Curvature Analysis and Hertzian Contact Stress of a Modified Curvilinear Gear Set With Localized Bearing Contact

Abstract

This paper investigates the contact ellipse and contact stress of a modified curvilinear gear set with localized bearing contact. The proposed modified curvilinear gear set with profile modifications was generated by male fly cutters with a circular-arc normal section. This gear drive exhibits point contact and parabolic transmission error under an ideal meshing condition according to the results of tooth contact analysis. The principal directions and curvatures of the mating pinion and gear surfaces were derived from those of the generating surfaces on the basis of differential geometry and theory of gearing. The Hertzian contact stress and contact ellipses of the mating tooth surfaces were determined with our developed computer program based on formulae of curvature analysis and Hertzian contact theory. Numerical examples were also provided to demonstrate the computational results.