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Understanding Gears and Their Functions

Gears come in different types and are used to change the speed, torque, and direction of rotating axles. Spur gears are the most common type and have teeth that mesh to transfer rotational motion. Gear ratio is calculated by comparing the number of teeth on interacting gears and determines how their speeds and torques are related. Idler gears can be added between two gears without changing the gear ratio. Bevel gears mesh at 90 degree angles while worm gears can produce large gear ratios and act as locks. Belts and pulleys also change speed and torque but rotate in the same direction and can slip.

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Hoda Hosny
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128 views14 pages

Understanding Gears and Their Functions

Gears come in different types and are used to change the speed, torque, and direction of rotating axles. Spur gears are the most common type and have teeth that mesh to transfer rotational motion. Gear ratio is calculated by comparing the number of teeth on interacting gears and determines how their speeds and torques are related. Idler gears can be added between two gears without changing the gear ratio. Bevel gears mesh at 90 degree angles while worm gears can produce large gear ratios and act as locks. Belts and pulleys also change speed and torque but rotate in the same direction and can slip.

Uploaded by

Hoda Hosny
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Gears, Gears and More Gears

Teacher Professional Development


Spring, 2002

Robotics Academy 2002. All Rights Reserved.

What is a gear?
A gear is a wheel
with teeth that
mesh together
with other gears.
Gears change the
speed
torque (rot.
force)
direction
of rotating axles.
Robotics Academy 2002.

Different types of gears


Spur gears Idler gears Worm gears

Bevel gears

Robotics Academy 2002.

Belts & Pulleys

Spur Gears
Most common type of gear, a wheel with teeth.
Build the following...
1x16 beam

(put bushings on
the back side) Spur

#6 axle

8 tooth gear

gears do
three things.
1. Change rot.
speed
2. Change torque
3. Change
direction
40 tooth
gear

Make sure there isnt too much friction between the


gears and the beam. The gears should spin easily.
Robotics Academy 2002.

Gear Ratios
The gear ratio is the ratio of the number of teeth
on one gear to the number of teeth on the other
gear.
40
8 teeth
teeth

Gear ratio = 40 to 8 or, simplifying, 5 to 1.


That means it takes 5 revolutions of the smaller
gear to get 1 revolution of the larger gear. Try it!
Robotics Academy 2002.

Gear Ratios

The gear ratio tells you the change in speed and torque
of the rotating axles.

If it takes 5 turns of the 8 tooth gear for every 1 turn of


the 40 tooth gear, that means the 40 tooth gear will rota
5 times slower than the 8 tooth gear.

BUT, it also means the 40 tooth gears axle has 5 times


the torque (rotational force) as the 8 tooth gears axle.

Robotics Academy 2002.

Idler Gears
An idler gear is a gear that is inserted between 2
other gears.
Build the following. Add
idler gear
another
8 tooth gear to the right of
the
40
tooth
gear.
How
many
turns of the 8
tooth
gear on the left does it take
to
make 1 turn of the new 8
tooth
Robotics Academy [Link] on the right?

Idler Gears
Answer: 1! Its as if the 8 tooth gears are meshed
together.
Idler gears DO NOT
change the gear ratio.
Idler gears DO
make both 8 tooth gears
rotate in the same
direction,
add spacing between
gears.
Robotics Academy 2002.

Bevel Gears
Bevel gears are spur gears that mesh at a 90
degree angle. The gear ratio rules remain the
same, but the axles are perpendicular to one
another.

Robotics Academy 2002.

These 12 tooth bevel


gears
can only mesh with themselves.

Worm Gears
Build the following.
1

half bushing

#6 axle

1x6 beam

24 tooth gear
1x4 beam

worm gear

5
full
bushing

Robotics Academy 2002.

2 1x4 plates

#10 axle

Worm Gears
Worm gears have some special properties.
1: The axles are perpendicular, like bevel gears.
2: How many rotations of
the
worm gear does it take
for
1
ANSWER:
rotation
of the spur gear?
24!
The worm gear acts like a gear with 1 tooth! This
gives
very large gear ratios.
Robotics Academy 2002.

Worm Gears
Worm gears are not back-driveable.
You can turn the worm
gears axle, but you cant
turn the spur gears axle.
This property is used as a
locking mechanism.

Robotics Academy 2002.

Belts & Pulleys


Belts & pulleys are related to gears. They change
speed and torque, but with a few differences...
Pulleys transfer their
force by the friction
of the belts, rather
than direct contact
with the teeth of
gears.
Unlike gears, the pulleys
rotate in the same
direction.
Robotics Academy 2002.

This can cause the


belts to slip.

Belts & Pulleys


Belts can transfer force across long distances.

Like gears, however, belts and pulleys do have a


gear
ratio. It is the ratio of the diameters of the
pulleys.
Robotics Academy 2002.

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