Chapter - 3 Involute
Involute
Involute the curve traced out by an end of piece of string when unwound from
a circle or a regular polygon is called as involute. The involute of a circle is the curve
for gear teeth and gear cutting tools. It is used in the development of tooth profiles.
Spirals
Spiral is a curve formed by the locus of a point which moves around a
centre, while moving away from the centre. The centre is called as pole. The
point will move along a line called radius vector, while the line itself rotates
about one of its end points. The locus of the point for one complete revolution of
the radius vector is called spiral for one convolution.
Logarithmic (or) Equiangular Spiral
The locus of a point which moves along a radius vector by increasing its
radius in geometrical progression while the vector itself rotates by increasing its
angle in arithmetic progression is called Logarithmic spiral.
The polar equation r=a where r=radius vector; =angle turned; a = constant.
This curve is used for the construction of sound amplifier and centrifugal
pumps castings.
Example - 1
Draw an Involute of a Triangle of base side 30 mm.
Solution
P2
Ra
P1
di
ius C
Rad
us
AP
C
2
P3 A B
30
BA
us
di
Ra
P1
Fig. 3.1
3.2 Engineering Graphics
1. Draw an equilateral triangle ABC of side 30mm.
2. Produce the lines BA, CB and AC.
3. With B as center and BA as radius draw an arc to intersect CB produced by P1
4. With C as center and CP1 as radius draw an arc to intersect AC produced at P2
5. With A as center and AP2 as radius draw an arc to intersect BA produced at P3
6. Draw a smooth curve passing through Pl P2 and P3. This curve is, called involute
of triangle.
Example - 2
Draw an involute of a Pentagon of base side 15 mm.
Solution
1. Draw a regular Pentagon ABCDE of side 15mm
2. Produce the lines CB, DC, ED, AE and BA
3. With B as center and BA as radius, draw an arc to intersect CB produced
at P1
Fig. 3.2
4. With C as center and CPI as radius, draw an arc to intersect DC produced
at P2
5. With-D as center and DP2 as radius, draw an arc to intersect ED produced
at P3
Involute 3.3
6. With E as center and EP3 as radius, draw an arc to intersect AE produced
at P4
7. With A as center and AP4 as radius, draw an arc to intersect BA produced
at P5
8. Draw a smooth curve passing through A, P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5 which is called an
involute of pentagon.
Example - 3
Construct one revolution of an involute of a circle of diameter 50mm.
draw tangent and normal at any point on it.
Solution
en t T
G P9 Tang
SP P8
10
l
Norma
P7
Radiu
s GC
P11 C
6 P6
7 5
8
9 4
3
M 2 P5
10
12 1
P12
12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 P1 P4
Circumference = D = 50 P2 P3
Fig. 3.3 Involute of a circle
1. Draw a circle of diameter 50 mm.
2. Mark P on the circle and draw a line PQ of length equal to (n D) circumference
of the circle.
3. Divide PQ and the circle into 12 equal parts and mark the number.
3.4 Engineering Graphics
4. Draw tangents at points 1, 2, 3 ..... 11 and mark P1 P2 P3 ..... P12 on them
such that 1P1 = P1, 2P2 = P2, 3P3 = P3llPll = Pll·
5. Draw involute curve through the point P1, P2, P3 .....Pll, Q.
Tangent and normal to involute at any point
6. Mark the point G on the involute curve.
7. Join G with o and mark the point C as the mid point of GO. Keeping C as
centre, GC as Radius, draw a semi circle which cuts the small circle at M.
8. Join MG . MG is the normal.
I
9. Draw a perpendicular line (ST) to the normal through point G. This is the
tangent to the involute.
Example - 4
Draw the curve traced out by an end of thin wire unwound from a
regular hexagon of side 15 mm, the wire being kept taut.
Solution
P5
P4
Radius FP4
s EP 3
diu
Ra
Ra
diu E D
s AP P3
15
5 Ra
diu
C s CP
F 2
Radius CP1
A B
P6
Radius BA
P1 P2
Fig. 3.4
Involute 3.5
l. Draw a regular hexagon ABCDEF of side 15mm
2. Produce the lines BA, CB, DC, ED, FE and AF
3. With B as center and BA as radius, draw an arc to intersect CB induced at P1
4. With C as center and CP1 as radius, draw an arc to intersect DC produced
at P2
5. With D as center and DP2 as radius, draw an arc to intersect ED produced at
P3
6. With E as center and EP3 as radius, draw an arc to intersect FE produced at P4
7. With F as center and FP4 as radius, draw an arc to intersect AF produced at P5
8. With A as Center and AP5 as radius, draw an arc to intersect BA produced at
P6
9. Draw a smooth curve passing through P1, P2 ... and P6
Exercises
Geometrical Constructions
1. Draw a line 76 mm into 11 equal parts.
2. Draw a pentagon of side 35 mm.
3. Draw a hexagon of side 40 mm.
4. Draw a circle of radius 45 mm.
5. Draw a octagon of side 30 mm.
6. Find graphically the circumference of a circle of radius 38 mm.
Involute
1. Triangle - 40 mm side.
2. square - 300 mm side
3. pentagon - 25 mm side
4. Hexagon - 25 mm side
5. Circle - 25 mm dia
7. Draw involute of the following figure.
8. An inelastic string of 190 mm is wound from a drum diameter 400 mm. Draw
the locus of the free end of the string which is held taut during winding.
3.6 Engineering Graphics
Short Answers
1. What is meant by involutes?
The curve traced out by an end of a piece of string when unwound from a circle
or a regular polygon is called involutes.
2. Mention the application of involutes.
An involutes shape is used in impeller of centrifugal pump. Gear tooth profile
is made of involutes.
Involutes shape in cam ensures rolling contact between the roller and the
follower at constant speed
3. Define projection.
Projection is defined as the process of making an image of the object by
projecting rays in a particular direction to the picture plane.
