Understanding Spur Gears
Posted on: 3 October 2019
A gear is an essential mechanical part. It is a rotating machine with cogs or cut teeth that mesh against each other. Spur gears are the most commonly used type of gear. They are used to shift motion between two parallel shafts. They are designed with a straight tip and are often used to create large gear deductions.
To increase your knowledge on spur gears, we have discussed the standard applications, pros, cons as well as the criteria for choosing spur gears.
Uses of spur gears
Spur gears decrease or increase power or the torque of a particular object. To this effect, spur gears are used in cloth dryers, washing machines, construction equipment, blenders, fuel mills and pumps. In power stations, spur gears help to convert different forms of energy. For instance, hydroelectric power or wind into electrical energy. Spur gears decrease or increase the speed of an object. For example, people use them to adjust the speed of minute and hour-hands in mechanical clocks. They also help to increase the speed of eggbeaters to improve their effectiveness.
Factors to consider when buying gears
- Power, torque and velocity- the output peaks and consistency of your spur gear drive should meet your mechanical requirement. Spur gear manufacturers design some gears which limit the transfer of energy at high torques and speed.
- Inertia- consider the deceleration and acceleration of the gear. Lighter gears are easy to stop and reverse while the heavier ones are harder to stop and reverse.
- Gear lubrication requirements- Some spur gears require a lot of lubrication for temperate and smooth operation.
- Mounting requirements- go through the mounting specifications indicated by the spur gear manufacturer to avoid limiting the gear shifting positions.
- Noise- the spur gears are generally noisy. They may not be the best for you if you need them for commercial application requirements.
- Temperature exposure- some spur gears become brittle and warp when exposed to extreme temperatures.
Pros
Spur gears provide a constant velocity ratio. They have a high power transmission efficiency of up to 50,000 KW. Additionally, they are reliable and durable, with little chances for failure.
Cons
The main drawback of spur gears is that they are costly as compared to the belt drives. Secondly, the centre distance is limited because the levers are positioned directly to each other. Lastly, they transmit power inefficiently when used for long-distance.
Spur gears remain to be among the most commonly used gears in Australia. However, when looking for spur gear, conduct your due diligence on the spur gear manufacturer and settle with the best.
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