GEAR TRAINS

INTRODUCTION

This lesson deals with the discussion of the different classification of gear trains. These are the simple gear
train, compound gear train, and the epicyclic gear train. The simple and the compound gear trains were
discussed first with the corresponding derivation of equations and sample problems. Planetary or epicyclic
gear train is also discussed with the derivation of equations and illustrative problems.

Seatwork problems are included in this lesson for the student to solve during the session.

Problems are provided at the end of the lesson for the students to further enhance their knowledge of what
they have learned in the study of the lesson.

LESSON OBEJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson the students will be able to:

1. Appreciate the different classification of gear trains.

2. Know the applications of each type of gear train.
3. Derive the equations corresponding to a given type of gear train.
4. Darw the schematic diagram of an epicyclic gear train, and
5. Analyze and solve problems involving gear trains.

DEFINITIOS AND USEFUL INFORMATION

 A Train is a series of rolling cylinders or cones, gears, pulley, or similar devices serving to transmit
power from one shaft to another. A pair of rolling cylinders, gears or pulleys is really a train, but usually
the term train is applied only to those combinations in which there are more than one pair.
 Mechanism Trains- are mechanism arranged in various series and parallel combinations so that the
driven member of one cone mechanism is the driver for another mechanisms.
 Gear Train- is a mechanism that transmits motion from a driving shaft to a driven shaft by means of
two or more gear wheels.
 A gear train is composed of two or more gears in mesh for the purpose of transmitting motion from
one shaft to another Ordinary gran trains are those in which axes of none of the gears move relative to
the frame and are of two types, simple gear trains and compound gear train.
TRAIN VALUE

 Train Valve-is the ratio of the angular velocity of the last wheel to that of the angular velocity of the
first wheel.

Angular Velocity of the Last Wheel ( driven )

Train Value = ±
Angular Velocity of the First Wheel (driver )

Signs of Train Value

(+)-if the first and last wheels tum in the same sense. (-)- if the first and last wheels turn in opposite sense.

ORDINARY GEAR TRAINS

1) Simple Gear Train-is a gear train in which no two wheels are rigidly fastened to the same shaft to
rotate at the same angular velocity.

Ex. # 1.2] Given is a gear train shown. Determine a) the train value; and b) rpm of gear 5 if gear 2 rotates at
60 rpm.

GIVEN: Gear train shown

REQUIRED:

a.) The train Value

 b.) The rpm of gear 5 if rpm of 2 is 60.

SOLUTION:

a.) For the Train Value, TV

TV =
ω 5 −N 5 −T 2
=
ω2 N 2
=
T5 ( )( )
=
−30 −2
45
=
3

b.) For the rpm of gear 5

N 5=N 2
( ) ( )
T2
T5
=60
30
45
=40 rpm ans

2.) Compound Gear Train- is a gear train in which at least one pair of wheels are rigidly attached to the same
shaft so that both revolve of the same angular speed.

Ex. # 5.2] Given is a gear train shown. Determine a.) the train value; and b) the rpm of gear if gear 2 rotates at
120 rpm.

GIVEN: Gear train shown

REQUIRED:

a.) The train value.

b.) The rpm of 5 if the rpm of 2 is 120.

Solution:

a.) For the train value

TV =
ω5 N 5 T 2
= =
ω2 N 2 T 3( )( ) ( )( )
T4
T5
=
20 15 2
= ans
30 45 9
 b.) For the rpm of gear 5

N 5=N 2
( )( )
T2
T3
T4
T5
=120 ( )( 1545 )=26.67 rpm ans
20
30

3.) Reverted Gear Train- a gear train isa called reverted when the first and last gears turn about the same axis.

Ex.# 5.3] Given is a reverted gear train shown. Determine a.) the train value; and b.) the rpm of gear 5 if gear 2
rotates at 120 rpm.

GIVEN: Reverted gear shown

REQUIRED:
a.) Train Value
b.) Rpm of gear 5 if the rpm of gear 2 is 120.

SOLUTION:

a.) For the train Value

TV =
ω5 N 5 T 2
= =
ω2 N 2 T 3( )( ) ( )( )
T4
T5
=
15
40
20 1
= ans
30 4

b.) For the rpm of gear 5

N 5=N 2
( )( ) ( )( )
T2
T3
T4
T5
=120
15
40
20
30
=30 rpm ans
EPICYCLIC OR PLANETARY GEAR TRAINS
 These are gear trains in which the axis of one or more gears moves relative to the frame. The
gear at the center is called the and gears whose axes move are called planets. These trains are
also called planetary or sun-and-planet gear trains.
 In an ordinary gear train, the wheels revolve about fixed axes, the frame supporting the
wheels being the fixed link in the mechanism.
 In Epicyclic or planetary gear train, the axes of certain of the wheels are in motion, and one of
the gears generally becomes the wheel axes, which is called epicyclic value.

Epicyclic Value, EV.

 Epicyclic Value- is the ratio of the angular velocity of the driven wheel to the angular velocity
of the frame carrying the wheel axles.
Ex. #5.4] Given: An Epicyclic gear train shown.

REQUIRED

a) Suppose link 3 makes one turn clockwise, find the number of turns made by 2.
b) b) Determine the rpm of gear 2 if frame 3 turn 120 rpm.

SOLUTION:

Method#1: Relative Velocity

1) For the three bodies, the angular velocity of the third relative to the first is equal to the angular velocity of
the second relative to the first plus the angular velocity of the third relative to the second.

Where: ω 21=¿angular velocity of gear 2 with respect to gear 1, rad/s.

ω 21 = angular velocity of link 3 with respect to gear 1, rad/s.
ω 21 = angular velocity of gear 2 with respect to link 3. rad/s.
N 21=¿ rpm of gear 2 with respect to gear 1
 N 21=¿ rpm of gear 3 with respect to gear 1
N 21=¿ rpm of gear 2 with respect to gear 3

2) 2. For two bodies, the angular velocity of the first relative to the second is equal numerically to the
angular velocity of the second relative to the first, but of opposite sign.

ω 31=−ω13 N 31=−N 13

Where, ω 13 = angular velocity of gear 1 with respect to link 3.

Epicyclic Value, EV

Angular Velocity of the Driven Wheel

EV = ±
Angular Velocity of the frame carrying the wheel axies

ω 21 ω31 +ω 23 ω23
EV = = =1+
ω 31 ω31 ω31
ω 23 ω23
But, ω 31=−ω31, EV =1− ,∧TV = =TrainValue
ω 13 ω13
Note: Care must be exercised in two directions:

 In obtaining the proper sign of TV

 In calculating its value

 The denominator in the fraction expressing the train value is the angular velocity fixed link in the
epicyclic.

For the Train Value,

ω 23 T 1 −30 −3
TV = = = =
ω 13 T 2 40 4

 (-) Negative sign indicates that gear 1 and 2 rotate in opposite senses.
a) For the number of turns made by gear 2
3
Answer: As link 3 makes + 1 turn, gear 2 makes 1 turns.
4
b) For the rpm of gear 2

N 21=120 1 ( 34 )= 210 rpm

Method # 2: Tabulation Method

1. Lock the whole train, then rotate one revolution clockwise.

2. Convert the epicyclic train into an ordinary train, by locking the arm on which the gears are mounted
and at the same time releasing the fixed gear. Rotate the formerly fixed gear one turn
counterclockwise, and the number of turns made by all the members recorded on the table.
3. Add algebraically the number of revolutions or turns made by each member of the train. The resultant
movement of the "fixed gear" is always zero.

Tabulation

Step 1 2 3
1 +1 +1 +1
2 -1 + 3/4 0
3 0 + 7/4 +1

a) For the Epicyclic Value

From the table,

N 21 7 7 3
EV = = ( 1 )= =1
N 31 4 4 4
b) For the rpm of gear 2

N 21=120 1( 34 )= 210 rpm

Ex #5..5) An epicyclic gear train, shown, has a stationary wheel 1. Arm 5 turns at 50 rpm clockwise. Find a) the
epicyclic value; and b) the speed and direction or rotation of gear 4.

Given: Gear Train Shown

T 1=130 teeth T 2=30 teeth T 3=15 teeth T 4=40teeth N 51=50 rpm

Required:

a.) The epicyclic Value

b.) The rpm of gear 4

Figure:
Solution:

a) Solving for the epicyclic Value

Step 1: Locking the whole epicyclic train and rotate clockwise.

Step 2: Releasing gear 1 and fixing frame 5, then rotate gear 1 counterclockwise

Step 3: Summing up the movements.

Tabulation

STEP 1 2 3 4 5
1 +1 +1 +10 +1 +1
2 -1 -13/3 +26/3 -13/4 0
3 0 -10/3 +29/3 -9/4 +1

Calculation in Step 2

For the number of turns of gear 2 with respect to frame 5,

N 25=N 15
( ) ( )
T1
T2
=1
130 13
30
=
3
turns (Counterclockwise)

For the number if turns of gear 3 with respect to frame 5

N 35=N 25
( ) ( )( )
T2
T3
=
130
30
30 130 26
= =
15 315 3
turns (clockwise)

For the number of turns of gear 4 with respect to the frame 5,

N 45=N 35
( ) ( )( )
T3
T4
=
130
15
15 130 13
40
=
40
= turns (counterclockwise)
4

Solving for the Epicyclic Value,

 ()
9
EV =
( )
N 41
N 51
=−
4
1
=−
9
4
=−2
4 ()
1 ans

C) For the rpm of gear 4

N 41=− ( 94 ) ( 50)=−112.5 rpm ans

Ex. #3) In the figure below illustrated a compound epicyclic train in which the arm 6 carrying gears 3 and 4 is
neither the driver nor the driven link. Driver 2 engages gear 3, which in turn meshes with the stationary
angular gear 1. Gear 3 and 4 are keyed to a shaft supported by arm 6, which is free to turn on shaft A. Gear 4
engages angular gear 5, which is keyed to the driven shaft B. If shaft turns A turns 100 rpm clockwise,
determine the rpm and direction of rotation of shaft B.

Given: Epicyclic Train Shown

T 1=57 teeth T 2=27 teeth T 3=15 teeth T 4=12 teeth N A =100 rpm

Required:

The rpm and direction of rotation of shaft B.

Solution:
Step 1: Locking the whole epicyclic train and rotate clockwise.

Step 2: Fixing the frame or arm 6 and releasing gear 1, then rotate gear 1 one turn counterclockwise.

Step 3: Summing up the values.

Tabulation

STEP 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1
2 -1 57/27 -57/15 -57/15 -(57/15)(12/54) 0
3 0 +28/9 +7/45 +1

Calculations:

28
N 21 9
Solving for the speed ratio, SR= = =20
N 51 7
45
Then, solving for rpm of B,

N A 100
N B= = =5 rpm(clockwise) ans
20 20

Seatwork

Sw# 1) Find the train value of the gear train shown. If the rpm of gear 2 is 120rpm, determine the rpm of last
gear and the direction of rotation of gear 7.
SW # 2) In the planetary gear system shown, gears A and C are keyed to a shaft carried on revolving arm E. Arm
E turns about the axis of A and D. The tooth numbers are as follows; Gear A, 86 teeth and gear C, 52 teeth, a) If
all gears have the same pitch, determine the number of teeth on D. b) If gear D rotates at 1190 rpm clockwise,
determine the rpm and direction of rotation of arm E.
PROBLEMS

1.) Considering as the driver the shaft that carries the minute hand of a clock, what is the train value in each of
the cases: a.) Between the minute-hand shaft and the sleeve to which the hour hand is attached? b.) Between
the minute-hand shaft and the second-hand shaft?

2.) In a broaching machine (figure P2 shown), the shaft A carries a pulley 61 cm in diameter which is driven by
a belt from a 30.5 cm pulley on the countershaft overheard, the latter tuning 150 rpm. The gears 2 and 4 have
12 teeth each, and 3 and 5 have 60 teeth. Gear 5 is fast to 6, which has 10 teeth and a circular pitch of 26.59
mm and which engages with rack 7 to which is attached the broach. Find the speed with which the broach is
drawn through the work in mm/s.
4.) When an auto is in intermediate gear, the gear train in use is composed of the following gears, the first one
being directly connected to the engine.

24 teeth
41 teeth 34 teeth
31 teeth 11 teeth bevel pinion
56 teeth bevel gear

a.) Find the ratio of the rear-axie speed to the engine speed.
b.) If the tires are 30 inches in diameter, find the engine speed corresponding to a car speed of 20
miles per hour.

5.) Find the train value of the following train:

10-tooth spur gear

30-tooth spur gear 40-tooth spur gear
120 spur gear Single-threaded worm gear
40-tooth worm wheel