Gear Definitions and Formulas Active Profile is that part a gear tooth that actually comes into contact

t with its mating tooth along the line of action. Addendum (a) is the radial or perpendicular distance between the pitch circle and the top of the teeth. Spur Gears - a = 1 / Pd (Pd = iametral Pitch) !elical Gears - a = 1 / Pnd (Pnd = "ormal iametral Pitch) An#ular $e%el Gears are be%el #ears in which the a&es are not at a ri#ht an#le. An#ular Pitch ('") is the an#le subtended b( the circular pitch. Arc of Approach ()t) is the arc of the pitch circle throu#h which a tooth tra%els from the time it first ma*es contact with a matin# tooth until it is in contact at the pitch point. Arc of +ecession ()r) is the arc of pitch circle throu#h which a tooth tra%els from the time it is in contact with a matin# tooth at the pitch point until contact ceases. A&ial irection A direction parallel to an a&es. A&ial Pitch (P&) is the distance in an a&ial plane surface between correspondin# ad,acent tooth profiles. P& = Pt / -an . (Pt = -rans%erse /ircular Pitch0 . = !eli& An#le) A&ial Pressure An#le (1&) is the an#le between the tan#ent to the tooth profile in an a&ial plane at the pitch surface and a line perpendicular to the a&is. A&ial +unout is the runout measured in a direction parallel to the a&es of rotation. $ac*lash ($) is the amount b( which the width of a tooth space e&ceeds the thic*ness of the en#a#in# tooth on the pitch circles. $ac*lash 2ariation is the difference between the ma&imum and minimum bac*lash occurrin# in one re%olution of the lar#er of a pair of matin# #ears. $ase /ircular -hic*ness (tb) is the len#th of arc on the base circle between two in%olute cur%es formin# the profiles of a tooth. $ase /(linder is the c(linder of the same diameter as the base circle. $ase 3ead An#le (4b) is the lead an#le at the base c(linder. $ase iameter ( b) is the diameter of the circle from which the in%olute form is #enerated. b = 5 /os 1 ( = Pitch iameter0 1 = Pressure An#le $ase !eli& An#le (.b) is the heli& an#le at the base c(linder. $ase Pitch (Pb) is the circular pitch in the plane of rotation at the base circle. Pb = /os 1 5 6 / Pd (1 = Pressure An#le0 Pd = iametral Pitch)

$ase +adius (rb) is the radius of the circle from which the in%olute form is #enerated. $ase -ooth -hic*ness (-b) is the distance on the base circle in the plane of rotation between in%olutes of the same pitch. Bevel Gears are gears of conical form designed to operate on intersecting axes. $ore iameter is the diameter of the hole in a #ear. Bottom Land is the surface of a gear between the flanks of two adjacent teeth. For external gears it is measured in the root and for internal gears it is measured at the minor tip of the tooth. /enter istance (/) is the radial distance from the center of a #ear to the center of its matin# #ear. /hordal Addendum (ac) is the radial distance from the circular tooth thic*ness chord to the top of the tooth. /hordal -hic*ness (tc) is the len#th of the chord subtended b( the circular tooth thic*ness arc. /ircular Pitch (P) is the distance on the circumference of the pitch circle between corresponding points of adjacent teeth. P = 6 / Pd (Pd = iametral Pitch) /ircular thic*ness (t) is the thickness of the tooth on the pitch circle. t ($asic) = .7 5 P (P = /ircular Pitch) Clearance (c) is the radial distance between the top of a tooth and the bottom of the mating tooth space. c = .178 / Pd (Pd = iametral Pitch) Composite ction is the variation in center distance when two gears are rolled in tight mesh. /ontact +atio (mc) is the ratio of the arc of action to the circular pitch. mc = s9rt(+o1: - +b1:) ; s9rt(+o<: - +b<:-/ 5 S=" 1 ) P 5 />S 1 (+o1 and +o< = >utside +adius of #ear 1 and Gear <) (+b1 and +b< = $ase +adius of Gear 1 and Gear <) (/ = /enter istance0 P = /ircular Pitch0 1 = Pressure An#le) Contact Ratio Total (mf) is the ratio of the sum of the arc of action and the face advance to the circular pitch. Crowned Teeth are teeth having modified surfaces in the lengthwise direction to prevent contact at their ends. edendum (b) is the radial or perpendicular distance between the pitch circle and the bottom of the tooth space. b = 1.178 / Pd (Pd = iametral Pitch)

Diametral !itch (!d) is the ratio of the number of teeth per inches of pitch diameter. Pd = 6 / P (P = /ircular Pitch) Pd = " / (" = "umber of -eeth0 = Pitch iameter) Pd = " ; < / o ( o = >utside iameter) Pd = (Pb / /os 1) / 6 (Pb = $ase Pitch0 1 = Pressure An#le) !d " #$.% & m (m " 'odule) ouble !elical Gear is a #ear of c(lindrical form with two sections of teeth0 one ri#ht hand and the other left hand0 that en#a#e simultaneousl( with teeth of a similarl( desi#ned matin# #ear. ?ffecti%e @ace Aidth (@e) is the width of face that actuall( comes into contact with a matin# #ear. ?&ternal Gear is a #ear with teeth formed on the outer surface of a c(linder or cone. @ace Aidth (@) is the width of the pitch surface. @illet /ur%e is the conca%e portion of the tooth profile where it ,oins the bottom of the tooth space. @illet +adius (rt) is the radius of a circular arc appro&imatin# the fillet cur%e. @orm iameter (-=@) - is the diameter of the circle be(ond which the tooth profile must conform to the specified in%olute cur%e. @ull epth -eeth are teeth in which the wor*in# depth e9uals <.B di%ided b( the iametral pitch. Gear(s) are machine elements that transmit motion b( means of successivel( engaging teeth. Gears /enter is the center of the pitch circle. Gear +atio (mG is the ratio of the number of teeth in a matin# set of #ears. !elical Gear is a c(lindrical #ear with helical teeth. )elix ngle (*) is the angle between a tangent to the helix and an element of the c(linder. +suall( the pitch helix is referred to. !ub iameter is the diameter of the central part of the #ear bod( surroundin# the bore and e&tendin# be(ond the web0 spo*es or bod(. !ub ?&tension is the distance that the hub e&tends be(ond the face of the #ear bod(.. =nterference is the contact between matin# teeth at some other point than alon# the line of action. =nside iameter ( i) is the diameter of the circle which contains the tops of the teeth of an internal #ear. =n%olute is the cur%e that is described b( the end of a line which is unwound from the circumference of a circle.

=n%olute function of an an#le is the difference between its -an#ent and its an#ular %alue in radians. =n%.a=tan(a)-(a 5 (6 / 1CB)) (a = An an#le in de#rees) =n%olute Polar An#le (') is the an#le between a radius %ector to a point on an in%olute cur%e and a radial line to the point where the cur%e touches the base circle. =n%olute +oll An#le (D) is an an#le whose arc on the base circle of radius unit( e9uals the tan#ent of the pressure an#le at a selected point on the in%olute. K Factor (K) Is the ratio of tooth thickness change to the measurement over/between pins change. 3ead (3) is the a&ial ad%ance of a heli& for one complete turn0 as in the threads of c(lindrical worms and teeth of helical #ears. , " - . D & /an * (D " !itch Diameter0 * " )elix ngle) 3ead An#le (4) is the an#le between a tan#ent to the pitch heli& and a plane of rotation. 3en#th of Action (E) is the distance on an in%olute line of action throu#h which the point of contact mo%es durin# the action of the tooth profiles. ,ine of ction is that portion of the common tangent to the base circles along which contact between the mating involute teeth occurs. 3ine of /enters is the strai#ht line throu#h the center of tan#ent pitch circles. 3ine of /ontact is the line or cur%e alon# which two tooth surfaces are tan#ent to each other. 3on# and Short addendum teeth are the teeth of en#a#in# #ears (on a standard desi#ned center distance)0 one of which has a lon# addendum and the other has a short addendum. Module (Metric) (m) is the ratio of the pitch diameter in millimeters to the number of teeth. m = 25.4 / Pd (Pd = Diametral Pitch) "ormal $ase Pitch (Pnb) is the circular pitch ta*en alon# the base circle normal to the #ear heli& an#le. Pnb = Pn 5 /os 1n (Pn = "ormal /ircular Pitch0 1n = "ormal Pressure An#le) "ormal /hordal Addendum (anc) is the chordal addendum the normal plane. "ormal /hordal -hic*ness (tnc) is the len#th of the normal thic*ness chord between pitch line elements of a tooth. "ormal /ircular -hic*ness (tn) is the circular thic*ness in a plane normal to the heli& an#le. tn = tt 5 /os . (tt = -rans%erse /ircular -ooth -hic*ness0 . = !eli& An#le) tn = .7 5 Pn (Pn = "ormal /ircular Pitch) "ormal /ircular Pitch (Pn) ("ormal to the heli& an#le) is the shortest distance on the pitch surface between correspondin# pitch line elements of ad,acent teeth. Pn = Pt 5 /os . (Pt = -rans%erse /ircular Pitch0 . = !eli& An#le)

Pn = 6 / Pnd

(Pnd = "ormal iametral Pitch)

Normal Diametral Pitch (Pnd) is the diametral pitch corresponding to the normal circular pitch and calculated in the normal plane. Pnd = Pd / /os. (Pd = -rans%erse iametral Pitch0 . = !eli& An#le) "ormal !eli& is the heli& on a pitch c(linder normal to the pitch heli&. "ormal Plane (n) is the plane perpendicular to a #i%en strai#ht line or to a tan#ent to a cur%ed line. "ormal Pressure An#le (1n) is the pressure an#le in a plane normal to the pitch line element. -an 1n = -an 1t / /os . (1n = "ormal Pressure An#le0 . = !eli& An#le) "ormal Profile An#le is the profile angle in a normal plane of a helical or spiral tooth. "umber of teeth "umber of #ear teeth. 1 " !d . D (!d " Diametral !itch0 D " !itch Diameter) >peratin# Pitch iameters (dp) are the pitch diameters determined from the numbers of teeth and the center distance at which #ears operate. dp = b / /os 1 ( b = $ase /ircle iameter0 1 = Pressure An#le) Outside Diameter (Do) is the diameter of the circle that contains the tops of the teeth of an external gear. o = " ; < / Pd (" = "umber >f -eeth0 Pd = iametral Pitch) Do " D 2 # & !d (D " !itch Diameter0 !d " Diametral !itch) >utside /(linder is the surface which coincides with the tops of the teeth of an e&ternal c(lindrical #ear. >utside heli& An#le (.o) is the heli& an#le at the outside /(linder. >utside 3ead An#le (4o) is the lead an#le at the outside c(linder. >utside +adius (+o) is the radius of the circle which contains the tops of the teeth of e&ternal #ears. Pinion is a #ear with a small number of teeth. >f two matin# #ears0 the one with the smaller number of teeth is called the pinion. Pitch Circle is the circle through the pitch point having its center at the axis of the gear. Pitch /(linder is the ima#inar( c(linder in a #ear that rolls without slippin# on a pitch c(linder or pitch plane of another #ear. !itch Diameter (D) is the diameter of the pitch circle. = " / Pd ("="umber of teeth0 Pd = iametral Pitch) D " 1 . .3453 . ! (! " Circular !itch) = " / Pd (Pd = iametral Pitch or -rans%erse iametral Pitch for helicals) !itch 6adius (6) is the radius of the pitch circle.

+ = .7 5

( = Pitch iameter)

!itch !oint is the intersection between the axes of the line of centers and the line of action. Pitch +an#e is the difference between the lon#est and the shortest pitches on a #ear. Point of /ontact is the point at which two profiles touch each other. Plane of +otation is an( plane perpendicular to a #ear a&is. Pressure An#le (1) is the an#le between a tan#ent to the tooth profile and a line perpendicular to the pitch surface. /os 1 = b / ( b = $ase iameter0 = Pitch iameter) Cos 1 = Pb / (6 / Pd) (Pb = Base Pitch, Pd = Diametral Pitch) Profile /ontrol iameter is the diameter of the circle be(ond which the tooth profile must conform to the specified in%olute cur%e. +ac* is a #ear with teeth spaced alon# a strai#ht line0 and suitable for strai#ht-line motion. =t is also described as a #ear with an infinite number of teeth. 6ight )and )elical Gear is a gear in which the teeth twist cloc7wise as the( recede from an observer loo7ing along the axis. Roll Angle (Involute) (D) is an angle whose arc on the base circle of radius unity equals the tangent of the pressure angle at a selected point on the involute. +oll An#le to @orm iameter =s the inacti%e an#le of in%olute or the amount of roll in de#rees from the base circle to the start of acti%e profile. +oot iameter ( +) is the diameter of the circle which contains the roots of the teeth. +oot +adius (+r) is the radius of the root circle containin# the bottoms of the tooth spaces. -ooth @ace is the surface between the pitch line element and the top of the tooth. -ooth @illet is the cur%ed surface of the tooth flan* ,oinin# it to the bottom land. /ooth Flan7 is the surface between the pitch line and the bottom land including the fillet. -ooth Surface is the total area includin# the tooth face and the tooth flan*. -ooth to -ooth /omposite Action is the amount of composite action from one tooth to the ne&t. -op 3and is the surface of the top of the tooth.

/otal Composite gear.

ction is the total amount of composite action for an entire

-rans%erse /ircular Pitch (Pt) is the circular pitch in the transverse plane. Pt = Pn / Cos (Pn = Normal Circular Pitch = !eli" #ngle$ Pt = 6 / Ptd (Ptd = Transverse Diametral Pitch) -rans%erse /ircular -hic*ness (tt) is the circular thickness in the transverse plane. tt = tn / /os . (tn = "ormal /ircular tooth -hic*ness0 . = !eli& An#le) /ransverse Contact 6atio (mp) is the ratio of the arc of action to the transverse circular pitch. mp = sqrt(Ro1 - Rb1) + sqrt(Ro2 - Rb2-C SIN 1t ) Pt 5 />S 1t (+o1 and +o< = >utside +adius of #ear 1 and Gear <) (+b1 and +b< = $ase +adius of Gear 1 and Gear <) (/ = /enter istance0 Pt = -rans%erse /ircular Pitch0 1t = -rans%erse Pressure An#le) -rans%erse iametral Pitch (Pd) is the ratio of the number of teeth to inches of trans%erse pitch diameter. Pd = Pnd % Cos (Pnd = Normal &iametral Pitch = !eli" #ngle$ Pd = 6 / Pt (Pt = -rans%erse /ircular Pitch) -rans%erse Plane (t) is perpendicular to the a"ial plane and to the pitch plane. 'n parallel a"is gears the transverse plane and the plane of rotation coincide. -rans%erse Pressure An#le (1t) is the pressure an#le in the plane of rotation. (an )t = (an )n / Cos ()n = Normal Pressure #ngle = !eli" #ngle$ /os 1t = b / ( b = $ase iameter0 = Pitch iameter) True Involute Form Diameter (TIF) - is the diameter of the circle beyond which the tooth profile must conform to the specified involute curve. Fndercut is a condition in #enerated #ear teeth when an( part of the fillet cur%e lies inside of the line drawn tan#ent to the true in%olute form and its lowest point. Fndercut ma( be deliberatel( introduced to facilitate finishin# operation. Ahole epth (ht) is the radial distance between the outside circle and the root circle. ht = <.178 / Pd (Pd = iametral Pitch) 8or7ing Depth (h7) is the greatest depth to which a tooth of one gear extends into the tooth space of the mating gear. h* = < / Pd (Pd = iametral Pitch)