ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the kinematics of gears; that is, the motion relationships between gears. It explores how to conduct force and torque analysis on gears in order to calculate bearing loads and the like. Bevel gears transmit motion between non-parallel, intersecting shafts, in most cases the shafts are perpendicular to one another. The spiral shaped gear is called the "worm" and the gear it meshes with is called the "worm gear." The topic of gear train efficiency has been much studied in the past 100 years, and no simple, all-encompassing theory has emerged. Once a gear train has been selected and manufactured, laboratory testing must be carried out if an estimate of absolute efficiency is required. Thus, the methods presented here are approximate, and should only be used for the purpose of comparing one design with another.
