Meshing characteristics of a sphere–face gear pair with variable shaft angle

Abstract

This article presents a sphere–face gear pair by substituting the convex spherical gear for the pinion of a conventional face gear pair. The sphere–face gear pair not only maintains the advantages of the face gear pair with a longitudinally modified pinion but also allows variable shaft angles or large axial misalignments. Meshing characteristics of the proposed gear pair are studied in this article. The mathematical models of the sphere–face gear pair are derived based on machining principles. The tooth contact analysis (TCA) and curvature interference check are conducted for the sphere–face gear pair with variable shaft angles. The loaded TCA is also implemented utilizing the finite element method. The results of numerical examples show that proposed gear pair has the following features. Geometrical transmission error of constant shaft angle or varying shaft angle is zero; contact points of the sphere–face gear set with variable shaft angle are located near the centre region of face gear tooth surface; there is no curvature interference in meshing; and transmission continuity of the gear pair can be guaranteed in meshing.