Tooth contact analysis of mismatched hypoid gears

Abstract

A method for the tooth contact analysis in mismatched hypoid gears is presented. The point contact of mismatched hypoid gears changes into line contact under load and these potential contact lines are determined. The presented method is based on the minimization of the function that determines the separation of the mating surfaces, which separation is defined as the distance of the corresponding surface points obtained as the intersection points of the gear tooth surface normal with the mating surfaces. The points with minimal separations make up the potential contact lines. The corresponding computer program is developed. By using this program the potential contact lines under load, the separations of the mating surfaces along these contact lines, the angular displacements of the gear member, and the variation of the angular velocity ratio through a mesh cycle are calculated. The influence of the position error of the pinion on tooth contact is investigated and discussed. The investigations have shown that this new method is very useful not only for the one tooth contact analysis in mismatched hypoid gears, but also for the simultaneous tooth contact analysis of all the tooth pairs instantaneously in mesh, as well as for the investigation of the influence of machine tool setting parameters, misalignments, and tooth errors on mesh performances.