How the increasing demands on power transmission and reduction in mass of modern gearboxes lead to gear designs that are close to their load-carrying capacity limits.
In this article the authors present a loaded tooth contact analysis (LTCA) method for asymmetric gears that provides an accurate and efficient design tool for analyzing and comparing designs. The presented method is implemented in SMT's MASTA software. The authors also present an example comparative study using this tool for an automotive application.
Attempts to eliminate mechanical drive trains in automobiles and trucks have had limited success because of cost, weight, dynamic characteristic, and efficiency of the alternative components.
Gear noise is a common evil any gear manufacturer must live with. It is often low enough not to be a major problem but, at times, gear whining may appear and then, tracking the source and, especially, curing the ill can be tricky at best.
Lately, the use of asymmetric gears in automotive and other applications is an upcoming trend, though few applications
are known to have asymmetric teeth. However, an increased interest in asymmetric gears can be seen. Many companies have started to design and test such applications.
I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning, I saw the chief draftsman who said, "You're in charge of gears." And he walked away. Dumbfounded, I stared at the back of his head, and sat down at my drafting board. It was November, 1963, shortly after JFK was assassinated, and after I was discharged from the U.S. Army.