Lesson 3
Gear Trains
Gear Trains
One of the major purposes for a mechanism is to transmit motion from one
location to another, usually changing that motion in the process. In many instances one
desires to transmit the rotation of one shaft into the rotation of another shaft. If these
shafts are parallel and there is a nonlinear relationship between their rotations, either
a planar function generator linkage or a cam with an oscillating follower would be
considered (particularly if the output shaft is not required to rotate completely around
through 360˚).
Train – is a series of rolling cylinders or cones, gears, pulleys, or similar devices serving
to transmit power from one shaft to another.
-Applied to combinations which there are more than one pair.
Driver and Driven
Driver: Body D & F
Driven: Body E & G
● IDLER:
- is both a driver and a driven gear
- If two shafts connected by external gears, the shafts will rotate in opposite direction
but if an idler is placed between them, their sense of direction would be the same.
- It is also used to reduce the size of gears required to connect two shafts with fixed
center distance and a desire velocity ratio. An idler does not affect the velocity ratio.
Illustration:
● Train Value:
- ratio of the absolute angular speed of last wheel or driven to the absolute
angular speed of the first wheel or driver.
N (last wheel) 1
e = Driven
N Driver ( first wheel) VR
where;
e = train value
V R = velocity ratio
1. As to the direction:
-e; if the last shaft turns in opposite direction from the first shaft.
+e; if the last shaft turns in same direction that of the first shaft.
2. As to the number of shafts:
-e; if the number of shafts is even.
+e; if the number of shafts is odd.
● Calculation of speeds
Given:
T₂ = 100t
T₃ = 50t
T₄ = 125t
T₅ = 25t
N 2 T3 T2
; N₃ = N₂ ----------> 1
N 3 T2 T3
N 4 T5 T
; N₄ = N₅ 5 ----------> 2
N 5 T4 T4
But N₃ = N₄
T T
N₂ 2 = N₅ 5
T3 T4
N 5 T2T4 D2 D4
N 2 T3T5 D3 D5
Hence;
speed of the last shaft product of teeth or diameters of driver
e=
speed of the first shaft product of teeth or diameters of driven
Speed of the last shaft = e (speed of the first shaft)
e = ± individual velocity ratio
Example
T D = 15t T₁ = 60t
T₂ = 20t T₃ = 80t
T₄ = 30t T F = 120t
Solution
Pr oduct of teeth of drivers T TT
℮= D 2 4
Pr oduct of teeth of follower T1T3TF
15(20)30 1
e
60(80)120 64
Since, the driver and follower turn in opposite direction then,
1 1
e ; e
64 64
Example
2. Gear train mixed data
Calculate the train value:
T D = 15t T₁ = 60t
N₂ = 40 rpm N₃ = 10 rpm
D₄ = 3 inch D₅ = 6 inches
D F = 12 inches
Solution
T N D D
e = D 3 4 5
T1 N 2 D5 DF
15 10 3 6
e =
60 40 6 12
1
e = + ; because the sense of rotation is the same.
64
● Reverted Gear Trains:
- is a train in which the driver and follower are co-axial, that is turn about the
same axis;
Uses;
Automatic transmissions
Air plane propeller drives
Machine tool spindle drives
Conditions of Design:
1. Train value is correct, which means that the velocity ratio of the two pairs must
be factor of the train value.
Note:
N N
Train Value = product of F F 1
N D N D1
which must be as near as possible
1 1 1
ex. e = ; must be, e =
20 5 4
1 1 1 1
≠ not e = or
20 1 10 2
2. The center distances of the two pairs of gears must be the same.
Example
3. A set of reverted gear as shown in figure below is required that will have a train
value of 1:20. The minimum number of teeth for any gear is to be 12 and the
diametral pitch for pair is to be the same. Find the number of teeth for a set of
gears to accomplish this,
Steps:
1. Divide the train value as nearly equal as possible. Decimal values to be avoided
as possible.
Note:
Greater value of e, assign to first gear.
1 1 1
Gear Train
20 4 5
Say,
1 T
Ratio of the first gear = D
4 T1
T₁ = 4 T D 1
1 T
Ratio of the second gear = 2
5 TF
T F = 5 T₂ 2
2. Center to center distance must be equal
D D1 D DF
C1 D C2 2
2 2
T
but D =
Pd
T T T T
C1 D 1 C2 2 F
2 Pd 2 Pd
C₁ = C₂
T D + T₁ = T₂ + T F 3
Substitute equations 1 and 2 to equation 3
T D + 4 T D = T₂ + 5 T₂
5 T D = 6T₂
TD 6
T2 5
Let;
TD= 6 T₂ = 5
Then;
T₁ = 4(6) = 24t
T F = 5(5) = 25t
But since the least number of teeth is 12-all values must be multiplied in such a
way that the least number of teeth is 12 and that number is 3
T D = 6 x 3 = 18t T₂ = 5 x 3 = 15t
T₁ = 24 x 3 = 72t T F = 25 x 3 = 75t
LEARNING ACTIVITY
1. Considering as the driver the shaft that carries the minute hand of a clock,
what is the train value in each of the following cases. a) Between the minute-
hand shaft and the sleeve to which the hour hand is attached? b) Between
the minute-hand shaft and the second-hand shaft?