Subject - Machine Design -

Topic – Bevel Gears

 Bevel gears

Bevel gears are used to transmit power between two intersecting shafts. There
are two common types of bevel gears—straight and spiral.

The elements of the teeth of the straight bevel

gears are straight lines, which converge into a
common apex point.

The elements of the teeth of the spiral bevel

gears are spiral curves, which also converge
into a common apex point.
Involute profile is used for the form of the teeth for both types of

gears.

Straight bevel gears are easy to design and manufacture and give

reasonably good service when properly mounted on shafts.

However, they create noise at high-speed conditions.

Spiral bevel gears, on the other hand, are difficult to design and

costly to manufacture, for they require specialized and

sophisticated machinery for their manufacture.

Spiral bevel gears have smooth teeth engagement, which results in
quiet operation, even at high speeds.

They have better strength and are thus used for high speed–high
power transmission.

In some cases, bevel gears are classified on the basis of pitch angle.

Three types of bevel gears that are based on pitch angle are as
follows:

i) When the pitch angle is less than 90°, it is called external bevel gear.
ii) When the pitch angle is equal to 90°, it is called crown bevel
gear.

iii) When the pitch angle is more than 90°, it is called internal
bevel gear.

 There are certain specific categories of bevel gears. They

are as follows:

Miter Gears –
When two identical bevel gears are
mounted on shafts, which are
intersecting at right angles, they are
called ‘miter’ gears.
Miter gears have the following characteristics:

i) The pitch angles of pinion and gear of miter gears are same
and each is equal to 45°.

ii) The pinion and gear of miter gears rotate at the same speed.

iii) The pinion and gear have same dimensions, namely,

addendum, dedendum, pitch circle diameter, number of teeth and
module.

iv) The pinion and gear of miter gears are always mounted on
shafts, which are perpendicular to each other.
 Crown Gear

In a pair of bevel gears, when one of

the gears has a pitch angle of 90° then
that gear is called ‘crown’ gear.

Such bevel gears are mounted on shafts,

which are intersecting at an angle that is
more than 90°.

The crown gear is equivalent to the rack in

spur gearing.

The pitch cone of the crown gear becomes plane.

Crown gear arrangement has the following characteristics:

i) The pitch angle of crown gear is 90°.

ii) The bevel pinion and crown gear are always mounted on shafts,
which are intersecting at angle more than 90°.

Internal Bevel Gears

When the teeth of bevel gear are cut on

the inside of the pitch cone, it is called
internal bevel gear.

Internal bevel gears are used in

planetary gear trains.
 Skew Bevel Gears

When two straight bevel gears are mounted on

shafts, which are non-parallel and non-
intersecting, they are called ‘skew’ bevel gears.

It is seen that the apex point of pinion is offset

with respect to that of gear.

Skew bevel gears have following

characteristics:

a) Skew bevel gears have straight teeth.

b) Skew bevel gears are mounted on non-

parallel and non-intersecting shafts
 TERMINOLOGY OF BEVEL GEARS

i) Pitch Cone

Pitch cone is an imaginary

cone, the surface of which
contains the pitch lines of all
teeth in the bevel gear.

ii) Cone Centre

The apex of the pitch cone is

called the cone centre. It is
denoted by O.

iii) Pitch Angle

The angle that the pitch line makes with

the axis of the gear, is called the pitch
angle. The pitch angle is also called centre
angle.
iv) Addendum Angle
It is the angle subtended by the
addendum at the cone centre. It is
denoted by a.

v) Dedendum Angle

It is the angle subtended by the

dedendum at the cone centre.

vi) Face Angle

It is the angle subtended by the
face of the tooth at the cone
centre.

Face angle = pitch angle + addendum angle

 vii) Root Angle

It is the angle subtended by the root of the

tooth at the cone centre.

Root angle = pitch angle – dedendum angle

viii) Back Cone

The back cone is an imaginary cone and

its elements are perpendicular to the
elements of the pitch cone.

ix) Back Cone Distance

It is the length of the back cone element. It is

also called back cone radius. It is denoted by rb.