Analysis and Optimization of the Loaded Meshing of Face Gears

Abstract

This paper presents a method of simulating loaded face gear meshing. A brief description of the software developed is given in the first part. It simulates the loaded behavior of face gear meshing and provides information such as the instantaneous pressure distribution across the entire width of the teeth in contact and loaded transmission error. Analytical simulations are used to define the geometry and study the unloaded kinematics. This method permits very precise results in a very short time. In the second part of the paper, a comparison between point and line contacts is made for loaded meshing. Further computations calculate assembling-error sensitivity for the two types of contact. The best performance is achieved with the line contact, but it is very sensitive to misalignment. The last part of the paper presents a method for pinion crowning to improve optimization of the line contact case. The aim is to obtain the best loading of face gear meshing in order to avoid line contact sensitivity due to misalignment.