Worm gear

Upama Pant
• Worm gears are gears which are widely used for transmitting power
at high velocity ratios between non-intersecting shafts that are
generally, but not necessarily, at right angles.
• It can give velocity ratios as high as 300:1 or more.
• It is mostly used as a speed reducer, which consists of worm and
worm wheel or gear.
• The worm wheel or gear is similar to a helical gear with a face curved
to conform the shape of a worm.
Types of worm gear
There are two types of worm gear. They are as follows:
• Non-throated – this involves a straight worm without a groove machined
around the circumference. A single moving point is what provides tooth
contact, meaning this particular type of worm gear is subjective to high unit
load wear and tear.
• Single-throated – concave helical teeth are wrapped around the worm for
line contact, meaning higher unit loads with less excessive wear.
• Double-throated – usually called a cone of hourglass, this type has concave
teeth on both the worm screw and the gear itself. Increasing the contact
area in such a way allows for increased unit loads with lower wear and tear.
Working mechanism of a worm gear
• The worm continuously rotates and drives the worm wheel (meshed
with it). Worm and worm gear form a lower pair as they have sliding
contact with each other.
• In a worm gear drive, power is always transmitted from worm to
worm wheel. Power cannot be transmitted from worm wheel to
worm. This phenomenon is called self-locking.
• Velocity ratio is determined by the number of teeth on worm gear
and the number starts on the worm. Power transmission decreases
with increase in velocity ratio.
Materials used
Worm:
Cast iron, alloy steel, cast steels, carbon steels

Worm gear:
Aluminium, brass, copper, plastic
Advantages of worm gear
• Worm gear drives operate silently and smoothly.
• They are self-locking.
• They occupy less space.
• They can be used for reducing speed and increasing torque.
• High velocity ratio of the order 100 can be obtained in a single step.
Disadvantages of worm gear
• High friction losses making its efficiency relatively low.
• Is relatively expensive.
• They have high power losses and low transmission efficiency.
Thank you