Gear

A gear is a rotating circular machine part having cut teeth or, in the case of a
cogwheel or gearwheel, inserted teeth (called cogs), which mesh with
another (compatible) toothed part to transmit rotational power. While doing
so, they can change the torque and rotational speed being transmitted (in
inverse proportion) and also change the rotational axis of the power being
transmitted. The teeth on the two meshing gears all have the same shape.[1]

Two intermeshing spur gears rotating at different velocity

due to differing gear ratio

The basic principle behind the operation of gears is analogous to the basic
principle of levers.[2] Meshing gears of different diameters produce three
changes — (i) a change in torque, creating a mechanical advantage, (ii) an
inverse change in rotational speed and (iii) a change in the sense of the
rotation, a clockwise rotation becoming an anti-clockwise one and vice-
versa. The ratio of the output torque to the input torque is equal to the ratio
of the diameter of the output gear to that of the input gear τout⁄τin = diaout⁄diain. This
is called the gear ratio. The ratio of the output rotational speed to the input
rotational speed is equal to the inverse of the ratio of the diameter of the
output gear to that of the input gear ωout⁄ωin = (diaout⁄diain)-1 = diain⁄diaout. The
diameters of the gears are measured at a point between the root and tips of
the gear teeth called the pitch circle.

A gear may also be known informally as a cog.

Two or more meshing gears, working in a sequence, are called a gear train or
a transmission. The gears in a transmission are analogous to the wheels in a
crossed, belt pulley system. An advantage of gears is that the teeth of a gear
prevent slippage. In transmissions with multiple gear ratios—such as
bicycles, motorcycles, and cars—the term "gear" (e.g., "first gear") refers to
a gear ratio rather than an actual physical gear. The term describes similar
devices, even when the gear ratio is continuous rather than discrete, or when
the device does not actually contain gears, as in a continuously variable
transmission (CVT). Sometimes a CVT is referred to as an "infinitely variable
transmission".[3]

Furthermore, a gear can mesh with a linear toothed part, called a rack,
producing movement in a straight line instead of rotation (movement in a
circle). See Rack and Pinion for an example.

History

Etymology
 Comparison with drive
mechanisms

Types

Nomenclature

Backlash

Shifting of gears

Tooth profile
:
 Gear materials

Standard pitches and

the module system

Manufacture

Gear model in modern

physics

Gear mechanism in
natural world
:
 See also

References

Further reading

External links

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