UNIT 10 GEAR TRAINS

Structure
10.1 Introduction
Objectives

Gear Trains

10.2 Types of Gear Trains 10.3 Simple Gear Train 10.4 Compound Gear Train 10.5 Epicyclic Gear Train
10.5.1 10.5.2 10.5.3 10.5.4 Algebraic Method Tabular Method Torque on Gears in Epicyclic Gear Train Special Purpose Epicyclic Gear Trains

10.6 Summary 10.7 Key Words 10.8 Answers to SAQs

10.1 INTRODUCTION
In this unit, the analysis of gears was presented to you. Involute profile is universally used for gears but they have problem of interference which can be avoided by using any one of the several methods proposed in the last unit. Here, you will be explained gear trains. A gear train is a combination of gears that is used for transmitting motion from one shaft to another shaft. It may include various types of gears depending on the location of input and output shafts. There are various types of gear trains which are used in practice. A gear train can be designed to provide smaller gear ratio to larger gear ratios depending on the requirement.

Objectives
After studying this unit, you should be able to understand various types of gear trains, determine gear ratio for different type of gear trains, determine torque in epicyclic gear trains, and describe and explain working of epicyclic gear box, cyclometer and differential gear.

10.2 TYPES OF GEAR TRAINS

There are several types of gear trains. In some cases, the axes of rotation of the gears are fixed in space. In one case, gears revolve about axes which are not fixed in space. Therefore, the gear trains can be classified into the following three classes : (a) (b) (c) Simple gear train, Compond gear train, and Epicyclic or Planetory gear train. 63

Power Transmission Devices and Controls

10.3 SIMPLE GEAR TRAIN

In this gear train, there are series of gears which are capable of receiving and transmitting motion from one gear to another. They may mesh externally or internally. Each gear rotates about separate axis fixed to the frame. Figure 10.1 shows two gears in external meshing and internal meshing. Let t1, t2 be number of teeth on gears 1 and 2.
2 1 2

(a) External Meshing Figure 10.1

(b) Internal Meshing

Let N1, N2 be speed in rpm for gears 1 and 2. Referring Figure 10.1 and as it has been explained in Unit 9. The two meshing gears in external meshing rotate in opposite sense whereas in internal meshing they rotate in same sense. In simple gear train, there can be more than two gears also as shown in Figure 10.2.
1 2 3 4

Figure 10.2 : Simple Gear Train

Let N1, N2, N3, . . . be speed in rpm of gears 1, 2, 3, . . . etc., and t1, t2, t3, . . . be number of teeth of respective gears 1, 2, 3, . . . , etc. In this gear train, gear 1 is input gear, gear 4 is output gear and gears 2, 3 are intermediate gears. The gear ratio of the gear train is give by Gear Ratio =

N N1 N N = 1 2 3 N 4 N 2 N3 N 4

N N1 t2 N 2 t3 t = ; = and 3 = 4 N 2 t1 N3 t2 N 4 t3 N1 t2 t3 t4 t4 = = N 4 t1 t2 t3 t1

Therefore,

This expression indicates that the intermediate gears have no effect on gear ratio. These intermediate gears fill the space between input and output gears. 64

SAQ 1
(a) (b) There are six gears meshing externally and input gear is rotating in clockwise sense. Determine sense of rotation of the output gear. Determine sense of rotation of output gear in relation to input gear if a simple gear train has four gears in which gears 2 and 3 mesh internally whereas other gears have external meshing.

Gear Trains

10.4 COMPOUND GEAR TRAIN

In this type of gear train, two gears are mounted on the same shaft and they rotate at the same speed. This gear train is shown in Figure 10.3 where gears 2 and 3 are mounted on same shaft and they rotate at the same speed, i.e.
N 2 = N3
2 4 1 3

Figure 10.3 : Compound Gear Train

Let N1, N2, N3, . . . be speed in rpm of gears 1, 2, 3, . . . , etc. and t1, t2, t3, . . . , etc. be number of teeth of respective gears 1, 2, 3, . . . , etc. Gear Ratio =

N N1 N N N = 1 2 = 1 3 N4 N2 N4 N2 N4 t2 t4 t1 t3

Therefore, unlike simple gear train the gear ratio is contributed by all the gears.

10.4.1 Conventional Automobile Gear Box

A conventional gear box of an automobile uses compound gear train. For different gear engagement, it may use sliding mesh arrangement, constant mesh arrangement or synchromesh arrangement. Discussion of these arrangements is beyond the scope of this course. We shall restrict ourselves to the gear train. It can be explained better with the help of an example. Example 10.1 A sliding mesh type gear box with four forward speeds has following gear ratios : Top gear = 1 Third gear = 1.38 Second gear = 2.24 First gear = 4 Reverse gear = 4.2 65

Power Transmission Devices and Controls

Determine number of teeth on various gears. The minimum number of teeth on the pinion should not be less than 18. The gear box should have minimum size and variation in the ratios should be as small as possible. Solution The gears in the gear box are shown in Figure 10.4 below :
Engine Shaft Input Shaft Main Splined Shaft (Output Shaft)

Dog Clutch C A E

D B Lay Shaft

Figure 10.4 : Conventional Gear Box

For providing first gear ratio, gear A meshes with gear B and gear H meshes with gear G.

First gear ratio = =

Speed of engine shaft Speed of output shaft NA N N N N = A H = A H NG N H NG N B NG

[i.e. NB = NH]
B

t B tG t A tH t B tG t A tH

For smallest size of gear box = If

t B tG = = 4.0 = 2.0 t A tH
tA = 20 teeth
B

tH = 20 and tG = 20 2 = 40 teeth

tB = 2 20 = 40 teeth

Since centre distance should be same

t A + t B = tC + t D = t E + t F = t H + tG tC + t D = 40 + 20 = 60 t E + t F = 60

. . . (10.1) . . . (10.2)

For second gear, gear A meshes with gear B and gear E meshes with gear F.

NA = 2.24 NG N A NF = 2.24 NB NE

or, 66

tB tE = 2.24 t A tF 2 tF = 2.24 tG
. . . (10.3)

Gear Trains

or,

or,

t E 2.24 = = 1.12 2 tF

From Eqs. (10.2) and (10.3)

1.12 t F + t F = 60

or, or,

tF =

60 = 28.3 2.12

t E = 60 t F

t E = 60 28.3 = 31.7

Since number of teeth have to be in full number. Therefore, tF can be either 28 or 29 and tE can be either 31 or 32. If tF = 28 and tE = 32. Second gear ratio = If tF = 29 and tE = 31. Second gear ratio =

t A t E 40 32 = = 2.286 t B t F 20 28

40 31 = 2.138 20 29

From these two values of gear ratios, 2.286 is closer to 2.24 than 2.138. For third gear, gear A meshes with gear B and gear D meshes with gear C.

NA = 1.38 NC N A ND = 1.38 N B NC t B tC = 1.38 t A tD 40 tC = 1.38 20 t D 2 tC = 1.38 tD

. . . (10.4)

or,

or,

or,

or,

tC 1.38 = = 0.69 tD 2

From Eqs. (10.1) and (10.4) tC = 0.69 tD tD + 0.69 tD = 60 or,

tD =

60 = 35.503 1.69
67

tC = 60 t D = 60 35.503 = 24.497

Power Transmission Devices and Controls

Either tC = 24 and tD = 36 If tC = 25 and tD = 35

or

tC = 25 and tD = 35

Third gear ratio = If

t B tC 40 25 = = 1.4286 t A t D 20 35

tC = 24 and tD = 36 Third gear ratio =

40 24 = 1.333 20 36
tD = 36

Since, 1.333 is closer to 1.38 then 1.4286, therefore, tC = 24 and The top gear requires direct connection between input shaft and output shaft. For reverse gear an idler gear shall be required to change the sense of rotation. A gear is provided on the main or output shaft and a pinion is provided on the lay or counter shaft. These two should have some clearance and should not mesh each other. An idler gear is brought from the side where it rests to mesh these two gears. This idler gear can have any number of teeth depending on space available because its number of teeth shall not affect the gear ratio. To provide sufficient clearance between pinion and gear of reverse gear, let number of teeth on pinion be 18 and number of teeth on gear be 38. Reverse gear ratio =

tB teeth on gear t A teeth on pinion

40 38 = 4.22 20 18

The arrangement of gears in reverse gear shall be as shown in Figure 10.5.

Gear

+ +
Idler Gear Pinion

Figure 10.5 : Reverse Gear

10.5 EPICYCLIC GEAR TRAIN

In an epicyclic gear train or planetory gear train, the axis of at least one of the gears also moves relative to the frame. Figure 10.6 shows an epicyclic gear train. It consists of two gears S and P. The axes of these gears are connected with each other by an arm a. If arm is fixed, these two gears constitute a simple gear train. If gear S is fixed and arm rotates about axis of gear S, it constitute an epicyclic gear train. It is, however, not necessary that S is fixed, it may have some known rotational speed. Since gear P moves around gear S like a planet moving around sun, it is also called planetary gear and gear S is called sun gear. As the arm rotates, planetory gear P moves around gear S. Epicyclic gear trains are used in automotive transmission, computing devices, vehicle differential, etc. An epicyclic gear train can be designed to provide large gear ratio, also which is not possible in other gear trains in smaller space. 68

Gear Trains
P

Figure 10.6 : Epicyclic Gear Train

Since the operation of an epicyclic gear train is different from other gear trains, there are special methods to analyse this gear train. The methods are as follows : (a) (b) Algebraic Method, and Tabular Method.

10.5.1 Algebraic Method

This method is based on the relative motion between the two connected members. Angular velocity of gear S (Figure 10.6) = angular velocity of S relative to arm a + angular velocity of a. i.e. or,
s = sa + a N s = N sa + N a

. . . (10.5)

where, N s , N sa , and N a are speeds of respective members in rpm. From Eq. (10.5)
N sa = N s N a

. . . (10.6) . . . (10.7)

Similarly,

N pa = N a N p

From Eqs. (10.6) and (10.7)

N sa N pa
Since,

N s Na Na N p tp ts
;

. . . (10.8)

N sa N pa tp ts =

or,

Ns Na N p Na

. . . (10.9)

In Eq. (10.9), left hand side is the train value. By substituting known quantities, unknown quantity can be determined.

10.5.2 Tabular Method

In this method a table is completed first as explained below :
Sl. No. Operation Rev. of Arm a Rev. of S Rev. of P

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Power Transmission Devices and Controls

1.

Arm a is fixed and gear S is given one CCW rotation (+ 1) Arm a is fixed and gear S is given + x rotations (Multiply I row by x) Arm is given y rotations in sense of + x rotations of gear S. (Add y to II row)

+1

t s tp t s x tp

2.

+x

3.

x+y

t y s x tp

After completing this table, the given conditions are applied to determine x and y. Once x, and y are known, the revolutions of other elements can be determined as these are expressed in x and y in III row in the table. For 1 CCW rotation of arm and gear S fixed. y = +1 x + y = 0 x = 1

The rotation of gear P = y If ts = 80 and tp = 40

ts t x = 1 s ( 1) tp tp

The rotations of gear P = 1 +

80 =3 40

For 1 CW rotation of arm and gear S fixed. y = 1 x + y = 0 x =1 The rotations of gear P = 1

80 (1) = 3 40

The gear shall make 3 rotations on its axis in CW sense. Had it been a simple gear train gear P shall make 2 rotations for one rotation of gear S.

SAQ 2
(a) (b) How many rotations gear P shall make for epicyclic gear train shown in Figure 10.6 for I CW rotations of arm and one CCW rotation of gear S? How many rotations gear P shall make for epicyclic gear train shown in Figure 10.6 for I CW rotation of arm and I CW rotation of gear S?

Example 10.2

An epicyclic gear train known as Fergusons Paradox is shown in Figure 10.7. Gear A is fixed. Gears C and D are free to rotate on the shaft. Gears A, C and D have 100, 101 and 99 teeth respectively and they are cut from gear blanks of same diameter. The arm B is free to turn on the shaft and makes one CCW rotation. Determine the number of turns of the gears D and C.
20 T P

70
B D C A

Gear Trains

Figure 10.7

Solution

Algebraic Method From Eq. (10.9)

N A NB = train value C to A NC N B
Since, NA = 0 and NB = 1
B

1 101 20 101 = = NC 1 20 100 100 NC 1 = NC = + 100 100 or 1 NC = 101 101

or, or,

1 101 1 CCW. 101

The rotations of gear C are Similarly, Since, NA = 0

N A NB = train value D to A ND NB
and NB + 1
B

1 99 20 99 = = N D 1 20 100 100 1 ND = ND = 100 99

or, or,

1 99 1 CW. 99

The rotations of gear D are Tabular Method

Sl. No. Operation

Rev. of Arm B

Rev. of gear A

Rev. of gear C

Rev. of gear D

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Power Transmission Devices and Controls

1.

Arm B is locked and gear A is given I CCW rotation Arm is fixed and gear A is given + x rotations Add y to II row

+1

100 101

100 99

2.

+x

100 x 101
y+

100 x 99
y+

3.

x+y

100 x 101

100 x 99

Since gear A is fixed x + y = 0 and y = + 1 x + 1 = 0 or x = 1 Rotations of gear C = y +

100 x 101 100 1 ( 1) = (CCW ) 101 101

=1+
Rotations of gear D = y +

100 ( 1) 99

1 1 or CW 99 99

Same answer is obtained by both the methods. Therefore, the problem can be attempted by any one of these methods.

10.5.3 Torque on Gears in Epicyclic Gear Train

An epicyclic gear train consists of several gears and an arm. The power input may be through a gear or arm and similarly power output can also be through an arm or a gear. Let Ti and To be input and output torques at corresponding input speed Ni and output speed No, respectively. Let Th be the torque on a fixed gear. Since gear train is in equilibrium
Ti + Th + To = 0

. . . (10.10)

If there is no power loss

Ti N i + Th N h + To N o = 0

. . . (10.11)

Since speed of fixed gear Nh = 0. Therefore,

Ti N i + To N o = 0

. . . (10.12)

From Eqs. (10.10) and (10.12) desired quantity can be determined. The speed of the output shaft No can be determined by tabular method or algebraic method. Therefore, from the given power and speed Ti and To can be determined. Thus, from known values of Ti, To, Ni and No value of torque on fixed gear Th can be determined.
Example 10.3

An epicyclic gear train is shown in Figure 10.8 in which gear E is fixed. Gears C and D are integrally cast and form compound gear. The teeth on each gear are mentioned in the figure. If arm A makes one revolution per second in CCW, determine the speed and direction of rotation of gears B and F.
C = 35 T B = 20 T E = 20 T F = 30 T

72
D = 15 T

Gear Trains

Figure 10.8

Solution

Only tabular method shall be used to solve this problem.

Table 10.1
Sl. No. Operation Rev. of Arm A Rev. of Gear B Rev. of Compound Gears C D Rev. of Gear E Rev. of Gear F
7 20 3 30

1.

Arm A is locked and gear B is given + 1 rotation

+1

20 15

35 20 9 22 15

7 = 3

= =

140 90 14 9

2.

Multiple I row by x Add y to II row

+x

4 3

7 x 3

14 x 9

3.

x+y

4 3

y+

7
3

14 x 9

Since gear E is fixed, E is fixed, and or,

y+

7 x+0 3 7 x=0 3

y = +1 1+ x= 3 7

The rotations of gear B = x + y = The rotations of gear F = y =

3 4 + 1 = rev./second 7 7

14 14 3 x =1 9 9 7

=1+

2 5 = rev./second 3 3 4 5 rev./second CCW and rev./second CCW, 7 3

The rotations of gear B and F are respectively.

Example 10.4

An epicyclic gear train is shown in Figure 10.9. Gear A has 40 external teeth. Gear B has 80 internal teeth. Gears C and D have 20 and 50 external teeth, respectively and they form compound gear. Gears E and F have 20 and 40 external teeth, respectively and they also form compound gear. Gear G has 90 external teeth. Gear wheel C gears with A and B, D gears with E and F gears with G. Gear A is fixed and arm makes 100 rpm in CW direction. Determine speed and torque exerted on gear G if input torque on arm is 1000 Nm.
G B D A E F

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Power Transmission Devices and Controls

Figure 10.9

Solution

The table is prepared as follows to determine speed of gear G.

Table 10.2
Sl. No. 1. Operation Rev. of Arm Rev. of Gear A Rev. of Compound Gears C D Rev. of Gear B
20 ( 2) 80

Rev. of Compound Gears E F

50 ( 2) 20

Rev. of Gear G
40 5 9

Arm is locked and gear A is given + 1 rotation Multiply I row by x Add y to II row

+1

40

20

=2
0 +x

1 2

=5

20 9

2.

2x y2x

1 x 2

5x
y+5x

20 x 9

3.

x+y

1 x 2

20 x 9

Since arm rotates at 100 rpm in CW. y = 100 Since gear A is fixed, or, x+y=0 x = y = ( 100) x = 100

Speed of gear G = y

20 20 x = 100 (100) 9 9

2900 20 = 100 rpm = 9 9

Ti i + To o = 0

or, or, or,

Ti i = To o

2 N i 2 N o Ti = To 60 60
Ti N i = To N o

Since, Ti = 1000 Nm; Ni = 100 rpm and N o =

2900 rpm 9 1000 100 9 9000 Nm = Nm To = Therefore, 2900 29 It is the resistance torque on gear G.

Example 10.5

74

A gear train is shown in Figure 10.10. The driving shaft A rotates at 270 rpm in CCW (viewed from left). The casing acts as an internal gear (annular wheel) and it

is fixed. Gears E and H are keyed to the vertical shaft on which gear F can rotate freely. Gears K and L form compound gear and they are rigidly connected to the pin carried by gear F. Determine speed of the output shaft B.

Gear Trains

D, 40T G, 80T B

E, 30T

F, 50T K, 20T

L, 30T

Teeth on C

Figure 10.10

Solution

PCD of gear C = PCD of gear H + PCD of gear K + PCD of gear L

m tC = m t H + m t K + m t L

or,

tC = 40 + 20 + 30 = 90

Table 10.3
Sl. No. Operation Rev. of Arm (Gear F) Rev. of Compound Gears E H +1 Rev. of Compound Gears K L Rev. of Gear C

1.

Arm is locked and E H is given + 1 rotation Multiply I row by x Add y to II row

40 =2 20
2x
y 2x

( 2)

2 30 = 3 90 2 x 3 2 x 3

2.

+x

3.

x+y

Since gear C is fixed,

2 x=0 3

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Power Transmission Devices and Controls

Since, rotations of gear D is 270 rpm Therefore, rotations of gear E = or, x + y = 360

40 270 = 360 rpm (CCW) 30

x+

2 5 x = 360 or x = 360 3 3 2 216 = 144 3

x = 216 y =

Rotations of gear F = y = 144 CCW Speed of output shaft B =

Example 10.6

50 144 = 90 rpm CCW (viewing from right). 80

The Humpages gear train is shown in Figure 10.11. The input shaft is keyed to the gear A and output shaft is keyed to the gear E. The arm B rotates freely on the output shaft and it carries compound gear C D. Gear F is fixed. If input shaft rotates at 500 rpm in the clockwise (CW) sense looking from right. Determine speed of the output shaft.
Arm B C D A Input Shaft 56 T

Output Shaft E 35 T

24 T

20 T

76 T F

Figure 10.11

Solution Table 10.4

Sl. No. Operation Rev. of Arm Rev. of Gear A Rev. of Compound Gears C D Rev. of Gear F Rev. of Gear E

1.

Arm is locked and gear A is given + 1 rotation Multiply 1 row by x Add y to 2 row

+1

20 56

20 56

20 56 56 76

20 76

20 24 76 35

2.

+x

20 56

20 x 76

20 24 x 76 35 20 24 x 76 35

3.

x+y

y+

20 56

20 76

Since gear F is fixed, 76

y
Since,

20 x=0 76

Gear Trains

x + y = 500 or y = 500 x

( 500 x)
or, or, or,

20 x=0 76

20 1 + x = 500 76

x=

500 76 96

x = 395.83

Speed of output shaft = Speed of gear E = y Since,

20 24 x 76 35

y = 500 x = 500 + 395.83 = 104.17

Speed of gear E = 104.17

20 24 ( 395.83) 76 35

= 32.74 or 32.74 rpm (CW) The output shaft rotates at 32.74 rpm in CW sense.
Example 10.7

A bend gear epicyclic gear train is shown in Figure 10.12. The gear A is keyed to the driving shaft and gear F is keyed to the driven shaft. Gear E is fixed. The arm G which support the inclined shaft is free to rotate about the common axis of input and output shafts. Gears B, C and D are keyed to the inclined shaft. Gears A and B have equal number of teeth. Gears A, C, D, E, and F have teeth equal to 25, 19, 18, 75 and 75, respectively. Determine gear ratio of gear train.

B D C A G

Figure 10.12

Solution

Considering the train consisting gears A, B, C and E

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Power Transmission Devices and Controls

Sl. No. 1.

Operation

Rev. of Arm G

Rev. of Gear A 1

Rev. of Gear B 1

Rev. of Gear C

Rev. of Gear E

Arm G is locked and A is given + 1 rotation Multiply I row by x Add y to II row

19 75

2. 3.

0 y

x x+y

x x+y

x x+y

19 x 75 19 x 75

Gear E is fixed,

19 x=0 75
x = (1 y )

Let driving shaft rotates by 1 turn, i.e. speed of gear A is equal to 1 or, or, or, or, x + y = 1 or

19 (1 y ) = 0 75

19 19 1 + y= 75 75

y=

19 75 19 = rotations 75 94 94

Now, considering gear train consisting gears E, C, D and F

Sl. No. 1. Operation Arm G is locked and E is given + 1 rotation Multiply I row by x Add y to II row Rev. of Arm G Rev. of Gear A Rev. of Gear B
75 19

Rev. of Gear C
75 19

Rev. of Gear E
+ 75 18 19 75

18 19

2. 3.

0 y

x x+y

75 x 19

75 x 19

18 x 19

y+

75 x 19

y+

75 x 19

y+

18 x 19

Now, y =

19 19 and x + y = 0 or x = y = 94 94

Rotations of output shaft = Rotations of gear F = y +

18 x 19

=
Gear ratio =
1 = 94 . 1 94

19 18 19 1 + = 94 19 94 94

10.5.4 Special Purpose Epicyclic Gear Trains

There are special purpose epicyclic gear trains which are used for specific work. Some of them are briefly explained as follows :
Cyclometer Mechanism

78

The gear train is shown in Figure 10.13. C is a star wheel which is connected to the driving shaft. It is operated by a striker fixed to the wheel of the bike and makes 1 th of a revolution for one revolution of the wheel. There are two co-axial 5 internal gears R and S of which R is fixed. The gear Q meshes with S and P meshes with R. The internal gear S makes one revolution for 1 km travelled by the bike.
R P S

Gear Trains

O2 A P Q R S C O1 B

Figure 10.13 : Cyclometer Mechanism

Vehicle Differential

The gear train is shown in Figure 10.14. The purpose of the rear-axle differential is to permit the two side wheels to rotate at different speeds when automobile takes a turn. This could be possible because of two degrees of freedom of the epicyclic gear train. Gears A and B constitute final drive and provide fixed gear ratio in the vehicle. Gears E and D have equal number of teeth and they are keyed to two parts of rear axle. These two parts of axle are connected to the two side wheels. When automobile moves along a straight road, there is no relative motion between pinion C and gears D and E. The planetory pinions act as keys to transmit motion from ring gear B to the gears D and E and thereby wheels rotate at same speed. When vehicle takes a turn, the planet gear C starts rotating about their axis and two side gears D and E rotate at different speeds with one input speed. However, the average of speeds of D and E remains equal to input speed.

Figure 10.14 : Vehicle Differential

Epicyclic Gear Box or Wilson Gear Box

79

Power Transmission Devices and Controls

The epicyclic gear box is shown in Figure 10.15. It provides four forward speeds and one reverse speed. The two sun wheels S1 and S2 are keyed to the input shaft from the engine. There are four internal gears I1, I2, I3 and Ir. P1, P2, P3 and Pr are planet gears. B1, B2, B3 and Br are brake bands which are used to lock various internal gears. G and F provide cone clutch arrangement. For applying I gear, the brake band B1 is applied to lock annulus I1. The power is transmitted through simple epicyclic gear train consisting S1, P1 and I1.
B B B B B

For II gear, only the brake band B2 is applied so that annulus I2 is locked. The power is transmitted through the compound epicyclic gear train S2, P2, I2 and S1, P1, I1.
B

For III gear, only the brake band B3 is applied so that sun gear S3 is locked. The power is transmitted through three epicyclic gear trains S3, P3, I3; S2, P2, I2 and S1, P1, I1.
B

For top gear, cone clutch is engaged to prevent any relative motion and it will make output shaft D to rotate at same speed equal to that of input shaft E. For reverse gear, only the brake band Br is applied to lock annulus Ir.
B

I2 I3 F G

I1

Ir A P3 P2 P1 Pr

S3 S2 S1

E From Engine Shaft

D To Propellor Shaft

B3

B2

B1

Br

Figure 10.15 : Epicyclic Gear Box

10.6 SUMMARY
A gear train is a means of power transmission from one shaft to another shaft with a positive drive. It requires less space. The gear ratio of the gear train is the ratio of speed of input shaft to speed of output shaft. There are three types of gear trains which are simple gear train, compound gear train and epicyclic gear train. Simple gear train and compound gear train have single degree of feedom whereas epicyclic gear train has two degrees of freedom. Simple gear train and compound gear train have fixed gear ratios but gear ratio for epicyclic gear train depends of constraints imposed on this gear train. An epicyclic train can by analysed by algebraic method or by tabular method. The speed of the output shaft or gear ratio can be determined by any of these methods. However, sense of rotation of the gears can be determined easily in simple gear train and compound gear train. But sense of rotation is provided by the method in epicyclic gear train in terms of negative or positive sense. The convention of sign has to be assumed while feeding the known data. This convention shall be applicable along particular axis or parallel axes only. If axes of the gears rotate as in bevel gear train, the sign convention is not applicable for inclined axes to input and output axes. For example, three externally

80

meshing gears in simple gear train result in same sense of input and output gears (Figure 10.16(a)) whereas the same number of gears provide opposite sense in bevel gear train (Figure 10.16(b)). The tangential velocity direction can be used for bevel gear train for this purpose as shown in the Figure 10.16.

Gear Trains

(a) Figure 10.16

(b)

10.7 KEY WORDS

Gear Train Simple Gear Train : It is a combination of gears used for transmitting motion from one shaft to another shaft. : There may be two or more than two gears in which motion is transmitted from one gear to another gear. : In this gear train two gears have same speed because they are mounted on same shaft. : In this gear train, one or more gears rotate about their axes as well as axes their also revolve as arm rotates. : It is based on relative velocity between the two connected members for analysis of epicyclic gear train. : It is also a method used for analysing epicyclic gear train.

Compound Gear Train Epicyclic Gear Train

Algebraic Method

Tabular Method

10.8 ANSWERS TO SAQs

SAQ 1

(a) (b)
SAQ 2

Answer given in text. Answer given in text.

Refer Figure 10.6. (a) x + y = 1 and y = 1 x = 2 Rotations of gear P = 1 (b)

80 ( 2) = 5 40

x + y = 1 and y = 1 x = 0 Rotations of gear P = 1

80 (0) = 1 40

81