Types of Gears

Spur Gears
• This is one of the most simplest gear.
• The edge of the gear is straight an parallel to the axis.
• The teeth are not straight but curved.
• For their correct meshing, the shafts need to be parallel.
• Mostly used in low speed, higher power transmission.
• The gear teeth don’t slide on each other but roll.
Helical gear
• The edges of the teeth are set at an angle rather than straight like the spur gears.
• The angle of teeth gives it the shape of a helix.
• They work on parallel shafts.
• They only work if they are side to side.
Bevel Gear
• Shaped like a cone with its vertex cutoff.
• When two bevel gears mesh their imaginary axes must meet at a
point.
• The angle mostly between them is 900.
Worm Gear
• This type of gear consist of a circular gear and thread rod which can be meshed
with the gear.
• It is usually used for changing rotating motion of the gear to linear motion or vice
versa.
• It is also at 900.
• It is usually used for reduction of speeds of the gear.
Rack and Pinion
• This type of gear system consists of a spur gear and a long strip of
gear with teeth.
• This type of gear is used for converting rotating motion to linear
motion.
• Herringbone gear
• The teeth of this type of gears are in V shape.
• It is also known as “Double Helix” or “Fishbone” gear.
• Used for delivering power between parallel shafts.
• They were developed to overcome the high speed disadvantages of the classic
helix gear.
Planetary gears
• They are arranged like solar system.
• It consists of 3 types of gears, sun gear, planet gears, and the ring gear.
• They are generally used as speed reducers.
• Is able to produce many combinations of speed/torque from one set of gears.