ABSTRACT
Before we can discuss the different types of gears, we would do well to de—ne just what we mean by a “gear.” Perhaps the most suf—cient de—nition ever heard was provided by a loading dock worker who asked where he should deliver the “wheels with notches in them.” In more technically correct terms, a gear is a toothed wheel that is usually, but not necessarily, round. The teeth may have any of an almost in—nite variety of pro—les. The purpose of gearing is to transmit motion and/or power from one shaft to another. This motion transfer may or may not be uniform, and may also be accompanied by changes in direction, speed, and shaft torque.
