18. Gear Profile Theory

18.1. Transmission per adhesion

_images/gear_theory_transmission_per_adhesion.png
(O,i,j) orthonormal reference frame

wheel_1 rotation speed: u (radian/s)
wheel_2 rotation speed: v (radian/s)

speed of M, point of wheel_1:

V(M) = u*R1*j

speed of N, point of wheel_2:

V(N) = v*R2*j

Because of the adhesion of the wheel_1 and wheel_2 in M:

V(M).j = V(N).j
u*R1 = v*R2
v = u*R1/R2

18.1.1. Issue

The maximal torque transmission is limited by the adhesion capacity.

18.1.2. Idea

Create hollows and bums around the wheel to get a contact point force transmission.

18.2. Transmission with teeth

_images/gear_theory_addendum_and_dedendum.png

18.2.1. One wheel description

angular_pitch = 2*pi/tooth_nb
circular_pitch = angular_pitch * primitive radius
addendum_radius = primitive_radius + addendum_height
dedendum_radius = primitive_radius + dedendum_height
tooth_height = addendum_height + dedendum_height

18.2.2. Conditions for working gear

circular_pitch_1 = circular_pitch_2
addendum_height_1 < dedendum_height_2
addendum_height_2 < dedendum_height_1
transmission ratio = primitive_radius_1 / primitive_radius_2 = tooth_nb_1 / tooth_nb_2

Problematic: How to design the tooth-profile?

18.3. Tooth profile

_images/gear_theory_involute_of_circle.png

Cartesian equation:

Mx(a) = R*cos(a)+a*R*cos(a-pi/2)
My(a) = R*sin(a)+a*R*sin(a-pi/2)

Trigonometry formula remind:

cos(-x) = cos(x)
sin(-x) = -sin(x)
cos(pi/2-x) = sin(x)
sin(pi/2-x) = cos(x)
cos(a-pi/2)=cos(pi/2-a)=sin(a)
sin(a-pi/2)=-sin(pi/2-a)=-cos(a)

Tangent vector:

Mx'(a) = -R*sin(a)+R*cos(a-pi/2)-a*R*sin(a-pi/2) = -a*R*sin(a-pi/2) = a*R*cos(a)
My'(a) =  R*cos(a)+R*sin(a-pi/2)+a*R*cos(a-pi/2) =  a*R*cos(a-pi/2) = a*R*sin(a)
_images/gear_theory_involute_of_circle_and_tangent.png _images/gear_theory_rotation_of_center_O.png _images/gear_theory_involute_of_circle_evolution.png _images/gear_theory_rotation_of_center_O_with_tangent.png _images/gear_theory_realistic_ponctual_contact.png _images/gear_theory_ideal_ponctual_contact.png _images/gear_theory_involute_of_circle_translating_a_bar.png _images/gear_theory_speed_at_the_contact_point.png
u: rotation speed of the wheel
v: linear speed of tha bar
u(t) = d/dt(a(t))

OM = sqrt(R² + (a*R)²) = R*sqrt(1+a²)

S = OM*u
Sn = S*cos(b)
St = S*sin(b)

Sn = u*R*sqrt(1+a²)*cos(b)
relation between a(t) and b(t)?
tan(b) = (a*R)/R = a
Sn = u*R*sqrt(1+tan²(b))*cos(b)

Trigonometry formula remind:

1+tan²(x) = (cos²(x)+sin²(x))/cos²(x) = 1/cos²(x)

So,:

v = Sn = u*R

v does not depend on the angle a!

St = u*R*sqrt(1+a²)*sin(b) = u*R*tan(b) = u*R*a
_images/gear_theory_inversed_speed_and_new_point_of_view.png
u: rotation speed of the wheel
v: linear speed of tha bar
u(t) = d/dt(a(t))

OM = sqrt(R² + (a*R)²) = R*sqrt(1+a²)

S = OM*u
Sn = S*cos(b)
St = S*sin(b)

v = Sn = u*R*sqrt(1+a²)*cos(b)
= u*R*sqrt(1+tan²(b))*cos(b) = u*R

v does not depend on the angle a!

St = u*R*sqrt(1+a²)*sin(b) = u*R*tan(b) = u*R*a
_images/gear_theory_two_wheels_and_a_bar.png
v = u1*R1 = u2*R2
So, u2 = u1*R1/R2
_images/gear_theory_two_wheels.png

Sn1 = Sn2 because of the contact

_images/gear_theory_two_wheel_evolution.png _images/gear_theory_two_wheel_evolution_with_speed_vectors.png

Friction between the two wheels:

Sf = St2 - St1 = u2*R2*a2 - u1*R1*a1
= u1*R1*(a2-a1)
But,
a1 = k1-u1*t
a2 = k2+u2*t
Sf = u1*R1*(k1-k2+(u1+u2)*t)

18.4. Gear profile construction

_images/gear_theory_unidirectional_gearwheel.png _images/gear_theory_bidirectional_gearwheel.png

18.5. Gear rules

  • The base diameter of the two directions can be different

  • The top-land and bottom-land are not critical part of the profile

    The top-land can be a straight line. The bottom-land is usually a hollow to help the manufacturing.

  • The rotation ratio implies by the involutes-of-circles is:

    base_radius_1 / base_radius_2
    

    The rotation ratio implies by the teeth is:

    tooth_nb_1 / tooth_nb_2
    

    In order to get a continuous transmission without cough, we must ensure that:

    base_radius_1 / base_radius_2 = tooth_nb_1 / tooth_nb_2
    

    If you use two base circles for the positive rotation and the negative rotation, then:

    base_radius_positive_1 / base_radius_positive_2 = tooth_nb_1 / tooth_nb_2
    base_radius_negative_1 / base_radius_negative_2 = tooth_nb_1 / tooth_nb_2
    
  • The position of the positive involute of circle compare to the negative involute of circle is arbitrary and it is usually defined by the addendum-dedendum-ration on the primitive circle. Just make sure the top-land and bottom-land still exist (positive length). The addendum-dedendum-ration of the second wheel must be the complementary.

Do not mix-up the primitive circle and the base circle. The primitive circle helps defining the addendum and dedendum circles. The base circle defines the involutes of circle.We have the relation:

base_radius < primitive_radius
_images/gear_tooth_profile.png

18.6. Torque transmission

_images/gear_theory_torque_transmission.png
F = T1/R1 = T2/R2
T2 = T1*R2/R1

The transmitted torque T2 does not depend on the angle a!

18.7. Gearwheel position

_images/gear_theory_wheel_position.png _images/gear_theory_wheel_position_horizontal.png

The rotation ration depends only on the two base circle diameters. It does not depend on the inter-axis length. The inter-axis length can be set arbitrary within a reasonable range (addendum and dedendum height constraints).