Gear Terminology

The following are the important dimensions and geometries concerned with toothed
gear:

Pitch Circle :
Pitch circle is the apparent circle that two gears can be taken like smooth cylinders
rolling without friction.

Addendum Circle :
Addendum circle is the outer most profile circle of a gear. Addendum is the radial
distance between the pitch circle and the addendum circle.

Dedendum Circle :
Dedendum circle is the inner most profile circle. Dedendum is the radial distance
between the pitch circle and the dedendum circle.

Clearance :
Clearance is the radial distance from top of the tooth to the bottom of the tooth
space in the mating gear.

Backlash :
Backlash is the tangential space between teeth of mating gears at pitch circles.

Full Depth :

Full depth is sum of the addendum and the dedendum.

Face Width :
Face width is length of tooth parallel to axes.

Diametral Pitch :
Diametral pitch (p) is the number of teeth per unit volume.
p = (Number of Teeth) / (Diameter of Pitch circle)

Module :
Module (m) is the inverse of diametral pitch.
m = 1/p

Circular Pitch :
Circular pitch is the space in pitch circle used by each teeth.

Gear Ratio :
Gear ratio is numbers of teeth of larger gear to smaller gear.

Pressure Line :
Pressure line is the common normal at the point of contact of mating gears along
which the driving tooth exerts force on the driven tooth.

Pressure Angle :
Pressure angle is the angle between the pressure line and common tangent to pitch
circles. It is also called angle of obliquity. high pressure angle requires wider base
and stronger teeth.

Pitch Angle :
Pitch angle is the angle captured by a tooth.
Pitch angle = 360/T

Contact Ratio :
Contact ratio is angle of angle of action and pitch angle.

Path of Approach :
Path of approach is the distance along the pressure line traveled by the contact
point from the point of engagement to the pitch point.

Path of Recess :
Path of recess is the distance traveled along the pressure line by the contact point
from the pitch point to the path of disengagement.

Path of Contact :
Patch of contact is the sum of path of approach and path of recess.

Arc of Approach :
Arc of approach is the distance traveled by a point on either pitch circle of the two
wheels from the point of engagement to the pitch.

Arc of Recess :

Arc of recess is the distance traveled by a point on either pitch circle of the two
wheels from the point to the point of disengagement.

Arc of Contact :
Arc of contact is the distance traveled by a point on either pitch circle of the two
wheels during the period of contact of a pair of teeth.

Angle of Action :
Angle of action is the angle turned by a gear during arc of contact.

Classification of gears can be done according to relative position of the axes of

revolution into three types. They are:
1. Gears for Parallel shafts
1.1 Spur Gears
1.2 Helical Gears
1.3 Herringbone Gears
1.4 Rack and Pinion

2. Gears for Intersecting Shafts

2.1 Straight Bevel Gears
2.2 Spiral Bevel Gears

3. Gears for Skew Shafts

3.1 Hypoid Gears
3.2 Worm Gears

Classification about these types of gears discussed below.

1. Gears for Parallel Shafts:

The motion between parallel shafts is same as to the rolling of two cylinders. Gears
under this category are the following:

1.1 Spur Gears:

Straight Spur gears are the simplest form of gears having teeth parallel to the gear
axis. The contact of two teeth takes place over the entire width along a line parallel
to the axes of rotation. As gear rotate , the line of contact goes on shifting parallel to
the shaft.

1.2 Helical Gears:

In helical gear teeth are part of helix instead of straight across the gear parallel to
the axis. The mating gears will have same helix angle but in opposite direction for
proper mating. As the gear rotates, the contact shifts along the line of contact in in

volute helicoid across the teeth.

1.3. Herringbone Gears:

Herringbone gears are also known as Double Helical Gears. Herringbone gears
are made of two helical gears with opposite helix angles, which can be up to 45
degrees.

1.4. Rack and Pinion:

In these gears the spur rack can be considered to be spur gear of infinite pitch
radius with its axis of rotation placed at infinity parallel to that of pinion. The pinion

rotates while the rack translates.

2. Gears for Intersecting Shafts:

The motion between two intersecting shafts is equivalent to the rolling of two cones.
The gears used for intersecting shafts are called bevel gears. Gears under this
category are following:

2.1 Straight Bevel Gears:

Straight bevel gears are provided with straight teeth, radial to the point of
intersection of the shaft axes and vary in cross section through the length inside
generator of the cone. Straight Bevel Gears can be seen as modified version of
straight spur gears in which teeth are made in conical direction instead of parallel to

axis.

2.2 Spiral Bevel Gears:

Bevel gears are made with their teeth are inclined at an angle to face of the bevel.
Spiral gears are also known as helical bevels.

3. Gears for Skew Shafts:

The following gears are used to join two non-parallel and non-intersecting shafts.

3.1 Hypoid Gears:

The Hypoid Gears are made of the frusta of hyperboloids of revolution. Two
matching hypoid gears are made by revolving the same line of contact, these gears
are not interchangeable.

3.2 Worm Gears:

The Worm Gears are used to connect skewed shafts, but not necessarily at right
angles. Teeth on worm gear are cut continuously like the threads on a screw. The
gear meshing with the worm gear is known as worm wheel and combination is
known as worm and worm wheel.

Comparison between Involute

and Cycloidal Gear Tooth
Profiles
Involute tooth profile is almost used generally everywhere and given preference
over cycloidal tooth profile or any other gear tooth form. This doesnt mean that
involute tooth profile form is the best from every aspect.

Below table, comparison between involute gear tooth and cycloidal gear tooth
profiles provides a realistic assessment of the positive and negative points of
both involute and cycloidal tooth profiles.
S.No
1

Involute Tooth Profile

Being the angle made by common

Cycloidal Tooth Profile

Pressure angle varies

tangent of base circles with common

tangent to pitch circles at pitch point,
the pressure angle remains constant
throughout the engagement. This
ensures smooth running of the gears.

continuously; being zero at the

pitch point and maximum at the
point of engagement and
disengagement. This causes
continuous variation in power
component and also in bearing
load. The running is less smooth.

Involute tooth profile consists of a

single (involute) curve and the track
cutter used for regenerating the profile
has straight teeth. The rack cutter is
cheaper and the method of manufacture
is simpler. This leads to reduction in the
cost of manufacture of involute teeth.

The cycloidal tooth profile

consists of two curves (epicyloid
and hypocycloid). The method of
manufacture is more involved and
leads to costlier gear tooth.

Perhaps the most desirable feature of

Exact centre distance is necessary
involute teeth is that a small variation in to transmit constant velocity ratio.
centre distance does not change the
velocity ratio. Thus distance between
shafts need not necessarily be
maintained exact as per design
specifications. This gives great
flexibility during assembly and larger
tolerances may be permitted.

Since involute curve doesnt exist

within base circle, interference is
always possible if base circle radius is
larger than dedendum circle radius.

Since outside the pitch (directing)

circle epicycloidal curve exists
and inside it the hypocycloidal
curve exists, cycloidal curve can
exist everywhere on tooth profile
and no interference exists.

The radius of curvature of involute

curve, near the base circle, is quite
small and contact stresses are likely to
be very high. The tooth profile in flank
portion is almost radial. Both the factors
together produce a tooth weaker in flank
region compared to cycloidal tooth.

Cycloidal curve (hypocycloidal in

particular) produces a spreading
flank and, for this reason,
cycloidal tooth is stronger .

In involute tooth profile gears, convex

surface of pinion tooth comes in contact
with convex portion of gear tooth and
this leads to more wear.

In cycloidal tooth profile

epicycloidal shape of face of gear
tooth comes in contact with
hypocloidal flank portion of
pinion tooth. Thus a convex flank
has a contact with concave face

which results in lesser wear.