Name: Muhammad Sharjeel Chawla CMS: 348391 Class: ME-12C

MECHANISM AND VIBRATION LAB

LAB REPORT 3
Speed Ratio and Efficiency Analysis of Single and Double Stage
Gear Sets
OBJECTIVES
I.
1. To verify the speed ratio of a single-stage and double-stage gear set.
2. To measure the efficiency of a single-stage gear set
II. INTRODUCTION
Gears are indispensable mechanical components used in various engineering applications to transmit
power and modify rotational speeds between connected shafts. Understanding the principles of gear
systems, particularly their speed ratios and efficiency, is essential for designing and optimizing machinery
in fields ranging from automotive engineering to manufacturing.
The main differences between single-stage and multi-stage gearboxes are:
1. Single-stage gearbox:
• Consists of a single pair of gears or a worm gear transmission
• Has a lower gear ratio than multi-stage gearboxes
• Can handle lower torque loads than multi-stage gearboxes
2. Multi-stage gearbox:
• Combines two or more pairs, or stages, of gears
• Has a higher gear ratio than single-stage gearboxes
• Can handle higher torque loads than single-stage gearboxes
In this laboratory experiment, we delve into the intricate world of gears to explore two critical aspects:
the speed ratio and efficiency. We examine both single-stage and double-stage gear sets to gain insights
into how these components perform in real-world scenarios.
The speed ratio of a gear set describes the relationship between the input and output rotational speeds,
a fundamental factor that determines how efficiently power is transferred from one part of a machine to
another. By measuring and comparing the theoretical and practical speed ratios of single-stage and
double-stage gear sets, we aim to validate fundamental engineering principles.
Efficiency, on the other hand, is a key parameter that engineers consider when designing gear systems. It
quantifies how effectively a gear set can transmit power with minimal losses due to friction and other
factors. In this experiment, we assess the efficiency of a single-stage gear set to understand its practical
performance.
 Figure 1:Single Stage and Double Stage Gear Sets, respectively

Figure 2: Gear Sets in Lab

III. APPARATUS
The following apparatus is required to perform the experiment:
• 1 gear set
• 3 pulleys
• 3 cords
• 2 nuts
• Weights for loading (output weight, input weight)
PROCEDURE
IV.
The experimental procedure involved conducting trials for both open and cross belt drives. The
following steps were undertaken:

1. Verifying Speed Ratio:

i. Marking Pulleys: Begin by marking the rims of all three pulleys. For reference, we'll designate these
pulleys as A, B, and C, from left to right.
ii. Manual Rotation: Manually rotate pulley A.
iii. Counting Rotations: While rotating pulley A, count the number of complete rotations made by
pulleys B and C for one full rotation of pulley A.

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iv. Theoretical Speed Ratios: Calculate the theoretical speed ratios by dividing the number of teeth on
the output gear by the number of teeth on the input gear.

2. Calculating Efficiency:
i. Cord Wrapping: Wrap cords around the pulleys, ensuring they are securely attached.
ii. Output Weight Attachment: Attach a 1 N weight to the output pulley.
iii. Input Weight Increment: Gradually add weights to the input pulley until the output pulley starts to
move.
iv. Observations: Repeat steps 2 and 3 for 2 N and 3 N loads. Record your observations carefully.
v. Efficiency Calculation: Calculate the efficiency of the gear set using the following formula:

𝑬𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒚 (𝜼) = [(𝑾 / 𝑷) ∗ 𝑿 ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎] %

Where:
η is the efficiency of the gear set.
W is the output weight.
P is the input weight.
X is the speed ratio for the single-stage gear set.
V. EXPERMIENTAL OBSERVATION
Speed Ratio (theoretical):
The theoretical speed ratio is simply determined by calculating the corresponding gear ratio. In this
experiment:

Single stage gear set:

𝑵𝑨 𝟏𝟐𝟎
= =𝟔
𝑵𝑩 𝟐𝟎
Double stage gear set:
𝑵𝑨 𝑵𝑨 𝑵𝑪 𝟏𝟐𝟎 𝟏𝟎𝟎
= × = × = 𝟑𝟎
𝑵𝑪 𝑵𝑩 𝑵𝑩 𝟐𝟎 𝟐𝟎
Where NA, NB & NC are the number of teeth of the gears attached to pulley A, B & C respectively .

Speed Ratio (experimental):

The experimental speed ratio is determined by dividing the number of turns of the pulleys. It was seen
that for one complete rotation of pulley A, pulley B completed 6 rotations. Similarly, for one complete
rotation of pulley A, pulley C completed 30 rotations. This matches with the speed ratio determined
theoretically.

Output Weight (W) Input Weight (P) Speed Ratio (X) Efficiency
(N) (N) (%)
1.0 0.9 6 18.51
2.0 1.2 6 27.78
3.0 1.2 6 41.67
VI. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
1. Speed Ratio Analysis:
In the first part of the experiment, we aimed to determine the speed ratio of both the single-stage gear
set and the double-stage gear set, both theoretically and experimentally. The theoretical speed ratios
were calculated to be 6 for the single-stage gear set and 30 for the double-stage gear set based on the

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gear teeth counts. As we rotated pulley A and observed the motion of pulleys B and C, we found that
for one complete rotation of pulley A, pulley B indeed rotated 6 times, and pulley C rotated 30 times.
These experimental findings aligned closely with the theoretical predictions, confirming the accuracy of
our calculations.
2. Efficiency Analysis:
In the second part of the experiment, we investigated the efficiency of load transmission within the
single-stage gear set. This was accomplished by applying different loads at the input and output pulleys
and observing the performance.
We noted that when smaller loads were applied, the efficiency was lower. Conversely, as the applied
load increased, efficiency improved. This phenomenon occurs because the contribution of the frictional
component of force becomes proportionally smaller as the applied load increases. Consequently, the
loss of efficiency observed in the gear system can be attributed primarily to friction.
VII. CONCLUSION
From this lab, we conclude that:
• The theoretical and experimental results for the speed ratio of single stage and double stage gear
set matched. The efficiency was also calculated for varying loads. Both the objectives of the
experiment were hence achieved.
• For the single-stage gear set, a consistent speed ratio of 6 was achieved during the experiment.
However, the efficiency of the single-stage gear set exhibited variations with different input
weights.
• The observed lower-than-expected efficiency values imply the presence of friction and other losses
within the gear set, which can impact its performance.