GEAR RATIO

1- Cylindrical and bevel gearing

A single-stage gear train (Helical gears and Bevel gears) consists of z1 and z2 numbers of
teeth on the driver and driven gears, and their respective rotations, n1 and n2. The gear ratio is
calculated according to:

We can classified the gear trains into three types:

Gear ratio < 1, speed increaser : n1 < n2

Gear ratio = 1, no speed change : n1 = n2
Gear ratio > 1, speed reducer : n1 > n2

In a two-stage gear train (picture below – left) the gear ratio can be calculated according to:

In a gear arrangement with a idle gear (picture below – right) the gear ratio is igual:
 2- Worm gear
In the case of a worm wheel and worm shaft the gear ratio is calculated dividing the number of
teeth of the worm wheel by the number of the teeth (threads) of the worm shaft. In the picture below
we see three worm shafts, with one teeth, with four teeth and with two teeth.

In the case of a worm mesh, the rotation direction of z2 is determined by its helix hand (see
picture below); the helix hand for worm gear used is usually right-hand.

3 – Rack gear
A specific type of gear is the combination of a rack and pinion, which convert rotational motion
into linear motion. The displacement of a rack “l” for rotation θ of the mating pinion is:

Where:
πm is the reference pitch
z1 is the number of teeth of the pinion
 3- Epicyclic Gearing
This type of arrangement consists of a sun pinion, a planet or a multiple of planet gears, a
carrier to hold the planets, and an annulus or ring gear

The members of the epicyclic gearing can be arranged in various ways so that some of them
revolve on fixed center, or that some of them are on a moving center while the others remain
stationary or fixed. In the non-differential type of epicyclic arrangement, one of the members needs to
be fixed while the others revolve.
A differential type of epicyclic arrangement is one where there is more than one input or
output and individual members can rotate, depending on torque balance between the members.
According to the fixed element we can classified the arrangement as following; when the sun is fixed
the arrangement is called “solar”; when the carrier is fixed the arrangement is called “star”, and the
most common type when the ring gear is fixed we called “planetary”.
In a planetary arrangement the ring gear “B” (Z2) is fixed; the planets orbit the sun while
rotating on the planet shaft; the sun and planet relative speeds are determined by the numbers of
teeth in each gear and the speed of the carrier.

Planetary gear ratios: it = nA / nC = (1 + Z2 / Z1)

Planetary – ratios Between 3:1 and 12:1

nA = Sun pinion speed : input, rpm

nC = Carrier speed : output, rpm
Z2 = Number of teeth of the ring gear
Z1 = Number of teeth of the sun pinion
Following we have a table with some epicyclic gearing arrangement and respective gear ratios:

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W.F.Navarro / 2019