gears and expensive
● Application: steam turbine to marine propulsion

6. Bevel gear ● Have a cone-shaped appearance and usually used to

transmit power between shafts that intersect at a 90°
● Can be used at various angles but most are tried at 90°
applications (Right angle)
● Used to transmit power at 90° on non-intersecting shafts
worm gears produce thrust load
● Good for high shock load applications
● Application: bevel gears inside a differential of a vehicle

7. Miter gear ● A specific type of bevel gear that operates in pairs with
the same number of teeth, diameter pitches and 1:1 ratio
● Convert rotational motion of one shaft into the required
motion on the other shaft
● Change the direction of power transmission without
changing the speed
● Types of miter gear in terms of shaft angle: standard miter
(90°) and angular miter gear (non-90°)
● Types of miter gear in terms of tooth pattern: straight
miter and spiral miter gears
● Applications: conveyor system, turntables, hydraulic and
pneumatic systems

8. Worm gear ● Comprises of 2 parts, worm screw (a screw thread pattern

on a shaft) and worm wheel (a mating gear)
● Transmit torque and rotary motion at 90° on
non-intersecting shafts & produce thrust load
● Suitable for high shock load applications
● Benefits: Able to reduce output speed while maintaining
high torque output and accommodate angular
misalignment between shafts
● Disadvantages: Low efficiency due to high friction and
associated axial stresses
● Applications: escalator and elevator drive system,
automatic door