CHAPTER 20

Worm Gears

Summary

LO 1. Explain the advantages and applica=ons of worm gear drives

The most important advantage of worm gear drive is high speed reduc=on as high as 40:1 with
a single pair. They are compact in construc=on and smooth and silent during opera=on.
Provision can be made for self-locking opera=on, where the mo=on is transmiIed only from the
worm to the worm wheel.

Worm gear drives are used in steering mechanism, hoists and elevators, machine tools,
automo=ve supercharger, and for opening and closing of gate valves.

LO 2. Underline the terminology and propor=ons of worm and worm wheel

A pair of worm gears is specified by four quan==es viz. z1/z2/q/m where z1 is number of starts
on the worm, z2 is number of teeth on the worm wheel, q is diametral quo=ent, and m is the
module. All other parameters can be expressed in terms of these four quan==es.

For an involute helicoidal tooth form,

addendum = ha1 = m dedendum = hf1 = (2.2 cos γ - 1)m

clearance = c = 0.2 m cos γ

For worm wheel,

addendum at the throat = ha2 = m (2 cos γ - 1)

dedendum in the median plane = hf 2 = m (1 + 0.2 cos γ )

LO 3. Formulate expressions for components of force between worm and worm wheel

There are three components of the resultant force ac=ng on the worm viz. tangen=al
component (P1)t, axial component (P1)a, and radial component (P1)r . They are given by,

2 Mt

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 2 Mt
(P1)t = d1

( cos α cos γ − μ sin γ)

(P1)a = (P 1 )t × (cos α sin γ + μ cos γ)

sin α
(P1)r = (P 1 )t × (cos α sin γ + μ cos γ)

The corresponding components (P2)t, (P2)a, and (P2)r ac=ng on the worm wheel are given by,

(P2)t = - (P1)a

(P2)a = - (P1)t

(P2)r= - (P1)r

LO 4. Discuss the effect of fric=on and the concepts of 'self-locking' and 'overrunning' worm
gear drives

The coefficient of fric=on in worm gear drives depends upon the rubbing speed, which is the
rela=ve velocity between the worm and the wheel. Due to excessive fric=on, the efficiency of
worm gear drive is low even up to of 50%.

A worm gear drive is said to be self-locking, if the coefficient of fric=on is greater than tangent
of lead angle. (μ > tan γ )

A worm gear drive is said to be overrunning, if the coefficient of fric=on is less than tangent of
lead angle. (μ < tan γ )

LO 5. List materials for worm and worm wheel

The worms are made of case hardened steel viz. 10C4 or 14C6 or case hardened alloy steels viz.
nickel chromium or nickel molybdenum steel.

The worm wheel is made of phosphor bronze which can be either sand cast or centrifugally cast.

LO 6. Describe procedure for calcula=on of strength ra=ng, wear ra=ng, and thermal ra=ng of
worm gear drive

The maximum permissible torque that the worm wheel can withstand without bending failure
(strength ra=ng) is given by the lower of the following two values:

(Mt)1 = 17.65 X b1 Sb1 m lr d 2 cos γ

(Mt)2 = 17.65 X b2 Sb2 m lr d 2 cos γ

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 The maximum permissible torque that the worm wheel can withstand without pifng failure
(wear ra=ng) is given by the lower of the following two values:

(Mt)3 = 18.64 X c1 Sc1 Y z (d 2 ) 1.8 m

(Mt)4 = 18.64 X c2 Sc2 Y z (d 2 ) 1.8 m

The thermal ra=ng is given by,

k (t − to) A
kW = 1000 (1 − η)

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