11-7 Force Analysis of Spur Gears

Gear Free Body Diagrams

3 pitch circle 3 Fb3

Tb3
b
line of action b
w3 F32
pressure angle f f
w2
F23
a a
Ta2
Fa2
2 2

• Resolve applied force into radial and tangential directions

t
F32
r
f F32 F32
r
Fa2 a
Fa2
Ta2 2
t
Fa2

t
Transmitted Load Wt = F32
• Constant speed situation

d
T = Wt
2
T = Ta2

• If we let the pitch line velocity be V = ω d2 ,

1
 Power = Force × Velocity

• In SI units:
(60)(1000)H
Wt =
πωd
where
- Wt = tangential force in N or kN
- H = power in W or kW
- ω = rotational speed in rpm
- d = diameter in mm
• Note that the formula above takes into account the unit conversions
• In MathCAD, you can use
2H
Wt =
ωd
in whatever units you select.
• MathCAD will take care of units, as long as you specify units for all
variables.
• In US units:
Wt V Tω
H= =
33000 63000
where
- Wt = tangential force in lbf
- H = horsepower in HP
πdω
- V = tangential speed in ft/min = 12
- d = diameter in in
2
 - ω = rotational speed in rpm
• We also have
63000H
T =
ω
• The radial force acting on the gear is given by
Wr = Wt tan φ
• The total force acting on the gear is
Wt
W =
cos φ
Example
Shaft a has a power input of 75 kW at a speed of 1000 rpm counter-
clockwise. Gears have a module of 5 mm and a 20◦ pressure angle. Gear
3 is an idler (to change direction of the output).
• Find the force F3b that gear 3 exerts on shaft b
• Find the torque T4c that gear 4 exerts on shaft c

4
c 51T

3
34T
b

a T 17T
2

3
Pitch diameters
• gear 2: d2 =
• gear 3: d3 =
• gear 4: d4 =

Wt =
t
F32 =
r
F32 =
F23 =

t
F32
r
F32 F32

• Gear 3 is an idler so it transmits no power to its shaft

t
F43
r
F43
F43

y Fb3
Fb3
x
b Fb3

r
F23 F23
t
F23

4
 t
F43 =
Hence
r
F43 =

for equilibrium
Fb3x − F23
t
− F43
t
=0 ⇒

Fb3y + F23
r
− F43
r
=0 ⇒ Fb3y = 0 kN

F3b =
in the x direction only

Tc4
y Fc4
Fc4
x
c Fc4

r
F34
F34
w4
t
F34

t
F34 d4
Tc4 − =0
2
Tc4 =