Loaded tooth contact analysis of orthogonal face-gear drives

In order to analyze the transmission performance of face-gear in real working condition, a calculational approach for load equivalent error of alignment has been investigated with the purpose of analyzing the support system and tooth deformation of face-gear drives. Then, the equations of contact path of loaded tooth contact analysis have been established based on load equivalent error of alignment. For the purpose of analyzing the bearing contact, the curvatures of face-gear and pinion have been presented. Tooth contact deformation and bending deformation have been developed using elasticity and three-dimensional FEA. Loaded tooth contact analysis and contact stress have been considered to simulate the contact and meshing of the gear tooth surfaces and to calculate the evolution of load distribution, bearing contact, transmission errors, and contact stresses of the gear drive along the cycle of meshing. The performed research proves that the proposed loaded tooth contact analysis method can effectively solve the meshing characteristic problem of face-gear drives system. The results are illustrated with numerical examples.