As a gearbox supplier, YB Components have a lot of experience supplying many different types of gears and geared motor units. Here we provide a quick rundown of the different gear types and how they work.
Spur Gear
Spur gears have teeth that project outwards from a cylindrical surface, with the edge of each tooth parallel to the axis of rotation. The teeth of each spur gear mesh together and will transmit power when fitted to parallel shafts. Spur gears are typically used in mechanical applications such as gearboxes and geared motor units to either increase or decrease the speed of a device, plus you can also use a series of mated gears to multiply torque by transmitting motion and power from one shaft to another.
Helical Gear
Helical gears are similar to spur gears except that their teeth are at an angle to the axis of rotation of the gear wheel instead of parallel to the axis like spur gears. Helical gears are cylindrical like spur gears but more complex to manufacture, though the more gradual engagement of their angled teeth makes them better suited for high-speed applications.
Herringbone Gear
Herringbone gears have two sets of gear teeth on the same gear, one set on the left and one on the right side. The thrust of each set of gear teeth is cancelled out by the other, which makes herringbone gears produce a quiet and smooth operation even at high speeds.
Rack and Pinion Gear
Rack and pinion gears are technically a type of linear actuator that work in conjunction with other gears. The flat, toothed part of the device is the rack, and the gear wheel is the pinion. A rack and pinion gear set will transform rotational motion into linear motion by taking the energy from a rotating gear and converting it into either a forward or backward motion.
Bevel Gear
Bevel gears are a rotating machine part featuring conically-shaped tooth-bearing gear faces which transfer mechanical energy or power between intersecting shafts. They can be found on some gearboxes, geared motor units and a variety of other applications. The intersecting shafts can be either perpendicular or at an angle, which results in a change in the axis of rotation of the shaft power.
Worm Gear
Worm gears consist of a shaft with a spiral thread driving a toothed wheel, and their purpose is to alter the rotational movement by 90 degrees. The plane of movement can also be adjusted with a worm gear, with the desired plane of movement determined by the position of the worm on the toothed wheel.
Spiral Bevel Gear
Spiral-bevel gears feature curved oblique teeth that connect gradually from one end of the tooth to the other. They mesh together smoothly with a rolling contact, not dissimilar to how helical gears operate. Spiral bevel gears are a lot smoother and quieter in operation than straight bevel gears, however they also produce much higher tooth pressure.
Internal Gear
Internal gears feature gear teeth inside the internal diameter of a cylindrical device, as opposed to teeth on the outside diameter of the device as with most types of gears. Internal gears are primarily used for the transmission of power.
If you require any gearboxes or geared motor units, then contact YB Components who are the UK’s leading gearboxes suppliers.
